Post by 50yardfan on Aug 4, 2011 17:39:27 GMT -5
amarillo.com/sports/local-pro-sports/2011-08-04/msh-woman-takes-over-ownership-gm-venom
It isn’t often the new owner of a professional sports team begins a news conference by mentioning his or her gender.
Then again, “the man” with the Amarillo Venom these days is a woman.
Stephanie Tucker was introduced Wednesday as the new owner and general manager of the indoor football club. She succeeds Randy Sanders, who took majority ownership of the team, previously named the Dusters, in September 2008.
“Many of y’all might think it is a little interesting for a woman to be taking the ownership position of a football team,” said Tucker, 32, a Groom native who is thought to be the first female owner of an Amarillo pro sports team in more than 30 years. “It is a little different, but football has always been in my blood.
“I have grown up with football. I married a coach and followed him around with three kids in tow. Now it is his turn to follow me around.”
Tucker’s husband, Toby, is a former high school football coach at Wheeler and Groom. He is the superintendent of Claude Independent School District.
“I’m the biggest cheerleader she is going to have,” Toby Tucker said. “She followed me to more football games for six or seven years of her life. Now it is time to turn the roles around.”
Sanders, who also owns San Angelo’s Indoor Football League franchise, said he sold the team to pursue other opportunities.
“I’ve been up here working with the Amarillo Venom and the Amarillo Gorillas (Amarillo’s former pro hockey team, which folded in May 2010) for the last four years, but I found an opportunity to sell the team to a new owner. I want to thank Amarillo for their hospitality.”
Neither the Tuckers nor Sanders would disclose the purchase price or specific details of the deal.
Stephanie Tucker said the family became interested in buying the Venom after attending a game.
“We were looking for something fun to do with the family,” she said. “As I was looking around, I was like, ‘I really want to buy this team.’ It has always been a dream of mine, but I left it at that. Later we picked up a phone, called a broker, and ya’ll see us how we are today.”
The Tuckers began working on the Venom deal in May. They’ll handle day-to-day operations, Stephanie Tucker said.
The biggest decision she has made, after buying the team, is to keep head coach Julian Reese. Sanders in June named Reese head coach. Reese took over at the end of last season after the Venom stumbled to a 0-8 start. Amarillo went 4-0 under Reese.
Toby Tucker said retaining Reese was an easy decision.
“I’m thrilled to be able to work with that type of guy,” Toby Tucker said.
Reese’s ties to the club run deep. He’s the most successful quarterback in team history.
“This is a big relief,” said Reese, who attended Wednesday’s news conference with Venom players DuVaughn Flagler and Donta Bright. “It has been a good process. This is a good thing for Randy also. It took a while because he wanted to make sure he had somebody that was truly passionate about football and passionate about Amarillo. I can’t wait to get started.”
It isn’t often the new owner of a professional sports team begins a news conference by mentioning his or her gender.
Then again, “the man” with the Amarillo Venom these days is a woman.
Stephanie Tucker was introduced Wednesday as the new owner and general manager of the indoor football club. She succeeds Randy Sanders, who took majority ownership of the team, previously named the Dusters, in September 2008.
“Many of y’all might think it is a little interesting for a woman to be taking the ownership position of a football team,” said Tucker, 32, a Groom native who is thought to be the first female owner of an Amarillo pro sports team in more than 30 years. “It is a little different, but football has always been in my blood.
“I have grown up with football. I married a coach and followed him around with three kids in tow. Now it is his turn to follow me around.”
Tucker’s husband, Toby, is a former high school football coach at Wheeler and Groom. He is the superintendent of Claude Independent School District.
“I’m the biggest cheerleader she is going to have,” Toby Tucker said. “She followed me to more football games for six or seven years of her life. Now it is time to turn the roles around.”
Sanders, who also owns San Angelo’s Indoor Football League franchise, said he sold the team to pursue other opportunities.
“I’ve been up here working with the Amarillo Venom and the Amarillo Gorillas (Amarillo’s former pro hockey team, which folded in May 2010) for the last four years, but I found an opportunity to sell the team to a new owner. I want to thank Amarillo for their hospitality.”
Neither the Tuckers nor Sanders would disclose the purchase price or specific details of the deal.
Stephanie Tucker said the family became interested in buying the Venom after attending a game.
“We were looking for something fun to do with the family,” she said. “As I was looking around, I was like, ‘I really want to buy this team.’ It has always been a dream of mine, but I left it at that. Later we picked up a phone, called a broker, and ya’ll see us how we are today.”
The Tuckers began working on the Venom deal in May. They’ll handle day-to-day operations, Stephanie Tucker said.
The biggest decision she has made, after buying the team, is to keep head coach Julian Reese. Sanders in June named Reese head coach. Reese took over at the end of last season after the Venom stumbled to a 0-8 start. Amarillo went 4-0 under Reese.
Toby Tucker said retaining Reese was an easy decision.
“I’m thrilled to be able to work with that type of guy,” Toby Tucker said.
Reese’s ties to the club run deep. He’s the most successful quarterback in team history.
“This is a big relief,” said Reese, who attended Wednesday’s news conference with Venom players DuVaughn Flagler and Donta Bright. “It has been a good process. This is a good thing for Randy also. It took a while because he wanted to make sure he had somebody that was truly passionate about football and passionate about Amarillo. I can’t wait to get started.”