Clark Hunt
Encyclopedia
Clark Knobel Hunt is Chairman and CEO of the National Football League
's Kansas City Chiefs
and a founding investor-owner in Major League Soccer
. Hunt also serves as Chairman of Hunt Sports Group, where he oversees the operations of FC Dallas
and the Columbus Crew
of MLS
He is the son of Lamar Hunt
and the grandson of oil tycoon H.L. Hunt. Following the death of his father in 2006, Clark, his sister, and two brothers inherited ownership of the Chiefs. Clark serves as the ultimate authority as Chairman and CEO.
, he went on to finish first in his class at Southern Methodist University
, where he was a captain of SMU's nationally-ranked soccer team and a two-time Academic All-American. He also received a Masters of Business Administration from SMU.
Hunt began his business career as an analyst with Goldman Sachs
before starting the firm. He is married to Tavia Shackles, a former Miss Missouri Teen USA
and Miss Kansas USA
. The couple have three children.
until the team was sold in 2006. Hunt remains a member of the league's Board of Governors and owns the MLS clubs FC Dallas
and the Columbus Crew
.
of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2005.
After the Chiefs' loss to the New York Jets
in the 2007 season finale, Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson
announced that both he and head coach Herm Edwards would return to the Chiefs in 2008. However, Hunt declined to immediately comment on Peterson's status. Hunt spoke out weeks later and stated that the Chiefs were his "No. 1 priority" and that "to have the best chance of success in 2008, having Carl here makes a lot of sense.” Hunt wanted to avoid having a new general manager come in with a new head coach, and starting from scratch again.
On December 15, Hunt announced the resignation of Carl Peterson from his positions as general manager, president, and CEO of the franchise effective the end of the season. Prior the decision, the Chiefs had a combined record of 9-24 under Hunt's leadership since December 23, 2006.
The official press release stated that Peterson resigned, but Hunt had said the conversation had been on-going throughout the season. Hunt said his decision to relieve Peterson of duties was not based on what happened the previous day, when the Chiefs lost an 11-point lead in the final 73 seconds and were beaten 22–21 by San Diego, dropping their record to 2-12 on the season. Hunt also said that the fate of head coach Herm Edwards would be settled after the season when a new general manager would be hired. Hunt said he would split the duties previously held by Peterson and have someone in charge of the business side and someone else in charge of football for the franchise.
Hunt had kept his search for a new general manager almost entirely leak-proof, instructing subordinates that only he is to speak to the situation. On January 13, 2009 Hunt hired New England Patriots
vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli
as the new Chiefs general manager. On January 23 the Chiefs fired head coach Herman Edwards
, and Todd Haley
was hired as his replacement on February 6.
championship on November 23, 2008.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
and a founding investor-owner in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. Hunt also serves as Chairman of Hunt Sports Group, where he oversees the operations of FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
and the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
of MLS
He is the son of Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt was an American sportsman and promoter of American football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States and an inductee into three sports' halls of fame. He was one of the founders of the American Football League and Major League Soccer , as well as MLS predecessor the...
and the grandson of oil tycoon H.L. Hunt. Following the death of his father in 2006, Clark, his sister, and two brothers inherited ownership of the Chiefs. Clark serves as the ultimate authority as Chairman and CEO.
Background
After graduating from St. Mark's School of TexasSt. Mark's School of Texas
The St. Mark's School of Texas is a nonsectarian preparatory day school for boys located in Preston Hollow, Dallas, Texas, USA. The School offers grades 1–12.-History:...
, he went on to finish first in his class at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
, where he was a captain of SMU's nationally-ranked soccer team and a two-time Academic All-American. He also received a Masters of Business Administration from SMU.
Hunt began his business career as an analyst with Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
before starting the firm. He is married to Tavia Shackles, a former Miss Missouri Teen USA
Miss Missouri Teen USA
The Miss Missouri Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Missouri in the Miss Teen USA pageant. This pageant has been directed by Vanbros since 1993....
and Miss Kansas USA
Miss Kansas USA
The Miss Kansas USA pageant is a competition that selects the representative for the state of Kansas in the Miss USA pageant.Kansas did not place at Miss USA until 1973, the third-to-last state to make their first placement. From then, no delegate from Kansas made the cut until 1991, when Kelli...
. The couple have three children.
Involvement in professional sports
One of the driving forces behind the creation of Major League Soccer, Hunt helped his father run the Kansas City WizardsKansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
until the team was sold in 2006. Hunt remains a member of the league's Board of Governors and owns the MLS clubs FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
and the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
.
Kansas City Chiefs
Hunt was named Chairman of the BoardChairman of the Board
The Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organization, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...
of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2005.
After the Chiefs' loss to the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 2007 season finale, Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson
Carl Peterson
Carl D. Peterson grew up in Long Beach, California, and is an alumnus of UCLA. He is best known as the former president, general manager, and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
announced that both he and head coach Herm Edwards would return to the Chiefs in 2008. However, Hunt declined to immediately comment on Peterson's status. Hunt spoke out weeks later and stated that the Chiefs were his "No. 1 priority" and that "to have the best chance of success in 2008, having Carl here makes a lot of sense.” Hunt wanted to avoid having a new general manager come in with a new head coach, and starting from scratch again.
On December 15, Hunt announced the resignation of Carl Peterson from his positions as general manager, president, and CEO of the franchise effective the end of the season. Prior the decision, the Chiefs had a combined record of 9-24 under Hunt's leadership since December 23, 2006.
The official press release stated that Peterson resigned, but Hunt had said the conversation had been on-going throughout the season. Hunt said his decision to relieve Peterson of duties was not based on what happened the previous day, when the Chiefs lost an 11-point lead in the final 73 seconds and were beaten 22–21 by San Diego, dropping their record to 2-12 on the season. Hunt also said that the fate of head coach Herm Edwards would be settled after the season when a new general manager would be hired. Hunt said he would split the duties previously held by Peterson and have someone in charge of the business side and someone else in charge of football for the franchise.
Hunt had kept his search for a new general manager almost entirely leak-proof, instructing subordinates that only he is to speak to the situation. On January 13, 2009 Hunt hired New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli
Scott Pioli
Scott Pioli is a professional American football executive, currently serving as the general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Pioli was previously a front office executive for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and New England Patriots...
as the new Chiefs general manager. On January 23 the Chiefs fired head coach Herman Edwards
Herman Edwards
Herman "Herm" Edwards, Jr. is an American football analyst who most recently coached in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was fired from this position on January 23, 2009. Since then, he has been hired as a football analyst for ESPN...
, and Todd Haley
Todd Haley
Todd Haley is the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Prior to joining the Chiefs, Haley served as the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2008, and was the wide receivers coach for the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys.-Early...
was hired as his replacement on February 6.
Columbus Crew
Under Hunt, the Columbus Crew won their first MLS CupMLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
championship on November 23, 2008.