IMG Academy announced in Mid-November that Dan Malasky, formerly Chief Legal Officer for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has joined the company in the same role.
“Dan’s leadership and extensive corporate legal experience, combined with his passion for youth sports, will help us create great on-campus and online education experiences for our families,” said Brent Richard, president of IMG Academy. “This role will help us continue to reach more families around the world; families who believe in the power of holistic education and believe in sports as a platform for life.”
Malasky brings “world-class leadership and high acumen to the rapidly evolving sports education landscape,” according to IMG Academy. In his role, he will lead Legal, Risk Management, and Government Affairs for IMG Academy’s on-campus and online products, and all corporate legal strategy to protect its brand. He will work closely day-to-day with Valerie Alou, who was recently promoted to Vice President and Associate General Counsel and has been with IMG Academy for over two years.
In his previous role as Chief Legal Officer for the Buccaneers, Malasky served on the club’s executive team and led the Legal, Facility Security and Government Affairs departments since 2018.
Malasky Fondly Remembers His Time at the Bucs
Malasky told Sports Litigation Alert that it “was always a life-long dream to work in the NFL. In 5+ years working for the Buccaneers, I had the privilege to travel to London and Munich for international games, co-lead our pandemic response, witness several of the greatest players who have ever played the sport on our team, and win a super bowl at home. There is not a second that goes by when I am not reminded how fortunate I was. But the calling to help our next generation of student-athletes ascend into leaders was one I could not pass up.”
Malasky expanded on those memories.
“While hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy at Raymond James Stadium following our super bowl win against the Chiefs and the epic boat parade that followed are tough acts to beat, the team’s trip to Munich to host the first NFL game in Germany exceeded every expectation and yielded life-long friendships,” he said. “Off the field, my interaction with members of the Tampa community though events like Turkey Time with the offensive line and D-line Delivers Christmas was deeply gratifying year after year.”
Malasky also discussed his decision to join IMG Academy.
“When this opportunity came across my desk,” Malasky said, “I was intrigued given my relationship with its founder Nick Bollettieri coupled with the job description, which appeared to have been written with my resume in mind. Given my many years in professional tennis and player development, passion for empowering student-athletes to win their future in the class and on the field, and familiarity with the NCSA college recruiting platform, I had to further explore the opportunity. The more I learned about the high performing culture, leadership team, and vision for growth under new ownership, curiosity turned into reality.”
Prior to joining the Bucs, Malasky was General Counsel and Managing Director of Business Affairs for the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) National Campus for 12 years, Senior Vice President & General Counsel of DIRT Motorsports and a commercial litigator at DLA Piper.
At the USTA, Malasky helped lead the development and operations of its 100 court, 64-acre, state-of-the-art tennis complex in Orlando, Florida, and managed the USTA’s day-to-day legal affairs, including the US Open and the USTA’s Player Development program.
Malasky graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania where he majored in Political Science and earned a concentration in Management from the Wharton School of Business following two years at Skidmore College. He earned his J.D. from Boston University School of Law and was recognized as an Edward F. Hennessey Scholar.
Malasky currently serves on the Board for the Florida Sports Foundation, Greater Orlando Sports Commission, University of Pennsylvania Sprint Football, and previously served on the Tampa Bay Partnership Leadership Council and as Chairman of Central Florida Sports Commission.
“IMG Academy is truly unlike any other institution in the world, and I am thrilled to join a team that is making such a positive impact on student-athletes as they develop into leaders both on and off the field of play,” added Malasky.
