Mike Nealy

Executive Director of the Arizona Sports Foundation

Arizona

Mike Nealy is the Executive Director of the Arizona Sports Foundation, the community-based organization that operates the Fiesta Bowl, Cactus Bowl and numerous community events throughout the state.


A Minnesota native, Nealy’s career in sports spans more than a decade. For the past eight years, Mike was with the Phoenix Coyotes and Jobing.com Arena, most recently as President and Chief Operating Officer. During his tenure, he led the organization to record-breaking sales and operating successes that earned the organization national recognition in the annual ESPN rankings as the sixth best franchise among all professional sports. In 2012, he was named Sports Business Leader of the Year by Minnesota State University for demonstrating outstanding business, academic and visionary leadership through effective management of his organization.


Before joining the Phoenix Coyotes in January 2006, Mike spent four seasons with the Minnesota Wild, where his responsibilities included strategic planning, finance and leading the Wild's 501(c)(3) charitable activities.
Prior to sports, Mike spent 14 years in operations and financial business leadership positions.


Mike earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the University of Minnesota.


Mike and his wife, Brenda, live in Phoenix with their two children, Regan and Simon.