Aug. 26, 2015
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Former University of Notre Dame men’s tennis captain Mike Sprouse has been named the new Chief Administrative and Marketing Officer at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, the organization announce Wednesday. In his new role, he will focus on raising the profile of college tennis players and its programs, players and coaches, while enhancing sponsorship opportunities for new supporters, establishing marketing plans to build the ITA brand and playing a key role in the output of the ITA’s new strategic plan by helping to effectively showcase all aspects of the sport.
Sprouse, a 1996 graduate of Notre Dame, captained the 1995-96 squad that won the program’s first BIG EAST Championship. He climbed as high as No. 28 in the national singles rankings that season and played both No. 1 singles and doubles slots for the Irish. In 1995, he won the ITA/Arthur Ashe Award for leadership and sportsmanship.
Now based in the Chicago suburbs, Sprouse brings a strong business and marketing background to the ITA. He started his career developing and marketing sports collectibles endorsed by all the major sports leagues, and co-founded a successful e-commerce business at the age of 24. Sprouse also spent over 10 years in executive positions in entertainment and digital/online advertising. He most recently founded his own marketing and creative consultancy which helps clients across sports, entertainment, fashion, technology and financial services industries create and execute business, marketing and growth strategies. Sprouse graduated with honors from the Mendoza College of Business with a degree in Accounting.
“The announcement of Mike’s joining the ITA is great news for college tennis and its followers,” said Bobby Bayliss, ITA Hall of Famer and retired Notre Dame Men’s tennis coach. “Mike’s highly successful business career coupled with his intrinsic love and understanding for college tennis is a win-win for the ITA. And let’s not forget what a great college player he was at number one singles and doubles on some of our better Notre Dame teams in the nineties. He has kept his pulse on tennis since then, and it is exciting to see him join our sport in a leadership capacity.”
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