How one man turned a $200 wallet into a professional sports empire in Arizona
In short: Jerry Colangelo arrived in Phoenix in 1968 with only $200 to his name. He went on to become the youngest general manager in professional sports history, eventually building a sprawling empire that brought major league teams to the desert and fundamentally reshaped the business of sports in the American Southwest.
Jerry Colangelo’s career began in 1966 with the Chicago Bulls, but his legacy was forged in Phoenix. Hired as the first general manager of the expansion Phoenix Suns in 1968, he quickly established himself as a force in the NBA. Over his tenure, he earned the league’s Executive of the Year award four times—a record for an executive with a single team. His influence extended far beyond basketball; he was instrumental in bringing the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets to Arizona as the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996 and founded the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League in 1992.
Perhaps his most ambitious project was the creation of the Arizona Diamondbacks. After observing a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field, Colangelo set his sights on Major League Baseball. He assembled an investor group in 1994, secured an expansion franchise in 1995, and saw the team win the World Series by 2001. However, the aggressive financial strategy used to build that championship roster—which included deferring player salaries—eventually led to significant debt. By 2004, following a disastrous 51–111 season, Colangelo was forced to resign as managing general partner and sell his interest in the club.
Colangelo’s influence remains woven into the fabric of Arizona. Beyond sports, he has been a major player in real estate development, including the massive Douglas Ranch project in Buckeye, and has lent his name to the Colangelo College of Business at Grand Canyon University. Despite his professional peaks and valleys, Colangelo views his career through the lens of his Christian faith, often describing his platform as a responsibility for which he will be held accountable. Today, his focus has shifted toward future ventures, including a 2026 bid to bring an NBA franchise to Las Vegas.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Jerry Colangelo
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