DAYTON, OHIO – – – Today, the University of Dayton announces Jeff Hoagland, President & CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition, the region’s lead economic development organization, will succeed JP Nauseef, Founding Chairman of The Big Hoopla NCAA® First Four® Local Organizing Committee.
“The University of Dayton is extremely grateful for JP’s leadership with the NCAA First Four. In addition to rallying support around an ambitious vision – which has become reality during his tenure – Dayton and Ohio are now synonymous with the tip-off of March Madness and its fans are widely recognized America’s most passionate,” said Dr. Daniel J. Curran, University of Dayton President. “JP and Tim Wabler established a leadership succession plan at the onset of JP’s tenure to ensure The Big Hoopla and Dayton region would be positioned for long-term success and sustainability around the event. We are pleased that Jeff Hoagland has agreed to succeed JP as Chairman.”
“Jeff has been instrumental in many aspects of the local organizing committee’s work and is ideally positioned to continue the success of the committee,” said Neil Sullivan, University of Dayton Vice President and Director of Athletics. “As Founding Chairman, we have asked JP to remain as active as his schedule will allow, especially during this transition year.”
The Big Hoopla NCAA First Four Local Organizing Committee is organized to support the community’s position as host of the NCAA First Four and works collaboratively to drive direct and indirect economic impact for the Dayton region by leveraging the media reach of March Madness® while promoting and advocating for the region’s unique attributes: pride and respect for the military, a strong sense of service, a legacy of innovation, and a collaborative spirit.
“Dayton’s local organizing committee has made a significant impact and their support of the University of Dayton has helped to strengthen its role as host of the NCAA First Four and the tip-off home of March Madness,” said Dan Gavitt, the NCAA’s Vice President of Men’s Basketball. “We appreciate JP’s leadership and we look forward to growing the tremendous partnership with the University, the local organizing committee and the Dayton community.”
Since its inception, the Dayton region has embraced the NCAA First Four with the same passion and excitement as its fans. The local organizing committee’s highly efficient, self-contained and self-sustaining model works to produce positive outcomes for the NCAA, the University of Dayton, the Dayton region, players, coaches, media and fans of all ages. The committee’s work has led to countless “firsts” which include multiple sellouts (2013 & 2015), record television viewership (2014), and visits from the sitting US President, British Prime Minister, and Ohio Governor (2012).
“Jeff is ideally positioned and a proven leader who can take The Big Hoopla to the next level,” said JP Nauseef, Founding Chairman of The Big Hoopla NCAA First Four Local Organizing Committee.
“In each of the last four years Jeff has led on various aspects of the local organizing committee’s work in the community and in partnership with Wright-Patt,” continued Sullivan.
“The Big Hoopla NCAA First Four Local Organizing Committee aligns directly with our organization’s efforts. There is nothing more important to our community and to our nation’s security than a vibrant, healthy, growing Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,” said Jeff Hoagland, President & CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition.
The Dayton Development Coalition (DDC) is the leading economic development organization for the fourteen-county Dayton region. Working closely with public and private partners, its mission is to retain, expand and recruit jobs. The DDC and the Dayton region have continually ranked as the nation’s top metro for economic development (top honors in 2008, 2009 and 2012; runner-up honors in 2010, 2011 and 2014).
One of the largest economic drivers for the Dayton region is Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the State of Ohio’s largest single-site employer. National, international and military leaders regard the Dayton region as America’s most supportive military community thanks to the world-class community-base relationships led by the Dayton Development Coalition. In fact, the Coalition ranked as America’s top military community when it was honored with the 2015 Community Excellence Award from the Association of Defense Communities – a testament to the collaborative efforts in support of America’s #1 Air Force Base as ranked by the Air Force Times in July 2014.
“In each of the last several years, I have witnessed first-hand the impact of The Big Hoopla on Wright-Patt and its Airmen. In fact, there is no better community-led program designed to showcase the young men and women from the United States Air Force,” said Retired Air Force General Lester L. Lyles, Chairman of USAA, a multi-year contributor to the Hoopla Ticket Program, and former Commander of Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
One of committee’s most popular and successful initiatives is the Hoopla Ticket Program, a charitable community outreach program that provides tickets, free-of-charge to local students, Airmen and families stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Its impact is unmatched in the landscape of collegiate athletics. With support from over 250 organizations since 2012, the program has donated more than 17,000 tickets with over 6,700 tickets donated in 2015 alone.
“The Big Hoopla NCAA First Four Program is a great venue at which the community recognizes and appreciates our Airmen and their families who make our Air Force the world’s greatest air and space force,” said Lt. Gen. John Thompson, Commander, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. “I would like to thank JP Nauseef for everything he has done to showcase the Air Force in the First Four Hoopla Program since its inception, and I look forward to Jeff Hoagland and the DDC’s leadership to continue this great tradition.”
“The committee will remain committed to its support of Wright-Patt and the United States Air Force while we work to strengthen the University of Dayton’s position as America’s number one NCAA tournament host site,” concluded Hoagland.
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About The Big Hoopla NCAA First Four Local Organizing Committee:
The University of Dayton appointed Local Organizing Committee is comprised of over 50 executives and community leaders from the Dayton region representing academia, small and large business, military, civic and government jurisdictions. The committee is organized to support the University of Dayton’s position as a preferred host site for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. While supporting the University, the committee works collaboratively to drive significant, long-term economic value for the Dayton region by leveraging the media reach of the NCAA Tournament and March Madness in an effort to promote and advocate for the unique attributes of Dayton and the State of Ohio.
Since 2001, the NCAA Tournament has delivered over $66 million in direct economic impact the Dayton region and March Madness offers a global platform, unmatched media reach, record national TV audiences, association with the global brand of the NCAA, and an flood of dollars.
Individuals and organizations interested in learning more about The Big Hoopla NCAA First Four Local Organizing Committee, its work in the community or becoming a sponsor are asked to contact the committee: 937-723-2046 or info@daytonhoopla.com.
Learn more by visiting daytonhoopla.com.
NCAA Tournament History at UD Arena:
The University of Dayton Arena has hosted 109 NCAA Tournament games, more than any site making it America’s #1 Host Site and making the Dayton region the Epicenter of College Basketball.
Learn more by visiting daytonflyers.com/ncaa.
2016 NCAA First Four
The 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament and March Madness will tip-off from UD Arena for the sixteenth consecutive year on Tuesday, March 15 and Wednesday, March 16 with the NCAA First Four.
Tickets to preliminary rounds of the 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, including the NCAA First Four go on sale at 10 a.m. local Saturday, October 17, to each host city.
Fans wishing to buy tickets to the First Four®, first- and second-round games or regional competition should go to NCAA.com/mbbtickets.
