Rob Matre

As a four-year letterman at @RICSAthletics and 3x gold medal winner at @MaccabiUSA, basketball was always a huge part of my life. After finishing my own playing career, I was preparing for college and was excited to cheer on a strong @UGABasketball program that had been led by future NBA lottery pick @jarvishayes24. Unfortunately,@UGAAthletics basketball program was hit with major sanctions in the Spring of 2003 and struggled to find sustained momentum for much of the next two decades. Over the past few years though, you could feel something changing. Under @CoachWhiteUGA, there’s been a real shift around the program, not just in recruiting and performance, but in culture, energy, and belief. Around that same time, I found myself reflecting on my own journey as a career-long entrepreneur and inside of the sports industry for the last decade. Ahead of the @ATLHawks record-breaking 2014-2015 season, new CEO @SteveKoonin brought me in to help think through digital strategy and fan engagement. That same year, I entered the sports industry as an entrepreneur and eventually built @PrizePicks into a high-growth organization with more than 600 team members spread across North America & (basketball-obsessed) Philippines. Through those experiences, I gained a firsthand look at what separates good organizations from great ones. The best organizations invest deeply in infrastructure, people, culture, and long-term vision. As I spent more time around UGA Basketball, one thing became clear: college athletics has fundamentally changed in recent memory. The programs that will thrive in this new era are the ones willing to invest at the highest level, both on and off the court. That’s why making this $10M donation to Georgia Basketball felt deeply personal to me. This isn’t just about supporting a team. It’s about helping build a program which can become one of the most exciting teams in the country, a program players want to be part of and one the fanbase can rally behind. I’m grateful to AD @Brooks_UGA, Coach White and everyone at UGA for the trust and partnership. Excited for what’s ahead. Go Dawgs! P.S. Thanks to @DavidPurdum for last week's story: espn.com/espn/betting/story/…