Key Takeaways
- TPH Academy has hired Steve Sanders, former CEO of SPIRE Academy, as Chief Growth Officer, with the appointment announced June 2026.
- Sanders will lead growth and partnership strategy across TPH’s academics, athletics, and community programs.
- His résumé spans IMG Academy, Evert Tennis Academy, and FC Barcelona US Academy, plus live-entertainment brands including Monster Jam and Disney on Ice.
- Before sports, Sanders served 10 years as a U.S. Army officer and helicopter pilot, reaching 3rd Army Deputy Director of Aviation for the Middle East.
A Growth Hire With Deep Academy Roots
TPH Academy has named Steve Sanders its Chief Growth Officer, adding a leader who most recently ran SPIRE Academy as CEO. At SPIRE, Sanders led multi-sport growth and raised the academy’s national profile. At TPH, he will oversee growth and partnership strategy across the organization’s academic, athletic, and community programs.
His background reaches across the sports development world. Sanders has held marketing, technology, and growth leadership roles at IMG Academy, Evert Tennis Academy, and FC Barcelona US Academy. He also worked across major live-entertainment properties, including Disney on Ice, Monster Energy Supercross, Monster Jam, Marvel Universe Live, Jurassic World Live Tour, and Six Flags. Before his sports career, he spent 10 years as a U.S. Army officer and helicopter pilot, rising to 3rd Army Deputy Director of Aviation for the Middle East.
The Model He Is Joining
TPH Academy pairs a flexible, NCAA-accredited academic model with integrated athletic and personal development. Student-athletes train and compete at a high level while following an education built around their individual goals and travel schedules.
“Steve is one of the most respected relationship-builders and strategic thinkers in youth sports,” said Alan Keeso, CEO of TPH Academy. “What sets him apart is how well he understands what this model means for families and student-athletes.”
Sanders framed the role around long-term impact. “Sports academies are one of the few places where you can have a multigenerational impact,” he said. “Helping shape young people during the most important years of their lives is work I care deeply about.”
Source: TPH Academy, June 3, 2026, tphacademy.com
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