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Kevin Warren
Born (1963-11-17) November 17, 1963 (age 60)
Tempe, AZ
Occupation(s)Professional sports executive, Minnesota Vikings (NFL)

Kevin Fulbright Warren (born November 17, 1963) is an American attorney and professional sports executive. He is the Vice President of Legal Affairs and the Chief Administrative Officer of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He is the highest ranking African-American exectuive working on the business side for an NFL team.[1]

Early years

Kevin Warren was born in Tempe, Arizona. At an early age, he developed a love for sports. He partially attributes this to members of his family. His father, the late Dr. Morrison Warren, Sr., played professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948.[2] His father also went on to be the first African-American President of a major college bowl game when he was named President of the 1982 Fiesta Bowl.[3] His eldest brother, Morrison Warren, Jr., played football at Stanford in the early 1960s. He was one of the first African-American scholarship athletes at Stanford.[1] When he was twelve years old, Kevin Warren was struck by car and forced into a body cast for six months.[4] It was viewed as highly unlikely that he would ever fulfill any dreams he had of playing sports, collegiately or professional. Warren recovered however, and earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania.[4]

Education

Warren was a member of the University of Pennsylvania’s 1982 Ivy League Championship in his freshmen. After his freshmen season, Warren returned home to Arizona where he enrolled at Grand Canyon University (GCU). He ultimately earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from GCU in 1986.[1] At Grand Canyon, Kevin Warren excelled both inside the classroom and on the basketball court.

During his career, he scored 1,118 points and averaged 20.0 points per game. This is the fourth-best all-time average in the school’s history. In his senior season, he averaged 23.3 points per game, which also ranks as the fourth-best season average in GCU basketball history. He once posted a 42-point performance against Concordia College on November 17, 1984. That performance is the fourth-highest single game scoring total in school history.[5] Warren also was a two-time recipient of NAIA Academic All-American honors and posted a cumulative 3.49 GPA.[1] [5] On March 2, 2012, Kevin Warren was honored by being inducted into the Grand Canyon University Athletics Hall of Fame. He became the 16th individual and 5th member from the University’s basketball team to be inducted into the GCU Athletics Hall of Fame.[5]

Following his graduation from Grand Canyon University, Kevin Warren attended Arizona State University where he earned his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1988. After earning his MBA, he attended the University of Notre Dame Law School where he earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 1990.[4]

Career

Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC.

Kevin Warren began his law career at Bond, Schoeneck & King in Overland Park, Kansas (1990-91).[4] As an associate at Bond, Schoeneck & King, he got his first taste of sports law. The firm specialized in representing universities that were charged with NCAA violations. While at the firm Warren worked with current Southeastern Conference Commissioner, Mike Slive, and sports attorney Mike Glazier.[1] In 1991, while teaching a class at Notre Dame, Warren befriended All-American defensive lineman Chris Zorich.[6]

Kevin F. Warren & Associates

Warren went on to found his own practice/agency, Kevin Warren & Associates in Kansas City, Kansas with Zorich becoming his first client. He also signed the now-legendary Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Will Shields.[6] He operated Kevin Warren & Associates from 1992-1997. During his time in Kansas City, Warren also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.[7] In 1997, Warren used his NFL connections to land an interview for a legal/front office position with then St. Louis Rams head coach Dick Vermeil.[6]

Greenberg Traurig

Warren moved to Phoenix where he worked for the international law firm Greenberg Traurig. He worked at Greenberg Traurig from 2003-2005. During this time he advised the Wilf family in what became a $625 million deal to purchase the Minnesota Vikings.[4]

NFL

St. Louis Rams (1997-2001)

Kevin Warren held the position of Vice President of Player Programs/Football Legal Counsel for the St. Louis Rams before being promoted in 2000 to Vice President of Football Administration.[7] When he began the position he commuted from his home in Kansas City to St. Louis and stayed in a hotel near the Rams facilities.[6] Coach Vermeil encouraged him to sit in on coaches meetings, film sessions and personnel meetings. Warren credits this experience with providing him with priceless of knowledge and credits Coach Vermeil with giving him his break.[6] Kevin Warren earned a Super Bowl Ring with the Rams when they defeated the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV.[1]

Detroit Lions (2001-2003)

Warren served as the Chief Legal Officer and Senior Vice President of Business Operations/General Counsel. He served as the team’s legal counsel. His responsibilities included all aspects of football administration, specifically, player development, security, equipment operations, and the team’s medical staff. He also oversaw human resource and organized outside consultants.[7]

Minnesota Vikings (2005-Present)

Kevin Warren is responsible for various day-to-day business, operational and administrative issues, legal affairs, strategic planning, human resources, and serves as a member of the Vikings’ internal stadium development team.[7] In 2007, NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell appointed Warren to the NFL’s working group on emergency planning.[8]

Stadium

Kevin Warren has been active in the team’s long running quest for a new stadium. He has been instrumental in selecting the designers, developers, legal advisors and the Vikings' intermediate location for play, TCF Bank Stadium, while their new $975 million stadium is being built.[9] The new stadium is set to be ready for play by the 2016 NFL season.[10]

Wilf and five partners purchased the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League from Red McCombs in 2005 for a reported US$600 million.[11] Forbes estimates the 2012 value of the franchise at US$975 million, or 22nd of the 32 NFL teams.[12]

For several years the Vikings and Wilf have stated that their current home, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome is inadequate and have lobbied for a new stadium.[13][14] The Minnesota Vikings moved to within a governor's signature of getting a new $975 million stadium on May 10 after the state Senate approved a plan that relies heavily on public financing.[15] The deal has been signed by Mark Dayton and was approved by the Minneapolis City Council, ending any speculation of relocation.[16]

Community Involvement & Recognitions

Recognitions

In 2002, while working for the Detroit Lions, he was recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business on their “40 Under 40” list, as one of the top 40 Detroit business leaders under the age of 40.[5] Warren is active in the Minneapolis, Minnesota community. In 2006, the Twin Cities Business Journal recognized him as a Minority Business Leader.[1]

Board Memberships

He served on the United Way Board of Directors from 2007-2010.[1] Warren has served on the Page Education Foundation Board of Directors since 2006, the University of Minnesota’s Medical Foundation Board of Directors since 2010, and just recently became a member of the Benilde-St. Margaret High School Board of Directors in the spring of 2012. In the summer of 2012, Warren also became a member of the Notre Dame Law School Advisory Council.[1] He also serves on the Board of Directors for the E.J. Henderson Youth Foundation, an organization started by former Minnesota linebacker E.J. Henderson.[17] He was also appointed in September 2012 to the board of Grand Canyon Education, Inc., which operates his alma mater Grand Canyon University.[18] He is a member of the audit committee, and the nominating and corporate governance committee.[19] He is also a life member of the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors.[1]

Community Involvement

In August 2012, Kevin Warren and his wife Greta adopted Lucy Craft Laney Community School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Warrens donated 650 backpacks filled with school supplies to the entire student body. The backpacks were age appropriate for the primary, elementary, and junior high students. The Warren’s plan to donate additional school supplies throughout the school year. The Warren family envisions developing a long-term plan to provide assistance and educational resources to the school. Among the resources they plan to contribute are ongoing school supplies, school uniforms, athletic uniforms and they plan to establish a computer lab and mentoring program.[20]

Personal

Warren is married to Greta Warren, who holds a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University. The couple has a daughter, Peri, and a son, Powers. The family resides in the greater Twin Cities area.[1]

Warren is licensed to practice law with the State Bar of Kansas, Michigan, and Minnesota.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l http://www.vikings.com/team/staff/kevin-warren/9670a586-5099-4576-967f-269260c0cbed
  2. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/bda/1948.htm
  3. ^ http://historicalleague.org/historymakers/hm_warren.pdf
  4. ^ a b c d e http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2012/04/30/In-Depth/Kevin-Warren.aspx
  5. ^ a b c d http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Vikings-VP-Warren-To-Be-Inducted-Into-GCU-Athletics-Hall-Of-Fame/6f67f7e0-27cf-4672-9c13-fde98164b5bf
  6. ^ a b c d e http://www.lawandpolitics.com/minnesota/Sweat-Suits/167ab6dd-04c8-4272-9742-3e1a3a7ea866.html
  7. ^ a b c d http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=1304664&privcapId=1276208&previousCapId=1276208&previousTitle=The%20Detroit%20Lions,%20Inc.
  8. ^ http://law.marquette.edu/assets/sports-law/pdf/for-the-record/v18i3.pdf
  9. ^ http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2013/05/11/minnesota-vikings-university-minnesota-sign-multi-million-dollar-contract-use-tcf-ba
  10. ^ http://finance-commerce.com/2012/08/legal-matters-stadiums-legal-team-ready-to-take-the-field/
  11. ^ Borzi, Pat (August 19, 2005). "Vikings' Owner Makes a Name for Himself". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
  12. ^ http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/242288/group/Sports/
  13. ^ City Pages - March 1, 2012 -Vikings, Rybak, Dayton, pro-Vikes legislators finally unveil stadium plan
  14. ^ Tom Goldstein "Vikings Stadium Proposal Isn't For The People", City Pages, March 14, 2012
  15. ^ http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7914553/senate-approves-plan-new-minnesota-vikings-stadium
  16. ^ http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/05/25/mpls-city-council-makes-final-stadium-vote-friday/
  17. ^ http://www.ejhyf.org/index.php/about-ejhyf
  18. ^ http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/blog/sports-business/2012/09/vikings-warren-grand-canyon-university.html
  19. ^ http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2012/09/17/grand-canyon-university-board-adds.html
  20. ^ http://blog.vikings.com/2012/08/28/vikings-vp-kevin-warren-and-family-adopt-lucy-craft-laney-community-school/


Category:1960 births Category:Grand Canyon University alumni Category:American lawyers Category:Living people Category:National Football League executives Category:Notre Dame Law School alumni Category:People from Tempe, Arizona Category:African American businesspeople Category:Minnesota Vikings

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