Today we’d like to introduce you to James Shelton.
James, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today
I initially received my start in the sports industry between the 2004-2006 seasons, when I played soccer at Wiley College, a historically black college, located in Marshall, Texas. A few years later, in 2009, my family and I moved from Los Angeles to San Diego. In 2012, I was the Head Coach of the boys’ soccer team for a year at Samuel F.B. Morse High School. During that time, I was assigned a substitute position as a Special Education Assistant. One day during my lunch break, I went into the Athletic Director’s, Tracy McNair, office to ask if the head soccer coach needed help coaching. That day I left with an additional job as an Assistant Coach. I became the Head Coach in a strange twist of fate soon after.
I was burnt out from teaching and working at various jobs at the YMCA so I went back to school to get my master’s degree. Point Loma Nazarene University was suggested to me and I happened to see, on social media, that the school had a Master’s of Science degree in Sports Management. I was accepted into their sports management program in the fall of 2016. The initial two year program was condensed into one school year.
Soon after graduation, maybe a year later, one of my daughters had a strong urge to play football so I signed her up to play travel football for the San Diego Generals. The owner of the San Diego Guardians, Kenneth Bishop, was a volunteer coach of my daughter’s age group team. He would give my daughter and I rides to our home. I have a history of epilepsy and I can’t drive. Uber and Lyft can get pricey.
One day I saw Kenny wearing his team’s shirt. I asked him about the team because I had never heard of them. He said he owned the team and was getting ready for tryouts. I asked if he needed help and that I just graduated with my degree a year prior. He told me to send him my resume. A few months later I was also offered and accepted a job working for the San Diego Fleet of the now defunct Alliance of American Football (AAF). I thank GOD for Kenny giving me the opportunity and my daughter for wanting to play football.
Has it been a smooth road?
In my role as an Account Executive, or just being in the sports industry, hasn’t been a smooth road at all. I believe I haven’t even scratched the surface yet. There are plenty of struggles that I face; but, the number one is a good helping of rejection when filling out job applications for major league franchises.
Another struggle has been looking for potential sponsors, vendors, or partnerships for the Guardians. Out of countless amounts of contacts, I will hear many no’s or not get any replies at all; I may get one yes. When I do get a commitment from someone I go all out for those businesses as much as possible. I have learned to never take anything personally. I just remember it is just business, even though sometimes I think it is more than that.
With me, since I have epilepsy, I spend a lot of money on transportation going to meetings or networking events after leaving from another job. I believe having epilepsy has been a barrier when being considered for a full-time job.
Please tell us more about your business.
The franchise is called the San Diego Guardians it is apart of the American Basketball Association (ABA)which is a semi-professional basketball league. There are over 100 teams across the United States with a top 25 ranking and a one and done playoff system. The team is in the Far West division of the ABA and is in its third season, the team went to the playoffs last season. The team is a black owned franchise owned by Kenneth Bishop and the team plays its home games currently at San Diego High School.
I specialize as an Account Executive I help to find various vendors and sponsors for the team. I do help to try other various things that may help out the team if the owner may need it. I am personally most proud of this franchise is that everybody is pretty close to each other from the owners, staff, players, cheerleaders, sponsors, and vendors. That we give opportunities to students and the community to volunteer working our games doing various things if needed. The franchise is very diverse in all aspects.
The thing that sets me apart from others I believe is that I take an invested interest in the people I do business with. If I hear about an opportunity that does not have to do with the team I will recommend them to that company or individual. I try to create an actual friendship with the people I interact with. I have that long term thinking when it comes to business not the short term goal of their business, and I believe the sports industry is an excellent avenue for businesses small and large.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I like best about the city of San Diego that it is a slower paced Los Angeles where it is laid back and it only takes fifteen to thirty minutes to get anywhere around the city driving. The least likely thing about San Diego is the high price of living.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4701 70th St , San Diego, California, 91942
- Website: www.thesdguardians.com
- Email: info@thesdguardians.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sdguardians
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thesdguardians
- Twitter: twitter.com/TheSDGuardians
Image Credit:
Active 7 Media.com
Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
