Team Connection’s President and Founder, Herb Bolick knows firsthand how being a team player helps everyone to shine bright. He’s spent over 25 years working professionally as a tennis player and coach, and he was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993. Read on below to get to know the man at the helm of Sport Fuels Life, and learn more about why he’s passionate about helping you build authentic and active sports communities.
Please share a story of how playing tennis has positively impacted your life.
My life would have been far different without tennis. Playing tennis led to a career in tennis which further deepened my appreciation for the
game and sport. I learned that hard work, discipline, and passion for the game shape both athletics and life. It’s given me lifelong friends and relationships. I also met my wife of many years on the tennis court in college, so it’s been life changing!
What were you doing in your career before you launched Team Connection and what initially inspired you to start this company?
I enjoyed a career as a Head Tennis Professional and College Coach. I was always imagining some opportunity to create and build something of value centered around athletics. Tennis was the natural place to begin; however, I wanted to see if the model would work for other niche sports. Fortunately, at the time there was a void in the marketplace for teams that were under-serviced. We have ultimately found other athletic opportunities to fuel our growth.
What was your mission at the outset of launching TC?
I just wanted to build and create a business. I knew the foundational pieces should be service, sport focus, and authenticity. The initial starting place was tennis where we had early success and led us to other opportunities.
When did you know you were on the right track with this company? How has that evolved over the years?
From the response, we knew right away that there was a void in the market. We quickly scaled to outfit thousands of tennis teams.
With growth, we have been fortunate to attract other athletic zealots. Simultaneously, we have grown the infrastructure of the company: embellishment and decoration are key along with digital improvements.
We want our brand to feel personal whether it is digital or in person—there is always an athlete, player, or fan who is a teammate.
What makes you most excited about the future of Team Connection and Sport Fuels Life?
I love being a member of our team!
Something magical happens when people gather under the banner of sports, and in our increasingly divided world, there’s never been a more important time for us to come together.
Sport is simply a universal language that impacts lives. We are creating a platform to share these stories as well as becoming a resource for coaches and ultimately form a community that makes a difference through sport.
Why do you personally believe that Sport Fuels Life?
I have lived and experienced firsthand the impact of teams.
To what do you attribute your success?
I never think in terms of success. The goal is constant improvement as part of our quest to become a world class athletic organization.
What is unique about your business?
We are putting a smile on a player’s face when they wear their uniform–so as former players and coaches, I would like to think that we are customer focused. We are ultimately a for profit business, but feel there is something bigger at play—we are making a difference through athletics. We have attracted many athletes who want to be a part of creating something uniquely special in our industry.
What made you choose this type of business?
It combines my knowledge, experience, and passion. I can’t imagine doing anything else.
How do you stay motivated and engaged with the business as it is growing?
You are either growing or dying. We all realize we have an enormous opportunity and we want to make the most of it.
What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in team sports since launching Team Connection?
There’s obviously a huge technology shift. We also try to stay focused on what has not changed—relationships, authenticity and knowledge still matter. Also, good service doesn’t stand still, so we must constantly improve our game.
What’s your version of Sport Fuels Life? If you’ve got a great team story you think should be featured on our blog, we want to hear from you!