Retired Tourism Director, Beloved Former UA Soccer Coach Launches Podcast

NORTHPORT, AL — Former Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports (TTS) president and retired University of Alabama soccer coach Don Staley is set to launch a new podcast that takes a behind-the-scenes look at the sports tourism sector.

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"The Reckoning Sports Tourism Podcast" — described by Staley as an "edgy, political, unadulterated" look into the growing sector — will discuss its professionals, how business gets done at conferences and conventions, along with qualified opinions on local politics in Alabama and Florida.

Staley is the president & CEO of SNAP Sports Tourism Consulting and most recently was enlisted by the City of Northport as a consultant for the city's proposed youth sports tournament complex near the current site of Kentuck Park.

As Patch previously reported, Staley launched SNAP Sports Tourism Consulting in June 2022 following his retirement from TTS and subsequent move to Leesburg, Florida. A little more than a year later, Staley relocated again to Northport.

Staley says the podcast will be co-hosted by Zach Tigert, who is currently a UA Sports Media instructor. Tigert also previously worked as marketing manager for Visit College Station in Texas and as WVUA's assistant sports director and weekend sports anchor.

"Zach's wealth of knowledge in the SEC, UA and overall sports along with his understanding of local politics will bring insight to the show," Staley said in a release.

Apart from his celebrated time leading Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports — now rebranded as Visit Tuscaloosa — Staley's 23-year run as a college soccer coach saw him post a career record of 324-257-38, along with winning four “Coach of the Year” awards in two different leagues.

Indeed, Staley became only the fifth coach in NCAA soccer history to reach the 300-win mark in 2004, before going on to work in the public sector for TTS.

The National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC) in 2015 named Staley its “Sports Tourism Executive of the Year."

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