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Agent Spotlights

Agent Spotlight: Jeff Chilcoat

While Jeff Chilcoat is the least acclaimed Sports Agent that I have covered so far, his story is one that all future and current agents should become aware of.

As President of Sterling Sports Management (I added their link to the list of Sports Agency sites today), Chilcoat never cared about gaining publicity. Instead, he cared about his clients (sometimes agents forget what the job truly entails). Sometimes the good guys truly end up winning. Jeff Chilcoat surely thinks that he has after signing international golf star Jeong Jang to Sterling Sports Management. His small agency in Colombus, Ohio now has the ability to represent one of the world’s best women golfers.

Chilcoat and his partners represent around 50 athletes in football and golf. He says that without the positive words that his first clients passed on to others about his practice, Sterling Sports Management would not be where it is today.

Referrals are vital in this business. It is all about landing your first client and then making sure that each one after that (including the first client) is treated with the best care so that your name will circulate among future potential clients.

Whether it is true or not, I love the paragraph on the bottom of Sterling’s website. It reads:

Each year, Sterling selectively represents only a few new clients. By limiting the number of new clients, Sterling Sports is able to provide a consistently high level of attention to each of its client athletes that often surprises our clients’ and surpasses their expectations.

A lot of Sports Agents should learn this very important lesson. It is not always about the amount of players that you can get under your belt, but instead, the amount of quality clients you can obtain. At the same time, it is important that you can devote enough time to each person that signs with you or your company. Do not just satisfy your clients, “surpass their expectations.”

[tags]Jeff Chilcoat, agent spotlight, Jeong Jang[/tags]

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

One reply on “Agent Spotlight: Jeff Chilcoat”

I can say by knowing Jeff personally that he is a great guy and mentor. His commitment to his clients is second to none and a true inspiration to any future sports agent. I had the opportunity to hold an internship under Jeff and his colleagues at Sterling Sports Management last year and it was a fantastic experience. Any questions or inquiries I had were answered immediately, I was given significant projects and assignments, and I was always treated as an equal and valued member of the organization. I truly appreciate all I learned from Jeff.

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