On April 15, 2008, I wrote about a merger that had a large impact on the world of coach representation. Stinson Morrison Hecker, one of the largest U.S. law firms, combined its Coaching division with Premier Sports Management’s Coaching division, to create Premier Stinson Sports. The first three coach names that I mentioned in the post were Pete Carroll, Lane Kiffin, and Ed Orgeron, all former Premier Sports Management (now Premier Stinson Sports) clients. Interestingly, those three names made a lot of headlines this week (Carroll leaving USC, Kiffin and Orgeron heading to USC). You better believe that the men behind Premier Stinson were very busy. This is especially true concerning Gary Uberstine, who created Premier Sports Management and heads Premier Stinson’s Santa Monica Office.
He was also indirectly involved in the Jack Del Rio negotiations even though he doesn’t directly represent him. Once negotiations broke down with Del Rio Monday evening, Uberstine and his coaching clientele were USC’s fall back option.
Premier Stinson represents so many talented coaches including the names listed, along with guys like Roy Williams and Rich Maloney (Michigan). If TrojanWire’s scoop is true, Uberstine even tries to help out people he does not have under contract. He was busy pushing his own clients and also throwing a bone to Del Rio. At least he put his clients in a great position for when Del Rio declined any USC offer.
