Wide-Ranging Success

The Opportunity
As IMG Academy continued to expand its world-class sports education campus, the organization sought a Vice President of Operations & Facilities to oversee a highly complex operational portfolio across its 600-acre campus. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the role was responsible for transportation, campus safety, facilities, grounds, event operations, vendor management, and long-term infrastructure planning, including oversight of a $60 million capital improvement program. IMG Academy had previously engaged in internal recruiting resources and contingent search firms, generating a large pool of qualified candidates. However, few possessed the combination of enterprise leadership, innovation, technology adoption, and customerfocused operational strategy required to support the Academy's long-term vision. Beyond facilities expertise, IMG Academy needed a transformational leader capable of modernizing systems, leveraging data and technology, and leading multiple operational functions through a period of continued growth.

The Prodigy Approach
Prodigy Search partnered with IMG Academy to broaden the search beyond traditional facilities executives, targeting leaders from higher education, healthcare, destination resorts, sports and entertainment venues, and other large-scale campus environments. The focus centered on executives with broad operational oversight, cross-functional leadership experience, and responsibility for transportation, safety, facilities, capital projects, and event operations. A key area of evaluation was innovation. Prodigy identified leaders who demonstrated success leveraging technology, data analytics, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operations and customer experiences. Throughout the search, Prodigy provided market intelligence, candidate calibration, and strategic guidance, helping IMG Academy assess candidates based on leadership capabilities, scalability, and long-term organizational impact rather than industry background alone.

The Outcome
Prodigy Search successfully placed a Vice President of Operations & Facilities equipped to oversee one of the nation's most complex sports and educational campuses. By expanding beyond conventional facilities talent pools, Prodigy introduced executives with broad operational leadership experience spanning transportation, campus safety, facilities, capital projects, and large-scale event operations. The successful placement positioned IMG Academy with a leader capable of driving operational excellence, supporting significant infrastructure investments, and enhancing the experience of student-athletes, staff, and visitors. The engagement reinforced Prodigy Search's ability to solve specialized executive searches by prioritizing leadership competencies, organizational fit, and long-term strategic impact.