FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friends of the Heights Announces BC Alum Tom Devitt as General Manager

Devitt joins the collective with a wealth of college athletics experience.

(BOSTON) Aug. 16, 2023 – Friends of the Heights, the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collective serving Boston College student-athletes, is excited to announce the hiring of Tom Devitt as General Manager. Devitt will manage the day-to-day operations of the collective, including donor development and stewardship. Devitt will also serve as the primary liaison between BC Athletics and the Friends of the Heights board. Friends of the Heights is powered by Blueprint Sports, the industry leader in powering full-service NIL collectives nationwide. 

 

“We are excited about the addition of Tom Devitt to our team,” Friends of the Heights Board Member and Former BC Quarterback Scott Mutryn said. “Tom’s energy and passion for BC as well as his vast experience in college athletics will help launch Friends of the Heights to new levels.” 

 

No stranger to Boston College Athletics, the 1993 graduate of the Heights returns to his alma mater after an impressive coaching stint at The University of Hartford. During an unprecedented athletics transition, Devitt was named Interim Head Basketball Coach on Nov. 8, 2022, the day of Hartford’s first regular season game. With just a handful of scholarship players, the Hawks gutted out wins that included a victory over NCAA Tournament darling Fairleigh Dickinson. Devitt spent the previous seven seasons as the top assistant coach, and he also served as Hartford’s Director of Operations from 2013-15. 

 

Widely recognized for his fundraising, recruiting, and scouting abilities, Devitt was instrumental in preparing the Hawks for both the 2021 America East semifinal victory against Vermont and the Championship win over UMass-Lowell. The Hawks knocked off No. 2 UVM, in Burlington, VT., before turning around to take down the River Hawks by 14 points in the America East title game to earn  the first conference championship in program history and Hartford’s first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament. Overall, Hartford achieved the best five-year mark in school history while Devitt was on staff. He was also named an America East Top Assistant Coach in 2020 by Stadium Media. 

 

“I’ve known Tom Devitt a long time,” said Boston College alum and Hall of Famer Danya Abrams. “He coached me at BC, then we coached together. He engages with student-athletes at a high level, and he embraces coaches’ needs greatly. This is a huge get for our community!” 

 

While at Hartford, Devitt scheduled over $1.5M worth of guarantee games as the Hawks defeated five high major opponents in four consecutive seasons. In addition, he planned fundraising events and partnered with donors to support a major locker room renovation and a team trip to Australia. 

 

He also spent 10 seasons as the head coach at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Devitt helped turn around Wentworth’s program, leading the Leopards to the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship and an NCAA Division III Tournament appearance in 2007. A two-time CCC Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2010, Devitt concluded his tenure as the all-time winningest coach in program history (145). He led his squad to eight consecutive CCC Tournament appearances and four-straight ECAC Tournament bids in his final four seasons. 

 

“Tom Devitt is a great hire for Friends of the Heights,” said College Basketball Analyst, Washington Post Columnist, and 23-Time New York Times Best Selling Author John Feinstein. “I’ve never met anyone in basketball who doesn’t like and respect him. And he’s a BC grad. Perfect!” 

 

Devitt gained NCAA Division I basketball experience early in his career when he started as an undergraduate student assistant for Boston College. After graduation, he remained at his alma mater for four more years as the Eagles’ Video Coordinator and Director of Basketball Operations. In his role, Devitt administered the Cage Club, Boston College basketball’s fundraising support organization. 

 

Devitt helped the Eagles claim the BIG EAST Championship in 1997. Prior to that, Devitt was a part of the 1994 Boston College staff that made an impressive run to the Elite Eight. As a No. 9 seed, the Eagles knocked off the defending national champion and No. 1-ranked North Carolina in the second round as well as Indiana in the Sweet 16. 

 

Following his stint at Boston College, Devitt, a Washington, D.C. native, returned to his hometown to assume the role of Assistant Coach of the men’s basketball team at American University.  

 

“Tom Devitt is well-liked and widely respected throughout New England and beyond,” said Basketball Insider and Analyst Jeff Goodman. “It’s great to see this BC alum return to lead the NIL charge.” 

 

Devitt’s wife, Amanda, is the Director of Athletics at University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, CT. The couple has two daughters, Violet and Payton. 

 
 
About Friends of the Heights 
Friends of the Heights is a fan-driven and alumni-led Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collective for Boston College student-athletes, alumni, and fans. Community members who commit their support to Friends of the Heights, are pledging to maximize opportunities for student-athletes to build their brand and earn compensation. In addition, community supporters gain access to exclusive events, autograph sessions, and more. Friends of the Heights is powered by parent company Blueprint Sports. For more information visit friendsoftheheights.com and follow @friendsoftheheights on Facebook and Instagram and @HeightsFriends on Twitter. 
 
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Media Contacts: 
Allison Monette VP Marketing and Communications  

allison@blueprintsports.com 

Nate Brown

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Nate Brown is the General Manager of Zags Collective, leading the charge to help amplify the opportunities for the Gonzaga student-athletes through NIL partnerships with local charities, fans and businesses. With over a decade of experience in the professional sports industry and as a former business owner in Spokane, Nate is a seasoned professional who knows what it takes to succeed. Most recently, he served as the National Sales Director for a prominent west-coast real estate company, where he was responsible for driving growth and retention. With a deep understanding of sales and marketing, Nate brings a wealth of knowledge to the table and is always seeking innovative ways to drive revenue and create partnerships.With a passion for ensuring the success of student-athletes both on and off the field, Nate is dedicated to providing the necessary resources to keep Gonzaga competitive on the national stage. He understands the importance of building and maintaining strong relationships with the community and local businesses, and works to maximize opportunities for Gonzaga’s student-athletes. As the son of two Gonzaga alumni, including a father who was a baseball pitcher and also a coach for the school, Nate has a great connection to the university and a passion for ensuring its continued success. Outside of work, Nate enjoys spending time with family, including his wife Jessica and their 16-year-old daughter Brooklynn and 12-year-old son Marcus. When not working or spending time with family, you can find Nate at any one of the amazing golf courses in Spokane, honing his swing!

Mike Smith

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Mike Smith joined Micconope 1851 in March 2023 and is excited to be the General Manager and looks forward to working with Blueprint Sports increase NIL revenue generation for Florida State University student-athletes. Smith comes to Micconope 1851 from Catawba College where he held the title as the Senior Director of Athletics, Development. Prior to working in Athletics at Catawba College, Mike served as the Associate Athletics Director for External Relations at Charleston Southern University. Smith has an impressive background in the collegiate athletics industry, having held senior level development and corporate sponsorship sales roles at The University of Southern Mississippi, Limestone University, the Sun Belt Conference, Florida Atlantic University, and with multimedia rights-holders Tele South Communications at the University of Mississippi, Learfield Sports at UNC Chapel Hill, and with International Sports Properties at Georgia Tech. Smith is a graduate of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, and holds a master’s degree in Business Management from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In his new role here at Micconppe 1851, Smith will be responsible for raising major gifts for NIL deals as well as securing NIL corporate sponsorships for Florida State University student-athletes. Mike looks forward to helping ensure the FSU student-athletes have the resources and leadership opportunities to remain competitive nationally and positioned for success well beyond graduation. Mike is married to Katy Smith; the couple looks forward to relocating to Tallahassee, Florida, and becoming a part of the Micconope 1851 and Seminole family!

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