Vuono '78 does just about everything, and then some

The New Orleans Saints, New York Knicks' head coach Isiah Thomas, Disney's Wide World of Sports and General Mill's Wheaties ? these are just a few clients that have employed Frank Vuono '78 over the years. He has made his name in the sports industry by managing projects and negotiations for many high-profile sports figures, teams and organizations. Named one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People in Sports" by The Sporting News, he is living the sports fan's dream as a partner for 16W Marketing, a company he co-founded in 2000.

"I'm a fortunate guy," Vuono said. "I've never felt like I really had a job. I get to read the sports pages every day and participate in the sports business and meet a lot of people. It's still work; there are still the pressures of a real job ... [but] I enjoy the things I've been able to do and not [having] to the same thing every day."

In addition to performing his duties at 16W, Vuono has just accepted a new position as the chief operating officer of the new United Football League (UFL). The UFL is a new football league with eight teams co-founded and owned by Bill Hambrecht '57 that is scheduled to debut in fall 2008. The UFL has the backing of several big names within the industry, including Mark Cuban, the current owner of the Dallas Mavericks. According to a press release, the league hopes to "meet the unmet needs of football fans in major markets currently underserved by professional football."

"I'm excited about helping to launch a new professional football league," Vuono said. "For an old guy like me, it's a lot of fun."

As an undergraduate at Princeton, Vuono was a jack-of-all-trades, cultivating a lifelong knack for multitasking. As an economics major, he ran a student T-shirt agency and took an on-campus job with the sports information department. He was also a four-year member of the varsity football team and played a few seasons of baseball and rugby. To top it off, he took sculpting classes.

After graduation, Vuono launched his career in the advertising business, taking a job with Young & Rubicam, a marketing firm. A few years later, he ventured into the sports industry as vice president of licensing for NFL Properties. While he was there, NFL gear sales skyrocketed to over $2.5 billion from about $300 million.

"I got a good marketing base in the advertising business and worked with some great people there," Vuono said. "I was able to bring some other disciplines into the sports world when I went to work at the NFL."

In 1993, he co-founded his first sports marketing firm with Steve Rosner. Vuono and Rosner partnered again when they established 16W Marketing.

At 16W, Vuono helped raise $11 million for the Saints and their 2006 season as the organization struggled in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He also helped organize the sale of naming rights for the St. Louis Rams' stadium to Edward Jones Financial and helped to coordinate the installation of synthetic turf at the stadiums of the Rams, Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants/Jets. Aside from his day job, Vuono also holds a place on several boards of directors, including those of the Children's Miracle Network and the NFL Quarterback Greats.

A devoted Princetonian, Vuono has been president of the Princeton Football Association for five years and is currently the president of his class.

"Sometimes I think I work full time for the University," Vuono said. "Every once and a while I have to stop and make a living and support my kids in college."

Though he loves sports and is a strong supporter of Princeton athletics, Vuono also believes in the power of a Princeton education and the importance of financial aid.

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"I'm very, very much aware that there needs to be a balance between athletics and academics, so I've been very active with my class and have tried to support the development office with fundraising," Vuono said. "I would've never been able to afford to go to Princeton in a thousand years if I had had to pay the full fare ... I really believe in giving back; I really believe in trying to help the University across the board."