Panelist

Oliver Luck, Houston Dynamo President & General Manager

Anschutz Entertainment Group and Major League Soccer announced that the city of Houston was selected as the new home of the San Jose Earthquakes on December 15, 2005. AEG Sports president Shawn Hunter named former Harris County-Houston Sports Authority Chief Executive Officer Oliver Luck as the first president of the Houston MLS franchise, now known as Houston Dynamo.

Houston's ethnic and demographic composition makes it an ideal location for a thriving Major League Soccer team. A majority of the population in metropolitan Houston is Hispanic, and 85 different languages are spoken in the city. Luck believes that the city's current demographic makeup is what will be seen across the country in 50 years. Given soccer's universal appeal, MLS Houston seems destined for success.

In the first season of existence as the Houston Dynamo, the team won the MLS Cup after a memorable shootout against the New England Revolution in Frisco, Texas. The team boasted All-Stars Brian Ching and Dwayne De Rosario, and De Rosario was named MVP of the Sierra Mist All-Star Game at Bridgeview, Ill.  

Oliver Luck was sworn in as CEO of the HCHSA on December 3, 2001. In his role he oversaw the operations of the HCHSA, the governmental entity created in 1997 to provide the financing, construction, and management oversight of the three large sports and entertainment venues in Houston: Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros; Reliant Stadium, home of the Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; and Toyota Center, home of the Houston Rockets, Comets, and Aeros.  

Prior to joining the Sports Authority, Luck was a top-ranking executive with the National Football League for over ten years, where he served as Vice President of Business Development and President and CEO of NFL Europe. A record setting quarterback at West Virginia University, Luck was selected in the second round of the 1982 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers and went on to play five seasons with the club. He earned a B.A. degree from West Virginia University, graduating with highest honors, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. In 1987 he received a J.D. from the University of Texas, graduating with honors.  

Luck, a two-time Academic All-American while in college, was recently named to the Academic All-American Hall of Fame. On June 27, 2008, Luck was named to serve a four-year term on the West Virginia University Board of Governors, beginning July 1.

He is married to the former Kathy Wilson and they have four children; Andrew, Mary Ellen, Emily and Addison. In addition to his professional pursuits, Luck is actively involved as a coach for youth sports.