Longtime Tucson sports mogul Mike Feder announced Thursday he is leaving his post as executive director of the Tucson Sugar Skulls of the Indoor Football League, but he will remain active in a community in which he has served since 1989.
“This was my last fulltime job,” Feder told me about his stint with the Sugar Skulls, “but I will spend the rest of my life in Tucson and be involved in the community any way I can.”
Feder’s sports management roles in Tucson started in 1989 as the general manager of the Tucson Toros and is still going strong as an owner and coordinator of the Lute Olson Fantasy Basketball Camp along with AllSportsTucson.com’s Steve Rivera and president of the Vamos a Tucson Mexican Baseball Fiesta.
His background extends to 45 years ago when he became the youngest person to become a general manager of a minor-league franchise at Class A Burlington (Iowa) of the Oakland A’s (see timeline of his career below).
Feder, 67, is about to be a grandfather for the first time along with his wife Pattie, who is also very active in the Tucson community. The baby boy of their son Nate and his wife Stephanie is due in about two weeks. Mike plans to visit his grandchild in Phoenix as much as possible.
“I’m very much looking forward to that,” Feder said. “I’ll be posting a lot of photos (on Facebook). I’ll be obnoxious with that for sure.”
In a press release issued by the Sugar Skulls, Feder was thankful for the opportunity presented by team owners Kevin and Cathy Guy.
“I’m glad I had a chance to play a role in the inaugural season,” Feder said. “It’s just time for me to slow down a little and get ready to be a grandpa for the first time, help organize the Lute Olson Fantasy Basketball Camp, and continue being the president of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta for the ninth year.
“I know this franchise has a great future. I plan on being one of the biggest Sugar Skulls fans in Tucson.”
Feder was announced as the Sugar Skulls’ first executive director when the formation of the team was announced last August. He leaves the position on June 30.
“We genuinely appreciate Mike’s commitment to helping the Sugar Skulls get off the ground and set the stage for future success,” Cathy Guy said. “It was important for us to establish ourselves as Tucson’s team with management firmly rooted in the community. Mike’s knowledge of Tucson and the business community helped us have a successful season from a business standpoint. We wish him all the best as he leaves our organization.
“Our goals remain the same which are to run a successful franchise from a competitive and business perspective, and to be an integral part of the community. We had an exciting and successful first season and we expect to continue that into our second year.”
Feder has also served on Board of Directors for Visit Tucson, the Father’s Day Council which raises money for the Steele Children’s Research Center, the Tucson Police Foundation, and the Caballeros Del Sol. He was also the Executive Director of the Pima County Sports and Tourism Authority.
Feder has also coordinated Arizona’s exclusive Sands Club in the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility on game day since 2012.
Mike Feder Timeline
- 2017-present — Owner and coordinator of Lute Olson Fantasy Basketball Camp
- 2011-present — President of the Vamos a Tucson Mexican Baseball Fiesta
- 2018-2019 — Executive Director of Tucson Sugar Skulls
- 2016-2017 — Executive Director and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Arizona Bowl
- 2014-2015 — Tucson Special Projects for the Arizona Diamondbacks
- 2011-2013 — General Manager of the Triple-A Tucson Padres.
- 2005-2006 — Executive Director of AFL’s Austin Wranglers
- 2004-2005 — General Manager of the Arena Football League’s New Orleans VooDoo
- 2001-2005 — Coordinator of Sales and Marketing for the New Orleans Saints
- 1989-2001 — General Manager of the Triple-A Tucson Toros/Sidewinders
- 1998 — Inducted into the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame
- 1997 — Honored by Tucson Conquistadores for long and meritorious service to the Tucson sports community
- 1990-1996 — Media Director and Board Member of the Copper Bowl and Insight.com Bowl
- 1988 — General Manager of Class A Davenport (Iowa)
- 1979-1987 — General Manager of Class AA Jackson (Miss.)
- 1978 — General Manager of Class A Daytona Beach (Fla.)
- 1977 — General Manager of Class A Coco (Fla.)
- 1975-1976 — General Manager of Class A Wausau (Wis.)
- 1974 — General Manager of Class A Burlington (Iowa).
FOLLOW @JAVIERJMORALES ON TWITTER!
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
Recommended for you
