Durham Sports Club

Our guest speaker for this meeting will be Justin Gainey, who was named head coach of the NC State men’s basketball program this past March. He is returning to the university where he was a four-year starting point guard and team captain. The position is Gainey’s first collegiate head-coaching job after more than two decades working in Division I basketball.

A native of High Point, North Carolina, Gainey attended Greensboro Day School, where he helped the Bengals win consecutive state championships in 1995 and 1996. He was named the “North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association Player of the Year” in both seasons before beginning his college career at NC State.

Gainey played for the Wolfpack from 1996 to 2000. As a freshman, he played every minute of NC State’s four-game run through the 1997 ACC Tournament as the eighth-seeded Wolfpack advanced to the championship game. He was selected to the ACC All-Tournament First Team.

During his four seasons at NC State, Gainey appeared in 128 games and made 103 starts. He finished his career with 344 assists and 190 steals. His 190 steals rank fifth in school history. In the 2000 ACC Tournament, he recorded nine steals against Virginia, an ACC Tournament single-game record. Gainey served as team captain during his senior season and helped NC State earn postseason invitations in each of his four years.

After graduating from NC State in 2000 with a degree in business administration, Gainey played professionally in Austria, France and the United States. He later returned to NC State and earned a master’s degree in sport management in 2006.

Gainey began his college basketball career off the court at NC State, first in an administrative position and later as director of basketball operations. He moved into coaching at Elon in 2009 and subsequently worked at Appalachian State, Marquette, Santa Clara and Arizona.

In 2021, Gainey joined Rick Barnes’ staff at Tennessee. He was promoted to associate head coach before his second season and also served as the Volunteers’ defensive coordinator.

During Gainey’s five seasons at Tennessee, the Volunteers compiled a 134-48 record and reached the NCAA Tournament every year. Tennessee advanced to four Sweet 16s and three Elite Eights while winning the 2022 SEC Tournament championship and the 2024 SEC regular-season championship.

Defense was a major part of Tennessee’s success during Gainey’s time with the program. In 2022-23, the Volunteers were rated the best defensive team in the country and remained among the nation’s top defensive teams over the next two seasons. Gainey also played an important role in developing Tennessee’s guards, including All-SEC selections Kennedy Chandler, Zakai Zeigler and Ja’Kobi Gillespie.

Gainey returned to Raleigh in 2026 as the 22nd head coach in NC State men’s basketball history. His background includes experience in recruiting, player development, program operations and defensive strategy, along with coaching experience under Herb Sendek, Sean Miller, Steve Wojciechowski and Rick Barnes.

Gainey and his wife, Courtney, have three sons: Jordan, Jayson and Jaxson.

Mark Your Calendar
*** TUESDAY 10/6/26 – A Special Guest Speaker
10/21/26 – Steve Wiseman, Sports Editor, Raleigh News & Observer
11/4/26 – A different Special Guest Speaker

Our guest speaker for this meeting will be Jon Scheyer, Head Coach of the Duke University men’s basketball program and a former Duke All-American who has been part of the Blue Devils’ program as a player or coach for most of the past two decades.

A native of Northbrook, Illinois, Scheyer played at Duke from 2006-10. He finished his career with 2,077 points and remains the only player in Duke history with at least 2,000 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists, 250 three-pointers and 200 steals. A two-time team captain, Scheyer earned consensus second-team All-America and first-team All-ACC honors as a senior. He helped Duke win ACC Tournament championships in 2009 and 2010 and was named the tournament’s MVP in 2009.

Scheyer’s college career ended with Duke winning the 2010 NCAA championship. As a senior point guard, he averaged 18.2 points and 4.9 assists while starting all 40 games for a team that finished 35-5.

After playing professionally in the NBA Development League and overseas, Scheyer returned to Duke in 2013. He served as a special assistant, assistant coach and associate head coach under Mike Krzyzewski. During that period, Duke won the 2015 national championship and reached the Final Four in 2015 and 2022. Scheyer also became a key figure in Duke’s recruiting and player development.

Scheyer succeeded Krzyzewski as Duke’s head coach beginning with the 2022-23 season. In his first four seasons, he compiled a 124-18 record, the most victories by a Division I head coach through his first four seasons. Duke won three Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championships, reached three Elite Eights and advanced to the 2025 Final Four during that span.

In 2024-25, Scheyer led Duke to a 35-4 record, the ACC regular-season and tournament championships and the Final Four. He received the John McLendon National Coach of the Year Award.

Duke followed with a 35-3 season in 2025-26, again winning both ACC championships and earning the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Scheyer was named ACC Coach of the Year and NABC Division I Coach of the Year. Through four seasons, his teams recorded 25 victories over AP-ranked opponents, the most in the nation during that period.

NOTE: THIS MEETING IS OPEN EXCLUSIVELY TO DURHAM SPORTS CLUB MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS.

Mark Your Calendar
9/16/26 – Justin Gainey, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, NC State
10/7/26 – A Special Guest Speaker
10/21/26 – Steve Wiseman, Sports Editor, Raleigh News & Observer

Our guest speaker for this meeting will be Binuk Kodituwakku, General Manager for Duke Football. Duke promoted him to the position in March 2026. He had spent nearly three years working on strategy, data and roster management for the Blue Devils.

Kodituwakku joined Duke Football in June 2023 as Chief Football Strategy Officer. His work included Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), football data, recruiting and roster planning.

His role grew as college sports changed. He used data and player reviews to help Duke make choices about revenue sharing and how to build its roster.

Duke enjoyed strong results during his time with the program. The Blue Devils won 18 games over the two seasons before his promotion. They posted back-to-back nine-win seasons for only the second time in school history. Duke also won its first outright ACC title since 1962.

The transfer portal played a key role in Duke’s roster plans. Five Duke transfers earned All-ACC honors over two seasons. Linebacker Alex Howard came to Duke from Youngstown State. He earned honorable mention All-America honors after the 2024 season. Duke also placed 13 transfer players on Academic All-ACC teams during that two-year span.

Before coming to Duke, Kodituwakku worked in pro sports in Australia. He is a native of Australia with roots in Sri Lanka. He served as Head of Analytics and Football Innovation for the Adelaide Football Club of the Australian Football League.

At Adelaide, Kodituwakku helped build the roster and find new players. He used data to judge player value and help the club make trades. He also managed an annual salary cap of about $15 million. In addition, he helped the club improve the way it used data and technology.

Kodituwakku also founded Above Replacement Consulting. The sports firm helped teams make decisions about players and roster needs. His work included soccer, Australian rugby and international cricket.

Kodituwakku earned degrees in law and commerce from the University of Western Australia. He later came to Duke and earned his MBA from the Fuqua School of Business in 2024.

While at Fuqua, Kodituwakku was named a McGowan Fellow. The honor goes to top business students who show strong academic skills, leadership and service.

As General Manager, Kodituwakku helps shape the future of Duke Football. He studies players and the transfer portal. He helps plan recruiting and build the roster. He also helps Duke decide how to use its football resources.

His past work in data, roster planning and pro sports gives him a strong base for the job. Those skills have become even more important as the business of college football continues to change.


Mark Your Calendar
9/2/26 – John Scheyer, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Duke
9/16/26 – Justin Gainey, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, NC State
10/7/26 – A Special Guest Speaker

Our guest speaker for this meeting will be Steve Vacendak, former Duke and American Basketball Association star.  Vacendak ranks among the top guards in Duke basketball history. Playing under Hall of Fame coach Vic Bubas, he helped turn the Blue Devils into a national power during the 1960s. A native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Vacendak played at Duke from 1963 to 1966. During his three varsity seasons, Duke posted a 72-14 record, reached the NCAA Final Four twice, won an ACC championship, and finished as the national runner-up. It was one of the most successful eras in the program’s history.

Because freshmen were not eligible for varsity play, Vacendak made his Duke debut as a sophomore during the 1963-64 season. That year, the Blue Devils reached the NCAA Championship Game before losing to John Wooden’s UCLA dynasty. Two years later, Duke returned to the Final Four after winning the ACC Tournament and finished third in the nation. Vacendak played a major role in both tournament runs with his scoring, defense, and leadership.

His best season came in 1965-66 when he served as Duke’s captain. The Blue Devils finished 26-4, won the ACC Tournament, and reached the NCAA Final Four. Vacendak averaged 13.3 points per game and established himself as one of the ACC’s top defensive guards. He was named ACC Player of the Year, one of the conference’s highest individual honors. He remains the only player in ACC history to win the award without being named First Team All-ACC, a reflection of the respect coaches and media had for his leadership and overall impact.

Vacendak was at his best in the ACC Tournament, which carried extra importance in an era when only the conference champion advanced to the NCAA Tournament. He was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player in 1966 after scoring a team-high 18 points in Duke’s championship win over NC State. He was also a two-time First Team All-ACC Tournament selection and twice earned All-East Regional honors during NCAA Tournament play.

During his three varsity seasons, Vacendak played in 84 games and scored 953 career points, averaging 11.3 points per game. His greatest value, however, went beyond the box score. His defense, toughness, and leadership helped define one of the most successful periods in Duke basketball history.

The San Francisco Warriors selected Vacendak in the fourth round of the 1966 NBA Draft, but he chose to play in the American Basketball Association. He spent three seasons in the ABA and won a league championship with the Pittsburgh Pipers in 1968.

After his playing career, Vacendak returned to Duke as Associate Athletic Director, where he helped shape the future of the athletic department. One of his most lasting contributions came in 1980, when he strongly recommended Army head coach Mike Krzyzewski for Duke’s vacant basketball coaching position. Duke hired Krzyzewski, who went on to build one of the greatest coaching careers in college basketball history. In an interesting twist, Vacendak also encouraged NC State to consider Jim Valvano for its head coaching opening. The Wolfpack hired Valvano just nine days after Duke named Krzyzewski its new coach.

Vacendak’s legacy has been recognized with induction into the Duke Athletics Hall of Fame, selection as an ACC Basketball Legend, and induction into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. His accomplishments on the court, combined with his continued service to college athletics, have secured his place among the most respected figures in Duke basketball history.

Mark Your Calendar
8/5/26 – Binuk Kodituwakku, General Manager, Duke Football
8/19/26 – A Special Guest Speaker
9/2/26 – A different Special Guest Speaker

Phil Ford is widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in the history of college basketball and one of the most accomplished players ever to wear a North Carolina uniform. A native of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Ford starred at the University of North Carolina from 1974 to 1978 under legendary coach Dean Smith, where he established a reputation for exceptional court vision, leadership, and unselfish play.

Ford made an immediate impact as a freshman, becoming the first freshman in ACC history to earn the Everett Case Award as the Most Valuable Player of the ACC Tournament after leading the Tar Heels to the 1975 conference championship. Over the next three seasons, he continued to build one of the finest collegiate careers of his era. He was a three-time First Team All-American and a three-time First Team All-ACC selection. In 1978, he was named ACC Player of the Year, National Player of the Year, and became the first recipient of the John R. Wooden Award, recognizing him as the nation’s outstanding college basketball player.

During his four-year career, Ford scored 2,290 points while setting an ACC career record with 753 assists, a mark that stood for many years. He led North Carolina to three consecutive ACC regular-season championships, two ACC Tournament titles, and an appearance in the 1977 NCAA championship game. His ability to control the pace of a game and consistently create opportunities for teammates helped define the modern point guard position in college basketball.

Ford also represented the United States on the international stage. As the starting point guard for the 1976 U.S. Olympic team, coached by Dean Smith, he helped lead the Americans to the gold medal in Montreal while averaging nine assists per game during the tournament.

Selected second overall in the 1978 NBA Draft by the Kansas City Kings, Ford enjoyed an outstanding rookie season. He averaged 15.9 points and 8.6 assists per game, earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors, was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team, and remarkably was selected to the All-NBA Second Team in his first professional season. Ford finished a seven-year NBA career with more than 5,500 points and over 3,000 assists.

After retiring as a player, Ford returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach from 1988 to 2000, serving under Dean Smith and later Bill Guthridge. During that span, UNC reached six Final Fours and captured the 1993 NCAA national championship. He later joined the university’s athletic fundraising organization, continuing to represent Carolina basketball.

Ford’s legacy is defined not only by his impressive list of awards but also by the way he played the game. His intelligence, passing ability, leadership, and competitiveness made him one of the premier point guards in college basketball history. His induction into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 further cemented a career that remains a benchmark for excellence at both North Carolina and in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Mark Your Calendar
8/5/26 – A Special Guest Speaker
8/19/26 – A different Special Guest Speaker

Jerry Sands carved out an impressive professional baseball career that took him from the small-college ranks in North Carolina to Major League Baseball before establishing himself as one of the most productive power hitters in Asia. Along the way, he consistently demonstrated the ability to hit for power, drive in runs, and adapt to every challenge the game presented.

A graduate of Smithfield-Selma High School, Sands continued his career at Catawba College, where he became one of the premier hitters in NCAA Division II baseball. During his four seasons with Catawba, he developed into a feared middle-of-the-order bat, finishing with 61 career home runs and more than 200 RBIs. His remarkable offensive production earned him All-American honors and attracted the attention of Major League scouts.

Selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 25th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, Sands wasted little time proving he belonged. After steadily progressing through the Dodgers’ farm system, he enjoyed a breakout 2010 season, batting .301 while combining for 35 home runs and 93 RBIs between High-A Inland Empire and Double-A Chattanooga. His outstanding performance earned him the Dodgers’ Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year Award and established him as one of the organization’s top prospects.

Sands made his Major League debut with Los Angeles in April 2011 and quickly showcased the power that had fueled his rise through the minors. Over the next five seasons, he appeared in the major leagues with the Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago White Sox.

His greatest statistical success came after taking his talents overseas. Joining the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in 2018, Sands quickly became one of the league’s premier run producers. His 2019 season ranked among the finest by a foreign player in the KBO as he batted .305 with 28 home runs, 113 RBIs, and an OPS approaching .940. He led the league in RBIs and was honored with the KBO Golden Glove Award as the league’s top first baseman.

Sands carried that success to Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league, signing with the Hanshin Tigers in 2020. Facing another adjustment to a new country, language, and style of play, he once again proved his ability to compete at the highest level. Over two seasons with Hanshin, he hit 39 home runs while helping one of Japan’s most tradition-rich franchises contend in the highly competitive Central League.

Few players have enjoyed successful careers in Major League Baseball, Triple-A, the Korean Baseball Organization, and Nippon Professional Baseball. Jerry Sands distinguished himself in each stop by doing what he had always done best—hitting baseballs with authority. His career reflects not only exceptional talent, but also remarkable adaptability and consistency across some of the strongest professional baseball leagues in the world.

Today, Sands continues to contribute to the game as an international scout for the Hanshin Tigers, helping identify the next generation of talent while drawing on the experience of a playing career that spanned more than a decade and multiple continents.

Mark Your Calendar
7/1/26 – NO MEETING
7/15/26 – Special Guest Speaker
8/5/26 – A Different Special Guest Speaker

Our guest speaker for this meeting will be Jerry Narron, former Major League Catcher, Coach and Manager whose baseball career has spanned more than 40 years. Born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, Narron played college baseball at East Carolina University before being drafted by the New York Yankees organization.

Narron reached the Major Leagues in 1979 and played eight seasons as a catcher with the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, and California Angels. Known for his defensive skills and game management, he earned a reputation as a reliable catcher and strong clubhouse presence.

After retiring as a player, Narron moved into coaching and managing. He spent years working in professional baseball before becoming manager of the Texas Rangers in 2001. He later managed the Cincinnati Reds from 2005 to 2007, helping oversee the development of several young players during a rebuilding period for the franchise.

In addition to his managerial roles, Narron served as a coach with several Major League organizations, including the Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, and others. Throughout his career, he became known for his baseball knowledge, preparation, and ability to work with players, particularly catchers.

Baseball has long been central to the Narron family. Jerry’s brothers, Johnny and Sam Narron, also spent decades in professional baseball as coaches and scouts. Jerry Narron himself became widely respected throughout the game for his professionalism, consistency, and long-term commitment to the sport.

Mark Your Calendar
6/3/26 – Scholar-Athlete Awards luncheon
6/17/26 – Jerry Sands, Former Pro Baseball Player

Our guest speaker for this meeting will be Pat Polizio, Head Wrestling Coach at North Carolina State University. Popolizio has emerged as one of the most influential figures in modern collegiate wrestling, transforming the NC State Wolfpack wrestling into a nationally respected powerhouse through a combination of relentless culture-building, technical excellence, and long-term vision. Since being named head coach in 2012, Popolizio has overseen one of the most dramatic program turnarounds in the sport, elevating NC State from relative obscurity into a consistent top-10 contender on the national stage.

A native of New York, Popolizio’s wrestling roots run deep. He was a state champion in high school and went on to compete at Oklahoma State University, one of the sport’s most storied programs, where he absorbed a championship-level mindset that would later define his coaching philosophy. Before arriving in Raleigh, he built a strong foundation as a head coach at Binghamton University, earning conference coach-of-the-year honors and developing a reputation as a program builder capable of maximizing talent.

When Popolizio took over at NC State, the program had endured years of inconsistency and declining results. His approach was direct and unapologetic: change the culture, raise expectations, and demand accountability. The results followed quickly. Within a few years, the Wolfpack broke into the national rankings, and by 2018, they achieved a historic fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships—the highest in school history.

Under his leadership, NC State has produced multiple NCAA champions, finalists, and All-Americans, including stars like Nick Gwiazdowski and Michael Macchiavello. The program’s sustained success is reflected in its consistency: double-digit NCAA qualifiers year after year, a string of top-20 national finishes, and multiple top-10 placements. Perhaps most impressively, Popolizio has guided the Wolfpack to a dominant run in the Atlantic Coast Conference, capturing numerous ACC team championships—including a stretch of six consecutive titles from 2019 through 2024.

Popolizio’s coaching style blends intensity with precision. He is known for emphasizing fundamentals, situational awareness, and mental toughness—traits that translate well beyond the mat. His oft-cited philosophy, essentially boiling down to “nothing changes if nothing changes,” reflects a belief in constant evolution and disciplined improvement. Athletes under his guidance are expected not only to compete at a high level but to embrace a culture of accountability and resilience.

Recognition has followed success. Popolizio has earned multiple ACC Coach of the Year honors and national accolades, including being named a national coach of the year and a finalist for several prestigious coaching awards. Yet his impact extends beyond trophies and titles. He has helped raise the profile of wrestling at NC State, increasing attendance, fan engagement, and national visibility for the program.


Mark Your Calendar
5/20/26 – Jerry Narron, Former Pro Baseball Player and Manager
6/3/26 – Scholar-Athlete Awards luncheon
6/17/26 – Jerry Sands, Former Pro Baseball Player