BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DONALD TRINGALI
Founder and Chairman of the Board
Don Tringali is a retired attorney and corporate executive who for much of his adult life has dedicated himself to improving youth basketball opportunities for kids in Southern Arizona. In 1993, he founded Sporting Chance Youth Basketball, Inc., a Tucson-based 501(c)(3) organization that quickly became the most prominent youth basketball organization in Tucson, providing kids with a wide range of basketball opportunities, including tournaments, leagues, competitive teams, clinics, special events, coaches clinics, and other programs. He founded Southern Arizona Community Sports, Inc. in 2007 to focus on the development, construction, and operation of what became the Sporting Chance Center.
CHRIS LUDWIG
Director, Secretary/Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair
Chris Ludwig, CPA, is a tax partner at Ludwig, Klewer & Rudner, PLLC, a respected accounting firm in Southern Arizona. He has played organized and recreational basketball since his youth. Chris serves on the Southern Arizona Community Sports, Inc. and Tanglewood Homeowners’ Association board of directors. He is a former member of the board of directors of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Tucson, Inc., Arizona Council for Casa and Northwest Medical Center. Chris has also been a member of the Rotary Club of Tucson and has volunteered for Young Life Capernaum.
TOM BINDER
Director, Community Relations Committee Chair
Tom Binder is Vice President at Presidio Group Wealth Management, and a long time supporter of youth volleyball in Tucson. He is a long-time Tucsonan.
GARY MALIS
Director, Fundraising Committee Chair
Gary Malis is a finance executive with an overwhelming passion for youth basketball. He has coached club basketball for over ten years in Tucson, developing several college players. He has also coached at the high school varsity level, and runs skills clinics for players of all levels. He created and directs the Lute Olson Basketball Academy at the Sporting Chance Center.
RON YAELI
Director
Ron Yaeli is President of Ronan Company. Real estate investment and management firm. Through involvement in his son’s participation in youth and high school basketball, he realized the importance of supporting the lifelong skills developed through youth sports in the Tucson community.
BRAD TERRY
Director
Brad Terry is General Counsel for The University of Arizona Foundation. Born and raised in Utah, Brad came to Tucson for law school and now proudly calls the Old Pueblo home. He enjoys playing basketball and is a firm believer of the positive impact of youth sports.
CHRIS UTTER
Director
Chris Utter is a data science manager at Komatsu Mining Technology Solutions. Born and raised in Tucson, Chris played basketball at Rincon/University High School before attending The University of Arizona, studying Systems Engineering and Applied Mathematics. He is an avid supporter of youth sports in southern Arizona and has been a volunteer basketball coach for his alma mater since 2007.
DANE BINDER
Director
Dane Binder, has held roles in various human services and behavioral health organizations in Southern Arizona, most recently as the Chief Operations Officer for Sierra Tucson. Dane has been fortunate to work with Pima County Health Department over the years on various healthcare initiatives to promote mental health wellness and fight the substance use epidemic. Dane has been a volleyball player since middle school and joined the Sporting Chance Center as a Junior Board Member shortly after the facility opened its doors. He holds a Master’s of Science in Psychology and spends his free time running, watching sports of all kinds, and enjoying time with his family.
MIKAELA KNUTSON
Director
Mikaela J. Knutson, CPA is an Accounting and Assurance Senior Manager at BeachFleischman PC, one of Arizona’s largest locally-owned public accounting firms. Mikaela was born in Tucson and played volleyball and basketball at Salpointe Catholic High School before moving up north to NAU to play volleyball collegiately. However, always a Wildcat at heart, she came back to graduate from the University of Arizona. Playing volleyball and promoting the sport for all has always been a passion of hers, which is why she joined the Sporting Chance Center as a Junior Board Member. She also serves as Board Treasurer for Friends of Pima Animal Care Center.