Rings of Distinction

A Pointer's path of success started with his class ring

 

A Janesville native, Dan Hauser, who played both football and baseball for the Pointers, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1977. When he first arrived on campus, he decided to follow in the footsteps of his educator parents and began studying business education. Eventually, however, that plan went awry.

“When I student-taught, it didn’t go well,” he recalls. “I realized that I needed to do something else.”

Dan enjoyed a co-op experience with the athletic department as a student. Working with then athletic director Paul Harman, as well as subsequent discussions with Dennis Tierney, a career counselor at UW-Stevens Point at the time, led him to consider working in sports administration.

He enrolled in graduate school at Ohio University, which was one of only three colleges at the time offering a master’s degree with an emphasis in the field. From there, he began an internship with the Pistons, selling season tickets over the phone. He climbed the ladder of the organization, rising to an executive vice president position. In that capacity, he “oversaw every department except legal and human resources,” concentrating on corporate sponsorships during the last 20 years he worked for the organization.

"I enjoyed going to work every day," said Hauser. "I worked with Fortune 500s and we built relationships with a lot of local businesses as well.”

Dan was part of the Pistons during the team's “Bad Boys" era of the late 80s and early 90s, as well as the franchise's return as NBA champions in 2004 with Coach Larry Brown. His tenure was marked by both rewards and challenges, he said.

“It’s more fun to be around when you're winning,” said Dan, “but the expectations get raised in all areas, including sales. You not only have to sustain that success, but there’s pressure to build on it.”

The Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment were sold in 2011, resulting in changes in the front office. Dan’s career was in transition when, in 2012, he suffered a brain aneurysm requiring two surgeries.

“Two years ago, I was facing death,” he said. “I learned from that experience there is always hope. I’m blessed. The good lord helped me through that difficult time. I’m a lucky guy.”

In fall 2013, Dan returned to the NBA as senior vice president of corporate sponsorships for the Philadelphia 76ers. His responsibilities in Philadelphia are very similar to the function he had performed with the Pistons, with one notable exception. “The main difference is that we are just a team here. With the Pistons we were the team and the arena. We had more properties,” he said.

The Sixers have struggled on the court lately, but Dan is excited about the team's prospects. Two first-round draft picks, each in 2013 and 2014, should help the franchise turn things around in the win/loss column.

“There is a lot of upside working in the fourth largest market in the country," he said. "I like the opportunity to be a part of building something from the ground floor."

As part of his job, Dan hosts clients at many Sixer home games. His path has crossed with UW-Stevens Point graduate and NBA star and coach Terry Porter during the years. Porter served as an assistant coach for the Pistons from 2006 to 2008.

“We are always friendly with one another," said Dan of his encounters with Porter. "He has had an incredible career. I have tremendous respect for what Terry has accomplished."

Dan has fond memories of his years at UW-Stevens Point. He was a catcher on the diamond and played center on the gridiron for Coach Monte Charles, whose offensive system was dubbed “the aerial circus.”

“I learned some wonderful lessons at Point about hard work, not getting down, giving extra effort and working as a team," he said. "Those have all carried over throughout my career. The foundation was set in Stevens Point.”