Stephen Scansaroli

January 2, 2022
1.It seems only recently that the idea of player management/promotion has really taken hold in disc golf. What do you think caused this shift? - "It has been around prior. We can only hypothesize that it wasn't executed properly or the agencies didn't see the value and/or was a bit early for the industry. Now, with the growth of the industry, the skill level being raised year over year by the players - it seems now is the time. "Agents" are popping up but DGPM Group is much more than just an agent/agency, which you alluded to in this question. We are full circle player management. Players are seeing the value and the return for having aide, someone helping though every step, keeping both sides honest, and helping drive their success. Everyone is also realizing that this is a career not a hobby anymore, there is money to be made - so the correct steps need to be taken to secure their futures. We are here to provide that and more!"

2.What got you started in in the player management field? - "This is an easy one – It really started with Drew Gibson, and the relationship we built over the years we built a strong bond and trust. We worked together to launch Gibson Industry’s and other side projects, we talked about contracts and the industry constantly. We decided to do a test year, which was very successful and off we went. Some other variables were watching the sport change and grow so fast and seeing good friends succeed but also struggle with decision making, relationships, finances, contract decisions and trying to navigate it all with limited knowledge or skillsets to do “all of the things” - we understood that our expertise could. Couple that with investor discussions and market research. It gave us the understand that there is actually a wide range of players out there that can benefit from our offerings. I saw we, because DGPM is a team of people, we are only great at what we do because the people we surround ourselves with!"

3.Would it be beneficial for someone just starting to tour professionally to get in touch with DGPM? - "It depends on what you mean by “starting to tour professionally”. My advice to any young pro that's "on fire" and plays a few A-Tiers a year is to find and allow those local pros to mentor you. Learn from them, absorb from them, they will help! Now if you are talking about the Cole Redalan/ Gannon Buhr types, Casey White a few years ago - the answer is yes. We are working on a parent/player program that will help them navigate the industry, understand how it all works, best approaches, learn all the players etc. DGPM is about growth of the sport, sure we are a business – but our mission statement is about helping the sport reach the next level by raising the bar across the board!"

4.How long have you been involved with Disc golf? - "This will be year 6 for me. I found the sport in a very unlikely place after getting a concussion as a hockey goalie. I just happened to be looking for a new sport to engage in while I was healing and a co-worker at a software company asked to have a meeting outside the office, he took me disc golfing! Then I had a blessed path – I got involved with a local public course with the town, learned an amazing amount. Then started running tournaments, fund raiser events, designing courses… then I met Will Schusterick who we asked to do a clinic at the local course I was running, which turned into him bringing players like Drew Gibson and others to stay at my house for MVP/GMC weeks. I built amazing relationships with these players - so much so they called my wife and I 'Mom and Dad’ when they were out here LOL! Will got me very into Prodigy which was my bedrock for 4-5 years. It provided me with a ton of insight into the industry on all levels. Allowed me to captain the Street team, Battalion and ASL teams, some of my favorite time in my disc golf career! It was a bittersweet day leaving it all behind for DGPM Group! We are onto the next chapter and I couldn’t be happier with where the team has taken DGPM so far! "

5.Whats your favorite breakfast food? - "Oooh, Great question…. I’m a combo eater, I’d say a grilled bagel with cream cheese, French toast smothered in butter/syrup, bacon/sausage and a huge glass of chocolate milk! "