Stages

The relationship between agent and athlete should start at graduation and continue through and after retirement. This type of long-term, committed relationship greatly benefits an athlete - if an agent understands their client’s wants, needs, likes, dislikes and passions, they are better able to ensure their happiness, safety and success. Every time an athlete switches agents they have to rebuild everything established with their prior agent – many times a long and unsuccessful process.

I have been blessed with many long, close and special client relationships. One such relationship is with Jenni Benningfield. In 2003 I was blessed to meet Jenni – then a junior at Vanderbilt. I first realized I wanted to work for Jenni when I listened to her talk to a teammate after a game during her sophomore season. Jenni walked the teammate through several plays – as a friend and leader. I knew at that point I wanted to be on Jenni’s team one day! Over the last six years Jenni and I have been through so much in life – the one constant has been the growth or our relationship. We have seen eachother through WNBA seasons, overseas seasons, injury, happiness, great success, disappointment and many, many more aspects of life. It has been a wild and wonderful ride that I feel so incredibly blessed to have shared with her. Jenni went to Australia this overseas season – we wanted a team and country where Jenni could truly enjoy what she thought might be her last year as a professional athlete. The experience far exceeded what we both hoped for. Jenni had a spectacular season – on and off the court. It ended with Jenni being named MVP of her team.

Jenni’s retirement is bittersweet. I will miss Jenni the athlete – the extraordinary way she led her teammates and played a game she loved. However, I am now exceptionally blessed to share her life as a friend.