Pat Croce

Pat Croce was featured on the cover of Success magazine as the first person to ascend from the training room to the boardroom of a professional sports team. His transformation from a pioneering physical therapist in the sports medicine field to the vibrant leader who revitalized the Philadelphia 76ers as an NBA championship contender is widely recognized in sports history.

Through his focus on customer service and business acumen, Croce developed Sports Physical Therapists, a sports medicine empire with 40 centers across 11 states, into a top-ten finalist for the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. After selling his company, he channeled his entrepreneurial energy and relentless positivity into acquiring the NBA's then-struggling Philadelphia 76ers in 1996. During his five-year presidency, the team dramatically improved from the worst to first in the NBA standings, breaking franchise records in attendance, revenue, merchandise sales, and consecutive wins, culminating in a face-off in the NBA Championships against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2001.

In addition to his role in sports, Croce has served as a commentator for the NBA on NBC and as a Tae Kwon Do commentator during the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Greece. He hosted the nationally syndicated daily TV show "Pat Croce: Moving In" and was a panel judge on ABC’s "American Inventor." He also developed a pilot called "Family Business" for The History Channel.

An accomplished author, Croce has penned several bestsellers including "I Feel Great and You Will Too!", "110%", and "Lead or Get Off the Pot!" His interest in pirate history is evident in his works such as "Pirate Soul" and other related titles. Beyond writing, he established the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum and owns and operates the Colonial Quarter living-history museum in conjunction with the University of Florida, which opened on March 16, 2013.

Continuing his entrepreneurial pursuits, Croce remains active in various business ventures, including technology, e-commerce, fitness, healthcare, and entertainment. He also dedicates significant energy to community initiatives. As of January 2010, he serves on the board of directors for Movitas, a mobile technology company focused on the hospitality industry.

Croce’s recognition includes receiving the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, being featured on the cover of Inc. magazine as "The Dale Carnegie of the 21st Century," and receiving A&E Biography’s Community Hero Award. He is chairman of Pat Croce & Company, which holds controlling interests in three prominent Key West restaurant/bars.