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Pat Azzi

Background

  • Remote worker based in Bay Area, California
  • Recently joined Alpha School organization (approximately 1 month as of June 2025)
  • Has direct access to Joe Liemandt and Niraj despite being new and remote
  • Previously worked in entertainment/Hollywood industry
  • Has wife, no children mentioned

Professional Focus

  • Leading Alpha School's sports academy initiatives
  • Developing high-end sports-focused educational programs
  • Working on Orange County volleyball academy project with Ashley Maldonado
  • Operates with significant autonomy within Alpha organization

Key Projects & Initiatives

  • Orange County Sports Academy: $50K/year volleyball academy targeting wealthy Orange County families
  • Partnership with Ashley Maldonado (multi-million dollar volleyball coach)
  • Real estate development and facility planning for sports academies
  • Alternative to Texas Sports Academy model (different market positioning)

Organizational Position at Alpha

  • Reports directly to Joe Liemandt and Niraj
  • Bypasses typical organizational hierarchy
  • Has "open air" to structure deals however he wants
  • Receives extensive email communication from leadership (20+ email threads)
  • Leadership emails him at 1:00-1:30 AM showing high engagement
  • Given authority to negotiate equity splits and operational structures

Strategic Approach

  • Focus on single high-quality coach rather than multiple average coaches
  • Targets high-net-worth families willing to pay premium ($50K/year)
  • Emphasis on proven track record and D1 college placement results
  • Quality control over entire educational experience, not just software

Relationship with Tim Joo

  • Collaborates closely with Tim on sports academy development
  • Tim serves as liaison and relationship builder for Pat's initiatives
  • Pat lives in Bay Area, relies on Tim for Orange County area connections
  • Mutual support in navigating Alpha organizational challenges

Leadership Access & Influence

  • Direct communication with Joe Liemandt via GChat and email
  • Involved in strategic discussions about equity structures
  • Consulted on real estate decisions (leasing, subleasing arrangements)
  • Leadership highly engaged with his initiatives despite remote work

Market Strategy

  • Positioned as premium alternative to Texas Sports Academy
  • Focus on West Coast expansion potential (10+ schools)
  • Emphasis on surgical approach - one successful coach before scaling
  • Revenue model based on high tuition rather than volume

Key Insights & Quotes

  • Has authority to "structure the deal however you want" according to leadership
  • Leadership leaves equity split decisions "up to you" but advises to "think about it very hard"
  • Represents new business line development within Alpha ecosystem
  • Demonstrates that Alpha leadership values proven results over organizational politics

Operational Challenges

  • Geographic distance from Orange County opportunity
  • Need for boots-on-ground support in target market
  • Balancing remote work with hands-on facility development
  • Coordinating between Bay Area base and Southern California projects

Strategic Value

  • Represents Alpha's evolution toward premium market positioning
  • Demonstrates leadership's willingness to give autonomy to effective operators
  • Shows alternative path within Alpha organization that bypasses traditional hierarchies
  • Potential model for other specialized educational verticals

Notes

  • Despite being new and remote, has more direct access to leadership than many on-site team members
  • His success represents validation that Alpha leadership values results over politics
  • Partnership with Tim Joo shows effective collaboration between relationship builders and operators
  • Orange County project serves as potential template for premium sports academy scaling
  • Working under the Super Builders initiative
  • Conceptualized the idea for a high-cost, sports-focused Alpha school in California

Interactions

  • 2025-05-23: Tim Joo discussed collaboration with Pat Azzi on the IMG-style Alpha school concept during a meeting with Jason Applebaum