Meet Eddie Delaney, a true star of Universe–walk past him in the office, and you’re guaranteed to get a big smile and a fist bump! For the last 7 years, Eddie has been a volunteer coach and an integral part of the non-profit, NubAbility. His dedication to the organization runs deep. Shortly after he joined the Universe team, he knew he could help take their registration process to the next level: We’re proud to count NubAbility among our valued Universe clients and to help them make every event more successful than the last.
Describe what you do here at Universe.
I’m an Account Executive, so my job is to identify new business opportunities for Universe and help folks throw the best events they can! I ensure that every organizer feels like a valued member of the Universe community and Live Nation Entertainment family as a whole. It’s exciting to creatively brainstorm with clients and help solve any pain points they might have — most times these events are their livelihood, and I feel fortunate that I’m able to help others achieve success.
Where were you before you joined the team?
I worked in sports television for 5+ years after graduating college and my last job was managing camera crews for live sports broadcasts at the Pac-12 Network. My primary job was to assign the crews to different games around the Pacific Northwest and California — it was a challenging job and tested my problem-solving skills. Every day was like solving a complex and dynamic puzzle, but it was a challenge I gladly accepted. It gave me the skills I use today with my current clients at Universe — events are always changing and it’s fun to be able to put all the pieces in place.
Tell us a little more about yourself and what lead to your involvement with NubAbility.
I grew up on Long Island, so I’m an east coast guy at heart. I played football in high school, and since I have one hand, I was always considered an underdog. I felt that I had something to prove. Football was my life, and when I was accepted to the University of Albany, I reached out to the coaching staff to send them my highlight tape. After watching it, they called me up and offered me a tryout for an open walk-on spot! I made the team and ended up redshirting my freshman year. After working my butt off on the field and in the gym, I earned a second string spot. I paid my dues, put in the work, and finally got an opportunity to start.
I ended up earning an All-Conference award and continued to have success through the rest of college, even getting some looks from a few NFL teams. Although I didn’t end up becoming a professional football player, my experiences with the game lead to some fantastic opportunities, one of the most rewarding being my work with NubAbility.
How did you get your start with NubAbility?
When I was in my senior year at Albany, I was contacted by Jana & Sam Kuhnert of NubAbility. They had been following my football career and mentioned that they were in the process of starting a program for limb-different kids. The idea was to get kids off the bench and into the game of mainstream organized sports, and they wondered if I was interested in coaching the football portion.
The first camp was in Greenville, MO and I needed to fly out there that summer. Like most college graduates, money was tight so I told her I wouldn’t be able to pay for the flight–the next day, she called me back and told me a few parents pitched in to get me to Greenville! I was beyond grateful. I couldn’t let that opportunity pass me by, and have been coaching camps for the past 7 years. Since that first year, the program has grown significantly. We now offer camps across the nation spanning different sports such as basketball, football, golf, and archery (to name a few).
How would you describe your role in the organization?
After being the Football coach for a couple years, I now have the honor of being the head men’s coach, head football coach, and a member of the board. I’m also extremely proud to have connected NubAbility with Universe for a more streamlined event sign-up process. My two worlds are colliding in the best way, and I’m just grateful to be the facilitator.
How can people become involved with NubAbility?
We’ve developed a robust social media presence, and Facebook is our go-to for camp information and outreach. Our goal is to get as much exposure on that platform as possible in the hopes that other limb different kids become aware of the program and want to participate. Sharing posts is the best way for us to connect with those kids and parents.
Does NubAbility have any upcoming events?
Yes! We’ll be hosting a camp in Seattle at Bellevue Christian High School on Friday, August 31st and Saturday, September 1st. These sessions will focus on football, basketball, dance, cheer and tumbling. We’ll also be taking the kids to the Seahawks game on August 31st to see our guy Shaquem Griffin play. I can’t wait for that!
Finally: What’s one fun fact you’d like to share about yourself?
I’ve seen Third Eye Blind in concert over 20 times — as I told you, I love music and shows!
You can find more information on NubAbility via their Facebook, Twitter, and website.
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