Mr. Michael L Garnes

biography

Michael L. Garnes is the President of Next Level Executive Search (NLES). NLES is a division of Next Level Sports, Inc., one of three sports companies Mr. Garnes has founded. NLES provides executive recruiting, consulting and placement for senior- to executive-level collegiate athletics administrators and head women’s basketball coaches.

Mr. Garnes’ broad professional background includes experience in collegiate and professional sports, Fortune 500 and private companies, and senior-level leadership positions in the military. At Holland & Knight, LLP, a nationally-ranked law firm, he was a consultant and helped start the collegiate sports administration and compliance practice.

In addition, he launched MyShot.net, the first online internet recruiting and placement website for professional men and women basketball athletes.

Mr. Garnes has been tapped for his sports industry expertise by higher education and media, and is a frequent guest speaker on sports industry issues. He was the only non-lawyer member selected to the board which developed the athlete-agent law and licensure examination for the State of Florida. He also provided consultation to a CBS TV “60 Minutes” segment on Lloyd Daniels, one of the most sought-after basketball recruits in the nation.

As a former NCAA enforcement representative, as well as successful private investigator, Mr. Garnes has experience with in-house investigations and compliance issues. He has a Master of Science degree in Sports Administration and also served as a Major in the U.S. Air Force. As an Intelligence Officer, Mr. Garnes was cited as being extremely effective in recruiting under critical timeframes.

In his community, Mr. Garnes serves as an advisor and mentor to young athletes in the areas of leadership, character development, and career guidance. He is passionate about and committed to promoting higher education, with a special emphasis on at-risk and minority groups.

Mr. Garnes provides senior-level executive search and placement for clients who are seeking critical leadership solutions. He has developed programs for clients who recognize and understand the benefits of attracting, retaining and fully utilizing a diverse and talented leadership team. Mr. Garnes does consulting for sports-related businesses, associations and organizations.

Mr. Garnes is former Vice-Chair and Treasurer of the National Association of Executive Recruiters (NAER) board, and is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). He has served and held office positions on numerous non-profit boards (Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Gator Bowl Committee, Deliver the Dream, FCA Jacksonville Super Bowl Committee) and sports advisory committees.