Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame

The philosophy of “honor the past and lead to the future” has epitomized the 40-plus-years career of Chris Considine in the sporting goods industry.

Considine spent 32 of those years at Wilson Sporting Goods and started as a sales planning assistant in 1982. Wilson and Considine ascended to tremendous success together as he served in executive roles such as Vice President of Sales & Promotion, General Manager of Footwear, President of the Team Sports Division and President of the company from 2005-14.

Considine’s leadership skills are now helping True Sports, where he has been CEO since 2020. His impact throughout his career led to his selection for induction into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame with the Class of 2025.

Current Wilson CEO Joe Dudy worked with Considine for 15 years. Dudy said he is one of the beneficiaries of Considine’s ability to identify and develop young talent for team and individual success.

“Mr. Considine is a natural leader,” Dudy said. “He was able to get the best out of people through high standards, identifying talent and creating a team culture.

“Chris always believed that we were better as a team. He did everything to protect and encourage a team culture. He would always say as a team the good time are more fun and the hard times are easier to persevere.”

During Considine’s tenure at Wilson he led product innovations to accelerate sports performances to help athletes succeed. He also developed strong partnerships with dealers, retailers, associations and organizations.

Wilson secured multiple technology patents under Considine’s leadership and launched popular products such as the Evolution and Solution basketballs, the GST football and a revitalized A2000 baseball glove franchise. He also led the strategic acquisitions of DeMarini and ATEC.

“Chris Considine’s impact extends far beyond the profit margins, retail door fronts and fields of play,” said Peter R. Davis, General Manager of Partnership Development for US Youth Soccer. “He has helped shape the sporting goods landscape from the recreational tennis court to the Final Four and on to the Super Bowl, leaving an enduring legacy that inspires future generations.”

Considine strengthened Wilson’s connection to star professional and collegiate athletes and coaches such as Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Greg Maddux, Mike Krzyzewski, Roger Federer and Serena and Venus Williams. He has also been committed to keeping manufacturing jobs in the United States at the Wilson football factory in Ada, Ohio, the DeMarini factory in Hillsboro, Oregon and True Temper’s golf shaft factories in Mississippi and California.

Leo Kane was the NFL’s Senior Vice President for Consumer Products and worked with Considine during his tenure as Wilson’s President.

“The NFL and Wilson have arguably the longest relationship in sports and the iconic ‘Duke’ football from Wilson has been in all NFL games since the 1940s,” Kane said. “While other professional leagues changed their game balls, the NFL has never left Wilson. That track record belongs to many people but Chris always inserted himself into that negotiation to send the message of how important it was to Wilson.

“While Chris is a tremendous and dynamic business leader what always impressed me most was how he was a paternal figure to all at Wilson in an era of most corporations becoming cold and calloused.”

Considine has also led revenue growth at True Sports through product innovation and category expansion. True Temper golf shafts are the No. 1 brand on the PGA Tour, True Hockey is the fastest-growing hockey brand in the world and 44Pro custom ball gloves and bats are used by professional and collegiate players. He has also given back to the community through his work on charitable causes and service on the advisory board of the Positive Coaching Alliance

Please note: This biography was produced from the nominating materials in the candidate’s nominating year, so the information may not be current.