Laker Athletic Alliance

We are excited to announce our latest partnership with Zogo, a personal finance educational app led by Mercyhurst University lacrosse alumni Ben Brooks!

This customized version of Zogo will give our student athletes the opportunity to earn money, gift cards, discounts, and more by dedicating some time to learning finance and playing education games geared to help build a stronger financial foundation.

As we adjust to the idea of college athletes getting paid for their NIL, this partnership will help our players learn how to manage the money that they earn from the NIL opportunities we provide. We appreciate the time and effort that Ben and his team put into making this happen and look forward to helping this app spread throughout the rest of the Mercyhurst University Athletics teams!

Mercyhurst University Football

Welcome our newest corporate partner, S&T Advisory! S&T Advisory comprises seasoned professionals with deep transaction experience in advisory services, estate planning, manufacturing leadership, investment banking, and private equity, with a focus on the middle market.

They specialize in acquiring and partnering with owner-operated, mature companies with further runway for growth, typically with EBITDA ranging from $0.5M to $10M, in industries including niche manufacturing, distribution, and business services. Their geographic focus is the continental United States, typically within a day trip from Ohio.

S&T provides capital funding to drive business expansion through strategic initiatives, acquisitions, and essential resources, while also offering M&A advisory and consulting services to support business owners in achieving their goals.

We strive to build a pipeline of opportunities for our student athletes to explore after their playing careers are over. Our proud alumni and their families are excited to contribute to this network!

Welcome J. Poli, Inc. to the LAA as a corporate partner! J.Poli has been serving the Greater Pittsburgh region for over 30 years as an industrial contractor. We value this partnership to bring access and awareness to different career paths and industries out there for our student athletes.

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, J. Poli, Inc. (JPI) continues to combine old-world craftsmanship and unparalleled personal service with leading-edge technology, equipment, and worker training procedures. Their dedication and self-enforced high standards of excellence have made them Pennsylvania’s premier “Contractor to Industry.” They proudly serve companies throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and West Virginia.

College athletes are accustomed to a physical lifestyle and some might prefer to hone their craft in ways outside of the typical office job. It's no secret that trades jobs are in high demand and garnering wages that exceed other white collar professions. We are excited have J. Poli on board thanks to alumni Garrett Wild '16!

Excited to announce that a group of members will match the next $15k in membership fees / contributions raised!

To date, we have over $25k committed to the collective and are excited to see the impact that it will have on our team!

Join the LAA today to learn more about our mission and how we are leveraging our strong alumni base to lift our athletic program to new heights. Sign ups/Contributions must be made by August 28th to get the match!

https://givebutter.com/laamembers

Welcome H. Jack's Plumbing and Heating Co. as our newest corporate partner! A familiar face around campus, John Langer '95 continues to be actively involved in Mercyhurst's success as an institution and athletic program.

The family owned business of more than 45 years provides opportunities for Hurst athletes to start and grow their careers as he currently employs 6 Mercyhurst football alumni.

We are excited to learn from John and help create additional opportunities for our student athletes to see what different careers look like off of the gridiron.

Welcome Tag Team Services LLC to our growing list of corporate partners! Congrats to alumni Linnell Robinson on the growth of his business.

What started as a way to keep his hotel housekeeping staff employed during COVID, has turned into a multi service business that now serves hotels across the industry.

We look forward to having Linnell on board to inspire and mentor our current and future Mercyhurst University football players!

1 Month out from our first LAA event! Join us for Mercyhurst University at Youngstown State University on Thursday, August 28th at 6 pm.

The first 10 members who join get tickets and sideline passes to the game. Sign up now!



https://lakerathleticalliance.com/membership/

The Laker Athletic Alliance was founded by Ian Wild (class of 2012), alongside former teammates from the 2010 PSAC Championship team. The experience of winning a championship at the Hurst has left a lasting impact on many members of the 2010 team who are striving to give back and provide a similar experience to the current and future players at the school.

With the recent evolution of the college football landscape and Mercyhurst’s transition to Division 1, the Laker Athletic Alliance was formed to provide the opportunity to compete for an NEC and NCAA – FCS championship. The LAA believes that as a TEAM, together everyone achieves more.

The mission is to create an alumni and membership base that is contributing directly to the success of the team. Every dollar contributed or raised goes directly to the benefit of the players and coaches to build a winning program. We strive to create opportunities for members to connect with past, current, and future players to continue building a proud alumni network.

The revenue generated from LAA memberships, corporate partnerships, and individual contributions will be used to collectively provide Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities for the current and future players of the Mercyhurst University Football program.

With over 40 years of program history, we encourage any and all who are interested in supporting the football team to participate. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Ian or the other LAA founding members for more information on how you can support.