24 Facts About Don Garber

Donald P Garber was born on October 9,1957 and is an American sports executive who has been the commissioner of Major League Soccer since 1999.

Don Garber has spent his entire career in the sports industry, working in a variety of capacities in marketing, events, television, and league administration prior to becoming MLS commissioner.

Don Garber's mother worked as a nursery school teacher and Don Garber's father as an accountant.

Don Garber grew up in Queens, New York, during the 1960s and 1970s.

Don Garber has been selected by SportsBusiness Journal as one of the sports industry's most powerful executives every year since 2005.

In May 2019, Don Garber was named the Sports Business Journal Executive of the Year.

Don Garber has received numerous other industry honors, and in 2011 was named by the Los Angeles Times as one of the top sports commissioners.

Don Garber has received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from both Montclair State University and the State University of New York.

Don Garber was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at his alma mater, SUNY Oneonta.

Don Garber was elected into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2016, but deferred his enshrinement until 2018.

Don Garber began his career at NFL Properties in 1984 as a marketing manager and became the League's director of marketing in 1988.

Don Garber was appointed as Major League Soccer commissioner on August 4,1999, succeeding Doug Logan.

Don Garber has emphasized gradual, sustained growth of the league over decades rather than attempting grandiose moves to win headlines.

On December 7,2001, Don Garber met with club owners at the Colorado ranch of Philip Anschutz in order to establish a plan to ensure the league's survival.

Soccer United Marketing, one of the game-changing ideas to come out of Don Garber's meeting with club owners at the Anschutz ranch, was established in 2002 and manages all sponsorship, licensing and advertising sales for MLS and other premier soccer properties in North America, including US Soccer and the Mexico National Team.

On May 18,2023, Don Garber announced that the 30th MLS club would be in San Diego.

Don Garber stated that fan research was one of the driving forces behind the decision to institute the Designated Player Rule.

Don Garber has been ranked by Sports Business Daily as one of the 50 most influential people in the US sports business every year since 2005.

In 2007, Don Garber formed MLS WORKS, the league's community outreach initiative, dedicated to addressing important social issues affecting young people throughout the United States and Canada.

Under Don Garber, MLS has made strides in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Don Garber is married, has two adult children and lives in Montclair, New Jersey.

Don Garber serves on a variety of professional and philanthropic boards, including the Committee for Club Football at Federation Internationale de Football Association.

On November 30,2018, Don Garber was appointed the vice-chairman of the World Leagues Forum, an international body convened by soccer leagues.

Don Garber is Vice President of Hope and Heroes, an organization raising funds and creating programs for pediatric cancer patients at the New York Presbyterian Hospital.