Doug Barnette is an entrepreneur, sports marketing executive, military veteran, endurance athlete, and philanthropist with a career spanning more than three decades in professional sports and business.
In 1996, Doug founded Player Management International, Inc., a sports management and marketing firm that has represented an extensive portfolio of professional athletes, coaches, entertainers, and Fortune 500 corporations. Beginning with former Carolina Panthers safety Mike Minter, Barnette expanded the firm’s reach across the NFL, NBA, NASCAR, and INDYCAR, developing strategic corporate partnerships and managing the business interests of some of professional sports’ most recognizable personalities.
Doug’s professional accomplishments include developing and managing partnerships tied to two Indianapolis 500 wins, a NASCAR victory at Daytona International Speedway, and three Pikes Peak International Hill Climb wins, representing success at three of the world’s most prestigious motorsports events.
Before entering the sports management industry, Doug enjoyed a professional basketball career that included touring with the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters as a member of their opposing team, the Washington Generals. He also served as a paratrooper and airborne medic in the United States Army, including deployments to Central America and Operation Desert Storm.
Doug and his wife, Teresa, share a deep commitment to philanthropy. Their charitable endeavors include supporting youth athletics, sustaining community programs, and providing financial assistance to organizations serving survivors of sexual assault. Since 2006, they have supported law enforcement agencies by funding the acquisition of police K9s and tactical equipment to help ensure the safety of law enforcement personnel.
An accomplished marathoner and ultramarathoner, Doug has completed some of the world’s most demanding endurance events, including the Death Valley Marathon. He has also completed all six original Abbott World Marathon Majors (Boston, Berlin, Chicago, London, New York City, and Tokyo), earning the prestigious Six Star Finisher distinction. Since 2015, he has served as a pacer and crew member for competitors in the Badwater 135, an event regarded as the world’s toughest foot race.
Beyond his professional and athletic pursuits, Doug speaks to students, businesses, and community organizations across the country, sharing perspectives on leadership, entrepreneurship, perseverance, marriage, and his personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
In recognition of his professional achievements and philanthropic contributions, Doug was inducted into the Danville High School (Illinois) Hall of Fame in 2019, joining a distinguished group of honorees that includes Dick Van Dyke, Jerry Van Dyke, and Gene Hackman.