ABOUT US
Legendary Sports Group is a sports and media company focused on creating legendary experiences for our clients and consumers. LSG serves clients nationally with a variety of services including event logistics and execution, media and marketing services, graphics and video development, production management and sponsorship activation.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Dave Cottle, President
Coach Cottle is one of the most successful coaches in the history of collegiate and professional lacrosse, amassing an incredible 4 Major League Lacrosse Championships, 22 NCAA Tournament appearances and 5 NCAA Final Fours. Cottle was named the 1988 NCAA Coach of the Year at Loyola University, and the 2008 ACC Coach of the Year at the University of Maryland. Cottle also served as an assistant coach for Team USA that won the 1994 World Championship. In 2017, he was inducted into the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Erin McNeally, Chief Operating Officer
Erin McNeally serves on the leadership team for Legendary Sports Group, specializing in the design and implementation of business strategies, comprehensive goal setting for company growth, and the establishment of policy, procedures, and systems. After graduating from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Environmental Systems, Erin joined Smartlink in 2005 where she held various leadership positions in sales, recruiting, operations and human resources before being promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2012, a role she served until 2017. After some time off to focus on her family, Erin re-joined the team in 2019 to a leadership role for all of Kelly Group Investments, the parent company to Legendary Sports Group. Currently residing in her hometown of Severna Park, MD, Erin is a recipient of the 2008 TWIN Award and the 2016 Smart CEO Executive Management Award, as well as a graduate of the 2018 Leadership Anne Arundel Flagship Program.
Dave Pietramala, Lacrosse Advisor
Coach Pietramala has joined the LSG team following an incredible 19 years as the Head Coach of Johns Hopkins University where he lead the Blue Jays to National Championship's in 2005 and 2007. Coach Pietramala is regarded as one of the best to play the game and was a 3X All-American, Most Outstanding Player (1989), and a National Champion (1987). Coach Pietramala was inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2004. As the Lacrosse Advisor, Coach Pietramala will develop a developmental and elite lacrosse events, as well as, assist in the management of LSG tournaments.
Spencer Ford, Lacrosse Development Manager
Spencer Ford spent a combined 18 years with Major League Lacrosse (MLL), eight years as a player followed by 10 years at the Front Office. Most recently, Ford was General Manager and Head Coach of the Philadelphia Barrage, but also served in general manager, assistance coach and player personnel capacities at the Atlanta Blaze and Chesapeake Bayhawks over his tenure. As a player, Ford played as attackman for four MLL franchises: Los Angeles, Long Island, Rochester and Washington (later Chesapeake). Over his professional career, Ford’s accolades include being named to the 2007 All Pro Team, 2007 Western Conference All-Star, 2008 Eastern Conference All-Star and lead the league in assists, 2009 MLL All-Star three years running and was again leading the league in assists before a career-ending ACL/Meniscus tear in his final season. Ford re-joined the team to expand LSG's lacrosse offerings in January 2021.
Matt Florio, Vice President, Event Operations
Matt Florio served as the National Events Manager for the LIVESTRONG Challenge cycling event series from 2011-2015 overseeing event operations, logistics, vendor relationships, and budgets. That experience has given him a vast knowledge base for detailed planning and managing complex events. Previously, the Race Director for Corrigan Sports Enterprises, he oversaw full scope operations for nearly 20 endurance sports events ranging from 500-25,000 participants including the Baltimore Running Festival and the Oakland Marathon.
Lisa LaPlaca, Vice President, Marketing & Administration
Lisa LaPlaca joined Legendary Sports Group as Vice President of Marketing & Administration in January 2020. As the VP of Marketing & Administration, Lisa directs the marketing staff to deliver innovative solutions for LSG events as well as external clients. Prior to LSG, she served as Vice President of the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse, with a background primarily in marketing and operations. Lisa graduated from Loyola College in Maryland with a Bachelors’ Degree in Communications and a minor in Business. After graduating, she spent five years with AOL, specializing in digital marketing, brand management and events, before taking a job with Smartlink in 2014 to oversee the company’s internal and external communications.
Brett Tillett, Senior Vice President
Brett Tillett is an award winning marketing and event producer with over 15 years experience working in the sports and entertainment industry. As the Sr. Vice President, Brett oversees the daily operations of Legendary Sports Group and driving the business development of all LSG properties. With a background in collegiate athletics, as well as event production for NFL, NBA, NHL teams, he has produced hundreds of events around the country. As the Director of Sports Marketing at the University of Maryland his department received seven National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators awards, including the NACMA Best in Show. In addition to working with collegiate and professional sports programs, Brett has also developed and managed event production for concert tours, corporate events, and festivals.