IMG Academy Splits Leadership to Drive Digital Growth

The appointment of two presidents signals a shift toward managing digital and physical training platforms as distinct businesses.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in People

Aerial view of a sprawling sports training facility with manicured fields and training buildings surrounded by lush greenery in Florida. — IMG Academy has appointed Mike Milliron as President of Campus and Fred Santarpia as President of Online to separate management of its physical and digital operations. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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IMG Academy has appointed Mike Milliron as President of Campus and Fred Santarpia as President of Online. The leadership shift aims to accelerate growth across its Bradenton-based physical facilities and its expanding digital services.

Why it matters

By splitting leadership between physical and digital, the institution is scaling its reach to student-athletes and families beyond its traditional campus model. This separation reflects a strategy to manage complex digital ecosystem growth alongside core athletic operations.

IMG Academy has launched four new sports programs over the past 18 months. The organization is now prioritizing the expansion of digital platforms like IMG Academy+, which joins the NCSA and SportsRecruits network.

The players

IMG Academy

A sports education institution and academy based in Bradenton, Florida, that operates physical training facilities and digital recruiting networks.

Mike Milliron

The newly appointed President of IMG Academy Campus with a history of operational leadership at the organization since 2011.

Fred Santarpia

The newly appointed President of IMG Academy Online who previously served as President of Endeavor Streaming.

Chris Ciaccio

A long-tenured executive transitioning to a commercial and brand strategy role after serving as the head of the digital business.

The details

Mike Milliron, who has been with the organization since 2011 and served as COO since 2024, will oversee the operations of the Bradenton campus. Fred Santarpia, former President of Endeavor Streaming, takes over the digital business unit, succeeding Chris Ciaccio. Ciaccio will transition to a role focused on the institution's commercial and brand strategy.

2011: Mike Milliron joined IMG Academy.
2024: Mike Milliron became COO of the campus.
Last week: IMG Academy released the IMG Academy+ digital platform.
October 26, 2026: IMG Academy announced the new presidential appointments.

Market Landscape

This move follows the documented industry trend toward hybrid physical and digital athletic training ecosystems. It marks a departure from centralized campus management toward a bifurcated model designed to support global scalability.

Operators in the sports training space should monitor how IMG Academy integrates its NCSA and SportsRecruits networks with its new digital offerings. This transition serves as a signal to watch for competitors who may similarly separate physical campus management from digital subscriber growth.

The takeaway

The appointment of two distinct presidents illustrates the growing importance of separating day-to-day facility management from scalable digital infrastructure. Business owners should review their own organizational charts to determine if their digital services have grown enough to warrant dedicated executive leadership.