Nick Piccone
Dave Sholler has been UFC’s senior vice president of public relations for over five years and has done a remarkable job during his tenure there. A local guy, Sholler is now coming home to become part of the Sixers’ front office.
But that’s after UFC 205, which takes place this Saturday night for the first time from New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Sholler will become the Sixers’ new vice president of communications. Here’s what he had to say about that to Joseph Santoliquito, via PhillyVoice.
“It was important for me to come home again, but it was a difficult decision to leave the UFC, because I’ve built lifelong friendships and relationships in the UFC and this line of work has helped make me who I am today,” said Sholler, an Egg Harbor High and Stockton University graduate. “I made the decision based on a couple of areas. First and foremost in my life, family has been No. 1. My twin daughters are almost four years old and wanted the chance to raise them around my family. I want them to root for the Eagles on Sundays, and sit courtside at the Sixers. My wife Tiffany is from South Jersey and her family is still there.
“The second reason is the Sixers. I truly believe that they’re building and going in the right direction. I truly believe what Scott O’Neil and the Sixers are doing. And third, this has been a dream for me to come home and be a part of a major sports franchise and be on that float coming down Broad Street when they win a world championship. It was a difficult decision, but having my family there helped me make the choice.”
And we’re excited that he’s coming home.
Read the rest of Santoliquito’s excellent piece here, which focuses on the hardships Sholler faced growing up and eventually becoming who he is today. It’s a must-read.