EDUCATION: University of Oklahoma (B.A.) / Northern Illinois (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
After successfully resurrecting the AFL in 2009, Kurz returns for his fourth season as the League’s Commissioner… Kurz has been involved with Arena Football for 27 years, including five seasons as President of the af2…In efforts to relaunch the AFL in 2009, Kurz developed a unique economic model for the league… Led a group of enthusiastic investors in the acquisition of the AFL’s assets in bankruptcy court and revived the Arena Football League in 2010.
OTHER AFL EXPERIENCE:
Served as the AFL’s Vice President of International Development from 1987-2008… Responsible for administering the H3 Visa Program, allowing international players to play for AFL teams stateside… While serving as the Vice President of International Development, Kurz promoted and conducted 21 international games.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Founding member of Gridiron Enterprises, Inc., a sports consulting firm based out of Chicago, Ill.… Gridiron Enterprises, Inc., which was the original founder of the AFL, includes Kurz, Jim Foster, the creator of Arena Football, and attorney William Niro.
PERSONAL:
Jerry B. Kurz returns for his 27th season of Arena Football and fourth season as the AFL’s Commissioner. Out-tenured only by the
creator of Arena Football, Jim Foster, Kurz has dedicated his life to furthering the sport with a strong business ethic and core values
meant to bring the highest quality product to the ever-growing fan base of arena football fans.
In his time as the president of the af2, the League saw extensive growth in small-to-mid sized markets, building an extremely
dedicated fan base across the country. That foundation helped to fuel the return of the Arena Football League in 2010 after a year
on hiatus due to financial instability. Kurz and a group of enthusiastic investors arranged the acquisition of the AFL’s assets in
bankruptcy court in late 2009 and revived the League in early 2010, fulfilling the promise that Arena Football would be played in
2010.
Kurz has also served as the AFL’s Vice President of International Development, where he was in charge of the League’s
international exposure. During his tenure, he was responsible for administering the H3 Visa program, allowing international players
to play for AFL teams stateside. He also arranged and executed all internationally played games for the Arena Football League.
Arena Football isn’t Kurz’s only claim to fame. He is also a founding member of Gridiron Enterprises, Inc., a sports consulting firm
based out of Chicago. Gridiron Enterprises, consisting of Kurz, Foster and attorney William Niro, is the original founder of the AFL.
Kurz has been a player, a coach, a general manager and an owner during his lifelong involvement with the game of football. He is
also a member of four football Halls of Fame, including membership in the first class of the Arena Football Hall of Fame as well as
membership in the arenafootball2 Hall of Fame.
Kurz attended the University of Oklahoma as an undergraduate and later earned his Juris Doctor Degree at Northern Illinois. Kurz
is a licensed attorney in Illinois and operated a law firm with his wife, Kathryn Hall, for 20 years. Jerry and his wife, Kathryn, have
one son named Matthew, who currently serves as the Director of Player Personnel for the AFL.
