Gies College of Business alumnus Chidozie Ibeabuchi (iMBA ’19) has been named to Crain’s New York Business’ 2026 40 Under 40 class.

Ibeabuchi is the vice president of player engagement at Major League Soccer, where he leads large-scale player engagement initiatives grounded in a philosophy he calls “Human First.” His work includes education, career development, financial literacy and mental health. He has said that supporting players and staff as whole people is critical to the long-term success of the game.

“It’s about ensuring the transition from the playing field to a second career is intentional and well-supported,” Ibeabuchi said. “By continuing to invest in the people who support our players, we strengthen the overall ecosystem and better position our athletes for life beyond the game.”

Ibeabuchi grew up in Boston as one of five children of Nigerian immigrants. His mother is a nurse who works part time at a homeless shelter, and his father owned and operated a grocery store. Ibeabuchi often volunteered in soup kitchens on Thanksgiving while growing up. He also helped coach younger children in basketball during high school and taught preschoolers from low-income neighborhoods to read while attending St. John’s University in Queens.

After graduating from St. John’s as valedictorian with a bachelor’s degree in sport management, Ibeabuchi began building his career in New York. He held roles connected to the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and New York Liberty before joining the National Football League’s Manhattan headquarters. His NFL work included the Player Care Foundation, where he managed complex cases involving former players facing serious medical and financial challenges. He also contributed to efforts focused on criminal justice reform and fatherhood.

At the NFL, Ibeabuchi saw the opportunities available to professional athletes and the reality that every playing career ends. At MLS, that means creating league-wide systems that support players on and off the field.

“It’s been an incredible journey,” he said. “Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work across both individual player transitions and broader systems that support athletes at scale. At the NFL, I saw firsthand the visibility and opportunity that come with professional sports, alongside the reality that every athlete eventually transitions out of their playing career. My perspective has evolved from delivering primarily reactive solutions to building more proactive, institutional approaches.”

Among his initiatives is the Major League Soccer Education Program with Syracuse University, which extends educational access to players, league and club staff, and their families. Ibeabuchi said the program is about “democratizing access to education” across MLS. He also launched the MLS Player Engagement Certificate in collaboration with the University of Florida and the Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists. The master’s-level professional development certification is designed for league and club staff and establishes a consistent standard across MLS. Investing in those professionals can “strengthen the overall ecosystem” and better position athletes for life beyond the game, he said.

Ibeabuchi designed career resources for more than 5,000 active and former players. His work includes the League Access Program and the MLS Greats Network, the league’s official alumni group.

Ibeabuchi earned his MBA in 2019 through Gies College of Business’ fully online iMBA® program. He said he now applies the strategic innovation and organizational leadership principles he developed at Gies while managing player care resources and helping lead MLS initiatives.

Ibeabuchi said the iMBA gave him an “analytical and strategic toolkit” to build and lead more scalable systems.

His commitment to developing people also extends beyond MLS. Ibeabuchi serves on advisory boards for the St. John’s University Division of Sport Management and the Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists. He remembers how difficult it was to find a path into the sports industry as an undergraduate, an experience that continues to drive his “commitment to give back.” He advises on curriculum and industry trends, mentors students from diverse backgrounds, and helps shape professional standards in athlete development.

Ibeabuchi describes his role as helping bridge the classroom and the sports business industry. His work at MLS centers on supporting athletes as whole people on and off the field and preparing them for life beyond