Dan Dolby named executive director of Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame

Dan Dolby has helped the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame grow over the years. Now, he has a chance to take the organization even further.

Dolby, who has worked with the Hall since 1999 and was the chairman from 2005 to 2007, has been named the organization’s executive director, replacing Rob Portaro, who resigned in September for personal reasons after nine months on the job.

Dolby, 51, said the community outreach through scholarships and fundraising will remain the Hall’s primary focus.

“We want to give back more to the community, not just the scholarships, but with special events and programs,” Dolby said. “As a board, we asked, ‘Where would we be without sports in our lives?’ And we want to help the kids in our community experience things like going to a sports camp or help fund junior high sports so more kids can participate.”

To that end, the Hall has signed a three-year agreement with the YMCA of Southern Nevada to provide logistics and support for the organization. Dolby, who is vice president of sales, promotions and events for the YMCA, said it’s a chance to get the Hall more exposure.

“There are over 10,000 families involved with the YMCA of Southern Nevada,” he said. “We have a great opportunity to get those people involved with the Hall of Fame and have them be part of what we’re doing.”

Dolby, who coached high school football for 25 years and was general manager of the Arena Football League’s Las Vegas Gladiators from 2004 to 2006, said the Hall’s energies are better spent on generating funds for the community than raising money to build a permanent home for the Hall, a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1996 and has 84 members enshrined.

“We want to continue to recognize the people who deserve to be recognized,” Dolby said. “But we also want to do more in the community, and I think that’s where the money we raised can be put to better use than a building fund.”

The Class of 2015 will be announced Feb. 21 at Findlay Toyota in Henderson, where the Hall’s home is located. The induction ceremonies will be June 19 at Orleans Arena.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.