From UB to the Football Pitch: Q&A with Bill Manning
In this article (8 sections)
As University of Bridgeport prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2027, the stories from our community offer a glimpse of how far the UB experience can take you.
For Bill Manning, BS,’87, MBA ’89, that journey has stretched from Bridgeport to cities across the United States and Canada and, most recently, to Saudi Arabia, where he now serves as the CEO of Diriyah Club.
Manning arrived at UB from Long Island and found himself surrounded by teammates and classmates from around the globe. He also met fellow Purple Knight Jennifer, a UB gymnast who would later become his wife. Nearly four decades later, Manning says those experiences helped prepare him for a career built around working across cultures, countries, and the international world of professional sports.
Now, as UB looks toward its next century, we caught up with Manning about his newest chapter, the career that brought him there, and what he still carries with him from his days in Bridgeport.
You and Jennifer both attended UB, you on the soccer team and Jennifer on the gymnastics team. How did your experience at UB shape the path that led you to where you are today?
UB was my first extended experience outside of Long Island, so having the opportunity to meet so many people from different backgrounds had a real impact on me. That was especially true on the soccer team, where my teammates came from all over the world.
Being exposed to different cultures and perspectives at that age helped prepare me for a career that has taken me to different parts of the U.S., then Canada, and now Saudi Arabia.
And, of course, one of the most important parts of my UB experience was meeting my wife, Jennifer. She has been there with me every step of the way, so it’s been pretty special to experience this journey together after first meeting all those years ago at UB.
Tell us about your new role as CEO of Diriyah Club. What does the job involve day to day?
Basically, I’m responsible for the overall development of the club, overseeing commercial, facilities, and sporting functions. Every day is different, but everything we do is focused on building and operating a world-class club.
This season, we’ve brought in a number of players who have played in the World Cup, as well as players with experience in some of the best leagues in the world. Day to day, it’s really about looking for ways to improve the club, keeping the lines of communication open across the organization, and making sure we’re all working toward the same goals.
You’re tasked with elevating the football team to world-class standards and expanding into other Olympic-style sports. Where do you start with a mandate that big?
Right now, our priority is the football team. We’ve just been promoted to the Saudi Pro League, the same league Cristiano Ronaldo plays in with Al Nassr. From a global standpoint, it’s a very good level of football. In fact, the Saudi Pro League ranked sixth among leagues worldwide in the number of players who participated in the 2026 World Cup, with 47.
Being competitive in year one is always a challenge for a newly promoted club, so that has been our immediate focus. At the same time, we are considering adding another sport or two within the next year and are already having conversations to that end. But it’s important that we don’t spread our resources too thin during these first few years.
This is really a long-term strategy. Within our 10-year business plan, our goal is to eventually have eight to 10 sports competing under the Diriyah Club banner, with the ultimate ambition of developing an Olympic gold medalist.
How did the opportunity come about, and what made you decide to take it?
Diriyah had engaged a search firm to find its next CEO, and it just so happens that the president of the search firm is an old friend. He texted me one day and asked if I would ever consider moving to Saudi Arabia for my next role. We spoke, and he definitely got my attention with the project.
I had a few video calls with members of the committee, and then in February I had the opportunity to meet the CEO of Diriyah Company. That was the meeting where I knew this was going to be my next project.
He’s an impressive person and, like me, a fellow New Yorker. Two of my career mentors are also good friends of his, so I knew I was going to be in good company. I’m glad they felt the same about me.
Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 World Cup. What role do you see Diriyah Club playing in that lead-up?
By 2034, I see Diriyah Club as being one of the top clubs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and within the Asian Football Confederation. I’m confident we will have players participating in the World Cup, whether representing Saudi Arabia or other countries.
Diriyah will be a world-class destination by then, so I believe both the club and the community will play a significant role in welcoming the world to Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup.
What advice would you give current UB students who hope to build a career in sports management or international business?
Sports is not an easy business to break into, so I always encourage students to pursue internships with sports teams or with companies that work within the sporting ecosystem. Even if an opportunity is unpaid, it gives you a chance to make an impression, build relationships, and gain experience, and you never know where that can lead.
I also encourage young people to go where the opportunity is. Jobs in sports are highly competitive, and opportunities don’t always come when or where you expect them. Being willing to move and take a chance can open doors you might never have anticipated.
Looking back, is there anything from your UB experience that you find yourself drawing on now?
My college years were a wonderful time, and I look back very fondly on my days at UB. More than anything, my experience there helped broaden my horizons. I became friends with students and teammates from all over the world and learned how much you can gain from being around people with different backgrounds and perspectives.
That has stayed with me throughout my career. One of the keys in business is being able to connect with and work effectively with people from different backgrounds. In sports, and especially in football, your colleagues, players, and counterparts literally come from all over the world.
In many ways, I first experienced that at UB.
For 100 years, Purple Knights have carried their UB experiences into communities, careers, and opportunities around the world. Visit UB’s Centennial page to explore our history, celebrate the people who shaped it, and see what’s ahead as we begin our next century.