Making history, Mary Schaack takes over as Executive Director of Fort Myers' City of Palms Classic basketball tournament. At 32, she's not only the first woman in charge — she's also the youngest person to lead the event in its 50-year run.
Every December, this premier tournament packs the stands with fans eager to watch future basketball stars. The court has hosted legends like Kevin Durant and Steph Curry before they made it to the pros.
Following John Naylor's passing in 2022, Schaack stepped up to lead. Since taking over, she's helped the tournament gain serious attention from major sports media, getting coverage on USA Today and ESPN.
She leads a team of 12 Florida Gulf Coast University women. Schaack told Fox 4 News, "My goal is to take all the students in the same classes that I took, the same seats that I sat in, and bring them here and give them the opportunity to meet people, to advance their careers."
Between games, Schaack plans to incorporate entertainment, like halftime shows that you'd see at college games, drawing in casual fans and families who might skip regular basketball games.
