Through his business savvy, dynamic personality, and emphasis on customer service, Croce created Sports Physical Therapists, a sports medicine empire of 40 centers in 11 states, into atop-ten finalist for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

  Following the sale of his company, Croce focused his entrepreneurial spirit and indestructible positive attitude to the purchase of the NBA’s last place team, the 76ers in 1996. During his 5-year tenure as President, the tam rose from worse to first in the NBA standings and broke franchise attendance, revenue, merchandise and consecutive win records.

  In addition to being the recipient of the “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award and the Sales and Marketing Management magazine’s “Best Motivator” Award, (’01), Croce received A&EBiography’s “Community Hero” Award (’02) and was recently featured on the cover of Inc Magazine as “The dale Carnegie of the 21st. Century. 

  Croce, a dynamic motivational speaker, is the author of the New York Times bestseller, I Feel Great and You Will Too! A well as 110%.

Topics include: motivational, leadership, teamwork, entrepreneurial spirit and customer service

  When the Philadelphia 76ers named Pat Croce team president on March 19, 1996, they were looking for a fresh start, and a new direction. What they found was a proven winner. Through a great deal of hard work and an infectious attitude, Pat has restored Sixers pride and brought excitement back to the franchise. No longer is success a distant dream, but it is an expectation. Pat, part owner of the team, has a history of setting high goals and systematically accomplishing them. He has built the Sixers based on his fierce determination and drive to be the best. This, together with his work ethic and fan-friendly demeanor, has catapulted his popularity to unprecedented heights. 

  His greatest accomplishment, however, might be the fact that he has restored Sixers pride in Philadelphia. For the first time in eight years, the 76ers earned a berth in the NBA Playoffs last season, taking the city by storm. Under Pat's leadership, the team advanced to the second round of the playoffs before electrifying, raucous crowds at the First Union Center. The Sixers have attendance records each of the last three seasons. In fact, since his arrival, the franchise has enjoyed a 46 percent attendance increase - tops in the NBA! 

  Pat made his initial connection in the world of professional sports in 1980 as the conditioning coach for Bobby Clarke and the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team. Several years later, he opened the first of his Sports Physical Therapists, Inc. centers in a small office building in Broomall, PA. Two of his early clients were Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt and NBA great Julius Erving. 

  Today, Pat works closely with his current “stars,” Head Coach and Vice President of Basketball Operations Larry Brown, and General Manager Billy King. In May of 1997, he hired Brown as the 17th coach in Philadelphia franchise history. Shortly after, King was added to the staff. Together they have helped reshape the franchise through the acquisition of key free agents and quality draft picks. 

  Pat, a 1977 cum laude graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, is extremely active in the community. His list of community involvement is as impressive as his athletic and business accomplishments. Pat is the driving force in the Sixers Slam Dunk Diabetes Family Festival, which benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and has participated in the JDF Walk to Cure Diabetes in each of its 13 years. He also serves as the honorary chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and is a member of the board of directors of the Police Athletic League. Additionally, he has founded Castle Dreams, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting individuals in need. 

  A highly sought motivational speaker, Pat has just published a new book, “I Feel Great and You Will Too: An Inspiring Journey of Success With Practical Tips on How to Score Big in Life.” 

  Above all, Pat is a dedicated family man. He and his wife of 22 years, Diane, reside in suburban Philadelphia with their two children, Kelly and Michael.

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