Caps Team Spotlight
Learn more about our Caps team by reading our Guardian Caps team spotlight below!
At Guardian Sports, our design process begins with concepting that incorporates the multidisciplinary perspectives of our staff, partners, and clients. Since each project is unique, our design process is flexible to fit any need and works with any size company. Whether you have an idea you want to bring to life, or are looking to add an innovative product to your company’s mix, we have you covered.
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Tony Plagman
Q: Where do you live?
A: Peachtree Corners, GA
Q: Where’d you go to school?
A: Georgia Tech
Q: Who have you worked for before? have you always been in sports/sales?
A: I coached baseball at Georgia Tech then worked in IT sales for one year before joining Guardian. Was very glad to get back into sports!
Q: What sports did you play?
A: Baseball and football
Q: Favorite team?
A: The Braves
Q: Favorite hobbies?
A: Golf, Tennis
Q: If you could learn one new personal skill, what would it be?
A: I’d probably go with either car or home repairs
Q: How long have you worked for the company?
A: 7 years
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: The most rewarding part of my job is hearing from people who have seen firsthand how Guardian Caps can help to improve player safety and performance.
Q: What is your favorite caps/football event of the year? why?
A: AFCA – biggest event of the year, getting everyone from our team together, along with coaches/equipment managers from all over the country! Plus it’s during the National Championship so that adds to the experience.
Clay Metzger
Q: Where do you live?
A: Norcross, GA
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: University of Georgia
Q: Who have you worked for before? Have you always been in sports/sales?
A: Yes
Q: What sports did you play?
A: Football
Q: Favorite team?
A: UGA Football
Q: Favorite hobbies?
A: Pickleball and running
Q: If you could learn one new personal skill, what would it be?
A: Speaking a new language
Q: How long have you worked for the company?
A: 4 years
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: Interacting with coaches
Q: What is your favorite event of the year? Why?
A: AFCA, I love to talk with coaches
Mike Finney
Q: Where do you live?
A: Laguna Beach, CA
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: Undergrad: Colorado State University; Master’s: University of Florida
Q: Who have you worked for before? Have you always been in sports/sales?
A: I’ve worked in football since I graduated high school and for 14 years now. I was a football equipment manager for CSU, University of Miami, University of Florida, and UC Davis. I then started my football sales journey with a startup called VICIS before joining the Guardian team.
Q: What sports did you play?
A: I played basketball and baseball
Q: Favorite team?
A: My favorite team is the Los Angeles Lakers
Q: Favorite hobbies?
A: My hobbies include anything active from playing pickup basketball and pickleball to hiking and kayaking. I also love doing anything with my dog Charlie like taking him to the beach to swim or taking him on road trips because he loves long car rides.
Q: If you could learn one new personal skill, what would it be?
A: If I could learn one new skill it would definitely be golf. It frustrates me how bad I am at golf.
Q: How long have you worked for the company?
A: I’ve been with the company since February 2020
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: The thing I love most about my job is the fact that my customers are football coaches and equipment managers and I love just talking ball with them and learning about their programs.
Q: What is your favorite event of the year? Why?
A: My favorite football event of the year is waking up on Sunday mornings and turning on the NFL Redzone channel knowing I’m not doing anything but watching 7 hours of commercial free football. My favorite caps event of the year is watching OTA’s and seeing the best football players in the world wearing our caps
Al Nittoli
Q: Where do you live?
A: New Jersey
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: William Paterson
Q: Who have you worked for before? Have you always been in sports/sales?
A: Riddell and Gamebreaker
Q: What sports did you play?
A: Football
Q: Favorite team?
A: New York Giants and Texas Longhorns
Q: Favorite hobbies?
A: Cooking and fishing
Q: If you could learn one new personal skill, what would it be?
A: Ride a motorcycle
Q: How long have you worked for the company?
A: 2 months
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: Getting to protect kids and the game I love
Q: What is your favorite event of the year? Why?
A: Opening day for high school football. Best time of the year!
Jeff Leach
Q: Where do you live?
A: Lubbock, Texas
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: Texas Tech
Q: Who have you worked for before? Have you always been in sports/sales?
A: Riddell and BSN
Q: What sports did you play?
A: Basketball and Baseball
Q: Favorite team?
A: Duke Basketball
Q: Favorite hobbies?
A: Basketball, Baseball, Golf
Q: If you could learn one new personal skill, what would it be?
A: Not really a personal skill, but I’d love to be better at public speaking
Q: How long have you worked for the company?
A: 3 months
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: The people here are amazing.
Q: What is your favorite event of the year? Why?
A: THSCA, so many coaches there, and it’s always nice catching up.
Kevin Brown
Q: Where do you live?
A: BBQ Capital – Kansas City
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: Wayne State College – played football a long time ago and received a Degree in Sports Management
Q: Who have you worked for before? Have you always been in sports/sales?
A: Finish Line, USA Football, VICIS; I have always been in sports (coaching, teaching or selling)
Q: What sports did you play?
A: Football, Basketball, Baseball, Ran Track – Dual threat athlete
Q: Favorite team?
A: Super Bowl Champion – Kansas City Chiefs
Q: Favorite hobbies?
A: Hanging out with my wife, family and friends sipping on barley pops and telling stories/catching up
Q: If you could learn one new personal skill, what would it be?
A: Hit a driver straight off #1 Tee Box
Q: How long have you worked for the company?
A: February 2020
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: Working for a great family company with outstanding ownership. Helping student athletes, equipment managers and coaches keep football players safe day to day, week to week, month to month and year to year.
Q: What is your favorite event of the year? Why?
A: AFCA & Glazier Clinics are my favorite events of the year. I get to reconnect with old friends in the business along with meeting new people.
Learn more about our Caps team by reading our Guardian Caps team spotlight below!
At Guardian Sports, our design process begins with concepting that incorporates the multidisciplinary perspectives of our staff, partners, and clients. Since each project is unique, our design process is flexible to fit any need and works with any size company. Whether you have an idea you want to bring to life, or are looking to add an innovative product to your company’s mix, we have you covered.
By initiating their process with comprehensive concepting, enriched by the diverse insights of their staff, partners, and clients, they ensure a fertile ground for creative exploration. Guardian Sports commitment to flexibility underscores an understanding that no two projects are alike, allowing them to tailor their approach to suit the specific needs of any company, regardless of size or industry. Whether clients seek to refine existing ideas or embark on the creation of groundbreaking products, Guardian Sports offers a steadfast partnership, ready to bring visions to life with expertise and dedication. With Guardian Sports, the journey from concept to realization is not just a service—it’s a promise fulfilled.
Caps Team Spotlight
Learn more about our Caps team by reading our Guardian Caps team spotlight below!
At Guardian Sports, our design process begins with concepting that incorporates the multidisciplinary perspectives of our staff, partners, and clients. Since each project is unique, our design process is flexible to fit any need and works with any size company. Whether you have an idea you want to bring to life, or are looking to add an innovative product to your company’s mix, we have you covered.
Tony Plagman
Q: Where do you live?
A: Peachtree Corners, GA
Q: Where’d you go to school?
A: Georgia Tech
Q: Who have you worked for before? have you always been in sports/sales?
A: I coached baseball at Georgia Tech then worked in IT sales for one year before joining Guardian. Was very glad to get back into sports!
Q: What sports did you play?
A: Baseball and football
Q: Favorite team?
A: The Braves
Q: Favorite hobbies?
A: Golf, Tennis
Q: If you could learn one new personal skill, what would it be?
A: I’d probably go with either car or home repairs
Q: How long have you worked for the company?
A: 7 years
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: The most rewarding part of my job is hearing from people who have seen firsthand how Guardian Caps can help to improve player safety and performance.
Q: What is your favorite caps/football event of the year? why?
A: AFCA – biggest event of the year, getting everyone from our team together, along with coaches/equipment managers from all over the country! Plus it’s during the National Championship so that adds to the experience.
Clay Metzger
Q: Where do you live?
A: Norcross, GA
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: University of Georgia
Q: Who have you worked for before? Have you always been in sports/sales?
A: Yes
Q: What sports did you play?
A: Football
Q: Favorite team?
A: UGA Football
Q: Favorite hobbies?
A: Pickleball and running
Q: If you could learn one new personal skill, what would it be?
A: Speaking a new language
Q: How long have you worked for the company?
A: 4 years
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: Interacting with coaches
Q: What is your favorite event of the year? Why?
A: AFCA, I love to talk with coaches
Mike Finney
Q: Where do you live?
A: Laguna Beach, CA
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: Undergrad: Colorado State University; Master’s: University of Florida
Q: Who have you worked for before? Have you always been in sports/sales?
A: I’ve worked in football since I graduated high school and for 14 years now. I was a football equipment manager for CSU, University of Miami, University of Florida, and UC Davis. I then started my football sales journey with a startup called VICIS before joining the Guardian team.
Q: What sports did you play?
A: I played basketball and baseball
Q: Favorite team?
A: My favorite team is the Los Angeles Lakers
Q: Favorite hobbies?
A: My hobbies include anything active from playing pickup basketball and pickleball to hiking and kayaking. I also love doing anything with my dog Charlie like taking him to the beach to swim or taking him on road trips because he loves long car rides.
Q: If you could learn one new personal skill, what would it be?
A: If I could learn one new skill it would definitely be golf. It frustrates me how bad I am at golf.
Q: How long have you worked for the company?
A: I’ve been with the company since February 2020
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: The thing I love most about my job is the fact that my customers are football coaches and equipment managers and I love just talking ball with them and learning about their programs.
Q: What is your favorite event of the year? Why?
A: My favorite football event of the year is waking up on Sunday mornings and turning on the NFL Redzone channel knowing I’m not doing anything but watching 7 hours of commercial free football. My favorite caps event of the year is watching OTA’s and seeing the best football players in the world wearing our caps
Al Nittoli
Q: Where do you live?
A: New Jersey
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: William Paterson
Q: Who have you worked for before? Have you always been in sports/sales?
A: Riddell and Gamebreaker
Q: What sports did you play?
A: Football
Q: Favorite team?
A: New York Giants and Texas Longhorns
Q: Favorite hobbies?
A: Cooking and fishing
Q: If you could learn one new personal skill, what would it be?
A: Ride a motorcycle
Q: How long have you worked for the company?
A: 2 months
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: Getting to protect kids and the game I love
Q: What is your favorite event of the year? Why?
A: Opening day for high school football. Best time of the year!
Jeff Leach
Q: Where do you live?
A: Lubbock, Texas
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: Texas Tech
Q: Who have you worked for before? Have you always been in sports/sales?
A: Riddell and BSN
Q: What sports did you play?
A: Basketball and Baseball
Q: Favorite team?
A: Duke Basketball
Q: Favorite hobbies?
A: Basketball, Baseball, Golf
Q: If you could learn one new personal skill, what would it be?
A: Not really a personal skill, but I’d love to be better at public speaking
Q: How long have you worked for the company?
A: 3 months
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: The people here are amazing.
Q: What is your favorite event of the year? Why?
A: THSCA, so many coaches there, and it’s always nice catching up.
Kevin Brown
Q: Where do you live?
A: BBQ Capital – Kansas City
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: Wayne State College – played football a long time ago and received a Degree in Sports Management
Q: Who have you worked for before? Have you always been in sports/sales?
A: Finish Line, USA Football, VICIS; I have always been in sports (coaching, teaching or selling)
Q: What sports did you play?
A: Football, Basketball, Baseball, Ran Track – Dual threat athlete
Q: Favorite team?
A: Super Bowl Champion – Kansas City Chiefs
Q: Favorite hobbies?
A: Hanging out with my wife, family and friends sipping on barley pops and telling stories/catching up
Q: If you could learn one new personal skill, what would it be?
A: Hit a driver straight off #1 Tee Box
Q: How long have you worked for the company?
A: February 2020
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: Working for a great family company with outstanding ownership. Helping student athletes, equipment managers and coaches keep football players safe day to day, week to week, month to month and year to year.
Q: What is your favorite event of the year? Why?
A: AFCA & Glazier Clinics are my favorite events of the year. I get to reconnect with old friends in the business along with meeting new people.
Learn more about our Caps team by reading our Guardian Caps team spotlight below!
At Guardian Sports, our design process begins with concepting that incorporates the multidisciplinary perspectives of our staff, partners, and clients. Since each project is unique, our design process is flexible to fit any need and works with any size company. Whether you have an idea you want to bring to life, or are looking to add an innovative product to your company’s mix, we have you covered.
By initiating their process with comprehensive concepting, enriched by the diverse insights of their staff, partners, and clients, they ensure a fertile ground for creative exploration. Guardian Sports commitment to flexibility underscores an understanding that no two projects are alike, allowing them to tailor their approach to suit the specific needs of any company, regardless of size or industry. Whether clients seek to refine existing ideas or embark on the creation of groundbreaking products, Guardian Sports offers a steadfast partnership, ready to bring visions to life with expertise and dedication. With Guardian Sports, the journey from concept to realization is not just a service—it’s a promise fulfilled.
