Clark Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs, Inducted into Phi Delta Theta Sports Hall of Fame
Phi Delta Theta has a very proud history in the world of sports. Be it amateur, collegiate, or professional athletics, many Phis have made an impact as players, coaches, managers, and fans alike. For this reason, the Phi Delta Theta Sports Hall of Fame was created in 2010.
In order to be enshrined in the Phi Delta Theta Sports Hall of Fame, an alumnus must have had an impact on the world of sports while living and exhibiting the three Cardinal Principles of the Fraternity.
On April 10, 2025, Phi Delta Theta, in collaboration with the Phi Delta Theta Foundation, had the opportunity to celebrate one of the most influential leaders in professional sports, Clark Hunt, SMU ’87, chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs and FC Dallas.
About Clark Hunt
Clark joined Phi Delta Theta in 1983 as a member of Texas Delta at SMU. Like his father, legendary sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, Clark enrolled at SMU intending to play football. But he quickly changed his focus to soccer, and soon became captain of the Mustangs nationally-ranked men’s soccer team, while also earning Valedictorian honors in the Cox School of Business.
For nearly four decades, the lessons Clark learned at SMU—on the field, in the classroom, and as a member of Texas Delta—have informed a remarkable career in business and sports.
In the 1990s, Clark worked closely with his father Lamar to help found Major League Soccer, and today he remains an influential voice on the MLS Board of Governors.
In the 2000s, Clark became CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs. When asked for advice to college students, Clark said: “Choose your teammates wisely. If you want to be successful, you have to surround yourself with the right people.” At the Chiefs, Clark set out to do just that.
Hunt hired team president Mark Donovan, brought in future Hall of Fame coach Andy Reid, and elevated a young general manager in Brett Veach. This team of leaders drafted and developed stars like Travis Kelce and Chris Jones, and in 2017, traded up to draft a gunslinging quarterback from Texas named Patrick Mahomes.
Under Clark’s leadership, the Chiefs have grown into one of the premier franchises in all of professional sports. The team has won nine consecutive AFC West Championships, played in seven consecutive AFC Championship games, and competed in five of the last six Super Bowls. During that time, Clark Hunt lifted three Vince Lombardi trophies, as champions of Super Bowl LIV, LVII, and LVIII.
Clark is recognized as an influential leader in sports, business, and philanthropy. The Chiefs and the Hunt Family Foundation have received numerous awards for their contributions to the Kansas City community, and Clark was recently named by the Sports Business Journal as one of the most influential people in all of sports. In 2020 he received SMU’s Distinguished Alumni Award, and in 2022 was enshrined into the Dallas Business Hall of Fame.
About the Event
It was a memorable night celebrating Clark’s championship leadership and legacy—made even more special by the strong showing of Texas Phi Delts, both undergraduates and alumni, who came together in support. The evening featured a Q&A with Brother Hunt, hosted by Mark Followill, the voice of the Dallas Mavericks, who served as the emcee. Afterwards, Clark stayed behind to mingle with brothers, take photos, and sign footballs.
The event was part of Campaign 2030: A Greater Version for Tomorrow, the Phi Delta Theta Foundation’s effort to raise $30 million by the end of the decade to expand scholarships, develop leaders, and support mental health across Phi Delta Theta.
Congratulations to Clark Hunt—the newest member of the Phi Delta Theta Sports Hall of Fame.
