When the University of Akron announced a competition to name an “Offensive Coordinator of the Game” for its home opener, few expected the winner to be a season‑ticket holder with a day job in real estate finance.
A Unique Opportunity for a CFO
Marty Whims II, a Cuyahoga Falls resident and chief financial officer of Stark Enterprises, was selected from a pool of nine finalists and will now work directly with head coach Joe Moorhead to script the Zips’ opening series against Robert Morris.
The contest, overseen by the university’s College of Business and the George W. Daverio School of Accountancy, was designed to give Whims a hands‑on glimpse of game planning, from reviewing scouting reports to influencing play selection.
Whims, who has held Zips season tickets since the opening of InfoCision Stadium in 2009, will attend the September 12, 2026 matchup alongside friends Charlie and Jason, and he will do so while balancing his family life and his role at Stark Enterprises.
Athletic director and coach Joe Moorhead emphasized that the promotional experiment would not distract the team from its primary goal: winning the home opener, which will be streamed live on ESPN+.