Our Story

Optimal Sports Management was formed at the beginning of the NIL era in July of 2021. Our C-Level executives are all graduates from the University of Southern California and have real-world experience in Business Administration and Sports Media.

The new NIL frontier is certainly a game changer and as a high school/collegiate athlete, you are certainly in the right place to take advantage of it. With that being said, it is imperative you find the right NIL advisors to walk you and your family through the process and to avoid jeopardizing collegiate eligibility. This is why we have experienced advisors who have been involved within the sports industry for the past 30 years. These advisors include former athletes, coaches, and college athletic administrators. 

Christopher Gil

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Christopher is the Founder and CEO of Optimal Sports Management. He is originally from Los Angeles, California. He brings three years of sports management experience working for several Los Angeles based professional sports teams and two sports management firms, prior to graduating from USC in Fall 2020 with a degree in Sports Media. While at USC, he was a member of the Sports Business Association.

Christopher is also a proud graduate of Loyola Marymount University, having attained his Master's of Science in Business Management from the Hilton Center for Business in May of 2023. 

Christopher became an NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor in 2023.

Frank Yip

Co-Founder and Director of Football Operations

Frank Yip is a proud graduate of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California and the School of Law at Santa Clara University. He is also a certified financial planner from the Denver School of Financial Planning and the University of Southern California.

He currently serves as the Founder and CEO of Coaches Athletic Advisory Services (CAAS). Frank brings a wealth of experience in the sports industry, having worked primarily in the collegiate and professional football industry. He has advised and worked with many coaches including the late Bill Walsh, John McVay, George Seifert, Lynn Stiles, Norb Hecker, Sherman Lewis, and Bill McPhearson. His current clients include Las Vegas Raiders Running Backs Coach, Kennedy Polamalu and New York Jets Offensive Line Coach, Keith Carter, Los Angeles Rams Wide Receiver's Coach, Eric Yarber and University of Arizona Quarterbacks / Passing Game Coordinator, Jimmie Dougherty.

All together, Frank has advised and educated both coaches as well as professional and student athletes in the following areas: contract negotiations, tax planning/income tax preparation, financial investments, as well as estate planning.

Jon Kingdon

Director of Scouting

Jon Kingdon dedicated 33 years to the legendary Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders, beginning as an intern in 1978 and serving as Director of College Scouting until his departure in 2012.
A trusted advisor to Davis, Kingdon played a key role in player evaluations, though they occasionally differed on draft selections.

He co-authored Al Davis: Behind the Raider Shield with Bruce Kebric, offering an insider’s perspective on the Raiders' iconic leader. Kingdon specializes in analyzing high school and college athletes for their potential at the collegiate and professional levels.

He is a graduate of Oberlin College with a degree in English, where he played tight end for the football team, provided play-by-play commentary for Oberlin basketball, and served as the sports editor of the school newspaper.

Steve Briscoe

Director of Youth Football

Coach Steve Briscoe is the Co-Founder and President of Next Level Sports & Academics. He has been coaching and mentoring student athletes for 8+ years. He has coached on many levels from Little League Youth to Elite High School and National 7v7 teams. Coach Briscoe is currently the Passing Coordinator/ College Relations Coordinator for Mount Diablo High School, located in Northern California.

Damian Ochoa

Marketing Coordinator

Damian Ochoa is a proud graduate of Chapman University where he attained his Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a minor in Entrepreneuship. He is currently attending the University of San Francisco and is attaining his Master's of Science in Sports Management.

Prior to joining Optimal Sports Management, Damian worked for Steinberg Sports & Entertainment as an Account Executive, where he collaborated with agents to facilitate collegiate NIL deals. He also conducted in-depth reviews of player contracts and team salary caps, which allowed him to aid in player management and decision making. 

Damian's career aspirations include becoming a certified NFLPA Contract Advisor and helping Optimal Sports' clients be there best versions of themselves, both on and off the field.