Joy of the Game under new leadership

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

Joy of the Game, a Deerfield sports establishment since 1993 that has grown to be one of the Midwest’s largest basketball programs, is under new ownership.

Josh Carl, a 34-year-old Deerfield resident and father of three, who comes from a family of basketball legacies, has acquired the business.

The revitalized business will offer programming that will lend itself to players of all skill levels - from toddler through high school and from Amateur Athletic Union players and travel teams to adults.

“We are not just about Division I players. This is a facility for all kids at all ages and all skill levels, even adults,” emphatically stated Carl, who is passionate about sharing the “joy of the game” with everyone in the community. “We welcome everyone through our doors to experience the new environment, whether players, family members or spectators.”

With a renewed focus on “servicing the North Shore,” Joy of the Game is investing in the future of children and young adults with staff, coaches, community outreach providers and support staff.

“Growing up around basketball, I now realize that sports was not only about competition, but an outlet to teach life’s valuable lessons, on and off the court,” said Carl, who still reflects back on his teachers and coaches that had an impact on his upbringing. “I want Joy of the Game coaches to be inspirations to everyone who comes through our doors, and show them that sports is about roles, responsibilities and relying on one another.”

The goal of Joy of the Game is to give each player the skills to deal with life’s lessons and challenges in a positive and fun environment while instilling a sense of pride for their individual and team accomplishments.

Carl’s vision is to transform the 49,000-square-foot facility and create a community where everyone from family members to the players themselves feel at home, whether on or off the court. Plans call for rejuvenating the facility with upgraded courts, equipment and locker rooms, WiFi and a new café and retail environment.

“I am thrilled to be getting back to my roots in basketball, and have Joy of the Game represent all the high standards my father, Howie “Hershey” Carl, played the game with and, more importantly, how he lived his life,” said Josh Carl.

He said the new direction of Joy of the Game will be portrayed in every aspect of its structure, from branding to marketing, management to operations, and in the programs themselves. Carl said to expect many ground-breaking changes in the future.

Josh Carl grew up on the North Shore eating, drinking and sleeping basketball. The Carl family has been a fixture on the Chicago basketball scene for many decades. His father, Howie, played in the National Basketball Association for the Chicago Packers, was an All-American at DePaul University and finished his college career as the school’s second all-time leading scorer. His brother, Adam, starred at Glenbrook North High School and played at the University of Wisconsin. Even his uncle Sam, who was the number two scorer in the Chicago Public League in 1949, ran the free-throw shooting stand at the famous Riverview Amusement Park .

Josh also starred at Glenbrook North, where he is most recognized for scoring all of his team’s nine points in double overtime, including two game-winning free throws, at the 1993 super sectional at Welsh Ryan Arena to lead Glenbrook North to its first Elite Eight in school history. Josh went on to a 66-11 varsity record, three straight conference championships, three straight regional championships, two super sectional appearances, and an elite eight appearance. His honors included Conference MVP, first-team All-Area, All-State honorable mention and Scholar-Athlete award.

Josh is founder and chief executive officer of The Endeavor Companies, LLC, a privately held merchant bank, where he oversees all investment, management and strategic activities. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in the structuring and managing of more than $1 billion worth of assets within the private equity, real estate and investment marketplaces. Specifically, Josh has been responsible for a myriad of transactions and investments across numerous industries including oil and gas, advanced materials, home services, self-storage, luxury retail, hospitality, restaurant, rental apartments and condominium conversions.

He earned his master degree in business administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, with concentrations in entrepreneurship, strategic management and finance, and his bachelor’s degree in business from Lake Forest College. Josh resides with his wife and three children in Deerfield.

Joy of the Game is located at 158 S. Waukegan Road.

For information on its programs or private event options, call (847) 498-6646 or e-mail info@joyofthegame.com.