2006 ranking - 1

The Jazz made the Western Conference finals, new season ticket sales have set a landmark of more than 5,000, the most in the NBA other than Miami's 8,000 windfall in 2004 after it acquired Shaquille O'Neal.

Sure, he had a typical Miller meltdown when the team went through a spring funk, telling them that "we suck." A month later, he publicly announced Andrei Kirilenko "needed to grow up."

Miller has never been known for tact, but at least the guy is honest.

In addition to the success of the Jazz, Miller's other enterprises continue to thrive, whether it is the Bees or the Miller Motorsports Park, making his position at No. 1 more solid than ever.

2. Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of Utah Sports Commission

2006 ranking - 3

Perhaps instead of any person, it will take an entity to knock Miller off the top of the perch. This could be one to do it as the Utah Sports Commission continues to expand its influence. If there is a sporting event held in the state, this organization likely had a hand in it, either by bringing it to the state or funding it. The organization partnered with 44 events this year, generating an economic impact of about $114 million, and has also provided funding or committed near $2 million in funding to help bring or support sports events in Utah.

The organization had a hand in prompting the U.S. Speedskating relocation to Utah, attracting events like Primal Quest Utah, some motorsports and XTERRA, and could sway the UCI to host a World Cup event at Deer Valley.

3. Jerry Sloan, Jazz coach

2006 ranking - 13

The longest-tenured coach in professional sports led the Jazz back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2002-03 season and finished second in the voting for NBA Coach of the Year. His hunch in going with Deron Williams instead of Chris Paul looks like the right choice.

Sloan continued to instill his hard-nosed, farm-boy attitude on his team with most of the players buying into his philosophy. The one who didn't, Andrei Kirilenko, probably represents Sloan's greatest coaching challenge next year, if the Russian is still here.

4. Kevin O'Connor, Jazz senior

vice president of basketball operations

2006 ranking - 22

Not only did he make a big leap on our list, but he can boast "I told you so," too. O'Connor wasn't looking too good last year at this time, with Carlos Arroyo gone, Gordan Giricek looking like an injury-bitten acquisition and Carlos Boozer nearing insignificant status. Now the man who brokers Utah's deals can smile while his critics go silent, at least for now. Boozer finally showed he was worth a $68 million deal, Mehmet Okur made the All-Star team and Deron Williams came into his own.

Bringing in Derek Fisher was big for the Jazz from a leadership standpoint; now O'Connor's biggest issue is dealing with a disgruntled Andrei Kirilenko and his troubling lack of point production.

5. Tom Holmoe, BYU athletic director

2006 ranking - 8

His hires look great, and his athletic department is thriving. Bronco Mendenhall has his football team on the national radar and men's basketball coach Dave Rose led the Cougars to a 25-9 mark in 2006-07 and his squad was honored for having Academic Progress Rate scores in the top 10 percent in the country.

Out of the 19 sports, BYU had 14 teams win either the regular-season or tournament titles. For the first time since 1979-80, BYU's football and men's basketball teams won outright titles in the same season.

6. Bill Marolt, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association president

2006 ranking - 7

He continues to improve the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association's worldly reputation. The organization weathered the bad publicity Bode Miller brought and its disappointing showing in the 2006 Winter Olympics, to have a strong season on the World Cup circuit.

American athletes captured 32 victories (20 able/12 disabled) and a total of 78 podium finishes (47 able/31 disabled top-3 finishes) throughout the World Cup season. Six athletes had their first World Cup podiums and the U.S. garnered six World Championship medals.

Since he joined the association in 1996, the organization has grown from an $8 million to $10 million business to one of $24 million to $25 million. This month the association will break ground on a $22.5 million national training center called the Center of Excellence in Park City. The 85,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to be completed by the 2010 Olympics.

7. Dennis Haslam, president, Utah Jazz/Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment Group of Companies

2006 ranking - 16

He oversees everything from Miller's pro teams of the Jazz and Bees to the Miller Motorsports Park and retail Fanzz outlets. The Bees are winning, the Jazz are selling merchandise and the engines are humming at the track.

This year, Haslam estimates Miller's enterprises will sell about 5 million tickets. The 38 Fanzz stores had their best year, and because on Utah's playoff run, sales are up 27 percent this year.

8. Carlos Boozer/Deron Williams, Utah Jazz

2006 ranking - NR

In leading the Jazz back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2003-04 season, the duo of Boozer and Williams inevitably drew comparisons to Stockton and Malone. Boozer averaged 20.9 points and 11.7 rebounds while Williams averaged 16.2 points and 9.3 assists. More than what they gave the Jazz this year, a spot in the conference finals, they gave the organization a glimpse of what could be a hopeful future.

2006 ranking - 10

After guiding the Cougars to a 6-6 mark in his first year, Mendenhall continued the Cougars' ascent in his second year leading them to an 11-2 mark, including a 38-8 win over Oregon in the Las Vegas bowl. That win was notable because it came against an offense coached by Gary Crowton, the man Mendenhall replaced as the Cougars' coach.

"To me, the most satisfaction we got as players and coaches from a great season was we relinked the current program with the past traditions," Mendenhall said. "It was a great season, but winning at BYU is what is expected. Hopefully we reclaimed our place where it is supposed to be."

The season's greatest win, at least from BYU fans' perspective, was the 33-31 victory over Utah that wasn't clinched until the final seconds when John Beck spied Jonny Harline alone in the corner of the end zone. Harline hauled in the 11-yard pass to give the Cougars their first win over their rival since 2001.

10. Matthew Godfrey, Ogden mayor

2006 ranking - NR

Godfrey doesn't want his city known simply as a northerly neighbor to Salt Lake City, he is determined to make it live up to the slogan of "the high adventure recreation world capital." So far, he has the area going in the right direction.

Godfrey, born and raised in the Ogden area and a graduate of Weber State, wanted to take advantage of the natural features the area offers, from ski resorts, to rivers to reservoirs. The identity he has helped foster for the city in his six years as mayor is one for active lifestyles.

"With what we have here, we have a significant, competitive advantage," said Godfrey, elected mayor in 1999 at the age of 29. "We have an amazing collection of venues that are unmatched. It's the perfect place for sports and their companies."

The city has become a hub for outdoor businesses with more than 10 winter sport companies calling the city home. Descente, Scott, Goode, Rossignol and Snowsports Interactive are just a few located in the area. The plum of the businesses is Amer Sports Corp., which announced in October it is setting up its North American business hub in the city. In the process of moving into downtown, Amer Sports is estimated to bring $26.5 million in new tax revenues and $1.6 billion in net sales.

2006 ranking - NR

Brought in to be a leader, he sparked the Jazz in an unimaginable way when he played through the playoffs while his daughter had surgery for a rare eye cancer. His most dramatic game came in Game 2 of the Western conference semifinals as he went to the arena directly after a flight from New York, changed and took the court without warming up late in the third quarter.

His presence ignited the crowd, his aim delivered a key three-pointer in the 127-117 overtime win over Golden State and his daughter's battle made many more aware of the cancer called retinoblastoma.

He also stood up for his teammates in the spring, after Jazz owner Larry H. Miller proclaimed they "suck."

His level-headedness and mature nature are some of the reasons he was elected president of the NBA Players Association.

In leaving the Jazz to find a city that has the necessary doctors for his daughter, he is walking away from nearly $21 million from the Jazz.

12. The Garffs, Blaze owners

2006 ranking - 4

The father-and-son duo of Robert and John Garff have seen their Arena Football League franchise grow from an expansion entity into a playoff regular in the two years of existence.

The franchise, purchased for $18 million to $20 million in 2005, is on track to meet expectations and turn a profit, or at least come close to it, in year three.

Attendance continues to be high, although its 2007 average of 14,289 is down from 2006's mark of 15,500. However, team officials say they made more money in 2007 because they sold more lower bowl tickets. Perhaps most importantly, the team has shown football isn't just a fall sport in Utah.

13. Cecil O. Samuelson, BYU president

2006 ranking - NR

By virtue of his position as president of BYU, Samuelson earns a spot on our list. BYU has one of the strongest reputations in the country for its mix of athletics, academics and high moral standards. However, his university did take a very public hit this year when it was revealed that the esteemed school, via its online program, was being used by numerous conniving coaches and athletes around the country to receive credits to meet collegiate eligibility requirements.

How much power in athletics he has will be revealed in the coming year as he and other MWC presidents push for satellite companies to carry their games on the MWC channel, the mtn.

14. Michael K. Young, Utah president

2006 ranking - NR

Unlike his counterpart at BYU, Young is one of the most outspoken presidents in the MWC. He defers to athletic director Chris Hill on most occasions, but doesn't back down from battles, such as the current tussle with satellite companies that refuse to carry the mtn. network. Young and Samuelson spearheaded the conference's legal exploration into the fray.

15. Dave Checketts, RSL owner

2006 ranking - 2

A year ago, he seemed primed to make a run at knocking Larry H. Miller from the top spot. No longer. Now he is trumped by not just one car salesman, but two with the Garffs moving ahead of him as well. His $110 million stadium deal was accepted after a long battle with government officials after he threatened to take his team elsewhere. That didn't happen, with the help from Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, who fought to keep the team in Utah.

But before it was over, Checketts managed to irk Anderson too with some strings attached to his supposed $7.5 million donation for a youth soccer facility in Salt Lake. After more haggling, Checketts relented and dropped many of the mandates that suddenly appeared with the donation.

16. John Beck, BYU QB

2006 ranking - NR

He was the guy who made The Play happen, connecting with teammate Jonny Harline on an 11-yard pass on the final play of the game to give the Cougars a 33-31 win over Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Beck threw for four touchdowns in the win, and the last will go down as one of the most memorable in BYU history.

"I hear more about that win than I do our conference championship, our No. 15 national ranking at the end of the season or our bowl win over Oregon," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "At least locally, in Utah, that win made our whole season."

Beck started the play going to his left, then went to his right before throwing the winning touchdown pass across his body to Harline.

The play was remarkably similar to the 2005 meeting between the teams when Beck threw incomplete on fourth down in the 41-34 overtime loss.

Beck was selected in the second round of the NFL draft by Miami, but at least out west he'll probably be forever known not as an NFL quarterback but for beating Utah.

17. Chris Hill, Utah athletic director

2006 ranking - 19

It was a rocky year for the guy on top of the hill. The football team finished the season 8-5, including a sixth straight bowl game, but the season was marred by the last-second loss to BYU and other losses that could have been wins, such as the loss to New Mexico.

After a disappointing 11-19 season, men's basketball went through a coaching change as Ray Giacoletti was fired and replaced by Jim Boylen. On the women's side, the Utes' second-place finish in the 2007 NCAA Gymnastics was a bright spot, but the women's department didn't escape controversy either as the volleyball and basketball programs had several of its best players transfer.

Still, Hill earns a spot on the list by virtue of the power of his office. He also serves on the NCAA Division I men's basketball committee.

2006 ranking - NR

When Miller decided to build his racepark, he didn't go after just any designer, but went for one of the best. Miller landed Wilson, who has designed more than 20 other courses. Wilson has operated major events for Formula One, Endurance Sports Cars and Indy Cars.

His presence on Miller's team gave the project immediate credibility from the racing brotherhood, attracting many top-quality drivers.

The big events the track hosted last year (American Le Mans Series, Grand Am Series, AMA Superbikes) returned this season, a testament that the track's reputation is meeting expectations for racers.

The park also hosts a lower-tier NASCAR event, the Grand National West Series of NASCAR, July 14, which is expected to draw the largest single-day crowd in Utah history for a motorsports event.

19. Greg Marsden, University of Utah gymnastics coach

2006 ranking - 14

In his 32nd year as the Utes' coach, Marsden took Utah's largest freshman class and, after overcoming physical setbacks and chemistry issues, guided the Utes to a second-place finish at the 2007 NCAA Championships. As the host for the championships, Utah drew 36,655 fans over the three-day event, setting an attendance record for the NCAA Gymnastics Championships. His team led the nation in gymnastics attendance by drawing an average of 11,297 fans.

A self-professed tech geek, Marsden also helped revamp the university's athletic department Web site.

2006 ranking - NR

The two-time Olympian followed her giant slalom winning performance in the 2006 Olympics by taking a silver medal in the super combined in the 2007 World Cup. She is an eight-time U.S. champion and has the record for 12 consecutive U.S. championship medals. She doesn't spend all her energy on the slopes. Mancuso recently launched her own Web site (juliamancuso.net) to help her raise money and awareness to two favorite charities, the World Wildlife Fund and Right to Play, the latter of which supports disadvantaged children through sports.

21. Steve Johnson, CEO of USA Cycling

2006 ranking - NR

The former University of Utah exercise science professor worked his way through the ranks of USA Cycling to become its head guy a year ago when Gerald Bisceglia resigned under pressure.

Johnson's organization has more than 54,000 members, but also influences millions more avid cyclists through its events and races. Among his goals is to expand USA cycling by encouraging young riders to compete in Europe with the world's top teams.

Some of those promising young riders were in Utah this year as the national team held its training camp in Murray, partially because of Johnson's ties to the state.

"We want to essentially seed the European peloton with American riders," he said. "That is going to help us with our exposure, if we keep turning out these top riders. Discovery, CSC, a lot of the top teams have American riders and that makes people aware of the results. It's not just about Lance Armstrong."

Right now, one of his biggest charges is restoring the image cycling has after doping scandals have riddled the sport.

22. Peter Metcalf, CEO of Black Diamond

2006 ranking - NR

The skiing and climbing equipment manufacturer relocated from California to Utah in 1991 at the insistence of Metcalf, who admits his small staff of fewer than 50 people were more than skeptical. "They asked me if I was trying to get them to quit," he said. But Metcalf stuck with his hunch that moving to Salt Lake City at the base of the Wasatch Mountains was the thing to do.

"At the time Boulder, Colorado, was the place to be for companies like ours," he said. "They had John Denver singing about Rocky Mountain high and we had the Osmonds."

A lot has changed since then as numerous other outdoor-related businesses have joined Black Diamond in making Utah their home. The company also played an integral part in attracting to Utah the Outdoor Retailers Show, an event with an estimated impact of $34 million annually, and is a strong environmental advocate for several organizations including the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and the American Alpine Club.

Black Diamond has grown to a company with more than 300 workers and sales of more than $70 million. Among its many inventions is the AvaLung II, a harness that allows backcountry skiers to breathe when buried under snow, and the T1, the first plastic telemark ski boot.

"Salt Lake is now ground zero for companies like ours," Metcalf said. "We've formed our own niche here, like the Silicon Valley."

23. Craig Thompson,

MWC commissioner

2006 ranking - 5

Thompson jumped up the standings last year by signing off on a TV deal with College Sports TV. By turning their backs on ESPN and going with a young network, Thompson and the presidents in the MWC knew they were taking a chance. Right now, it looks like a bad one. Yes, they got away from the dreaded start times such as the 10 p.m. tipoffs for basketball ESPN saddled them with, but now fans who subscribe to many major satellite companies can't see their teams play because the companies aren't carrying the mtn. on their system. As a result, the conference, spurred by BYU president Cecil Samuelson and Utah's Michael Young, have hired a lawyer to see what legal action is available.

24. Gordon Morton, XanGo founder

2006 ranking - NR

As a founder of XanGo, a company that sells the juice of the Asian fruit mangosteen, Morton has pushed the company into the sports market. Former NBA player A.C. Green and NFL quarterback Drew Brees are among the athletes who endorse the product.

As a major sponsor for Real Salt Lake, XanGo became the first company to advertise on the front of soccer jerseys doing so this year. It also sponsors exhibition cups such as last year's matchup with Real Madrid and built the team a practice field near its headquarters in Lehi.

Outside of soccer, the company has sponsored golf events and endurance competitions such as the Wasatch Back Relay.

"We have a lot of people in our offices who are very active," Morton said. "That, and being a big soccer fan, made it seem logical for us to sponsor them."

25. Ashley Postell,

University of Utah gymnast

2006 ranking - NR

She came to Utah with a world-known reputation as the 2002 world balance beam champion and has only added to her list of achievements as a Ute. This year she won the national balance beam title, becoming Utah's first national champion on that event since Theresa Kulikowski in 2001. She was second in the all-around and led the team with 30 victories and was named the team MVP.