When it comes to the most influential people in Utah sports, who comes to mind? Jazz owner Larry H. Miller? Jerry Sloan? Bronco Mendenhall? What about those who make a big impact behind the scenes? The following is our annual ranking of the top 25 most influential people in Utah sports. The list considers influence, money and, most important, impact on the state's sports in the past year. Think you can name them all? Some of our rankings may surprise you.

1. UTAH SPORTS COMMISSION

2007 RANKING: 2

One person wasn't powerful enough to knock Jazz owner Larry H. Miller off our list of Utah's most influential people in sports this year.

It took a conglomeration of powerful people who have helped Utah grow into a sports behemoth by promoting the state through sports organizations and events.

Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr. serves as an honorary chairperson and there are five other members of our Top 25 - Robert Garff, Eric Heiden, Greg Miller, Chris Hill, Bill Marolt - who have roles on the executive committee or the executive advisory committee.

"We have brought together support from many key public and private sector leaders, including the governor, Legislature and many others who have been terrific partners helping us execute on our strategy," president and CEO Jeff Robbins said. "All have rallied with us around the idea of building and leveraging Utah's sports industry and assets in a manner that will provide significant economic return and promotional value to Utah."

In the past year the commission managed, funded and assisted with 46 events statewide.

Since 2002 it has provided more than 150 financial grants totaling more than $2.7 million.

Robbins is the point person for attracting events to Utah.

Among them are the AST Dew Tour, USA Volleyball junior events, Red Bull Air Race, XTERRA Mountain and Winter World Championships and the Superbike and Supermoto Championships.

The next year looks just as busy, with many of the events already committing to returning to Utah and others, such as Monster Energy Supercross and Red Bull Rampage, putting Utah on their calendar.

2. LARRY H. MILLER, JAZZ OWNER

2007 RANKING: 1

No. 1 for the past three years of our annual rankings, Miller slips to No. 2 this year behind the far-reaching influence of the sports commission.

After reaching the Western Conference finals in 2007, Miller's Jazz bowed out to the Lakers in the conference semifinals, which left most involved with a little disappointment after Utah's dramatic run in 2007.

One of the players who helped the Lakers win the series was former Jazzman Derek Fisher, whom Miller let out of his contract last July.

Doubt still persists that Fisher's move was only for his daughter's sake, but the move did help Miller's compassionate image, even if it might have hurt his team in the end.

His Tooele complex, Miller Motorsports Park, continues to draw big events and the Bees are one of the top teams in the Pacific Coast League.

Recently, complications from diabetes have forced Miller out of the public eye.

3. GOV. JON HUNTSMAN JR.

2007 RANKING: NR

As governor since 2005, Huntsman is a powerful man by virtue of his office. However, his economic development plan includes bringing large sporting events to Utah. He serves as an honorary chairman of the Utah Sports Commission and uses the weight of his office to push for sporting events in Utah.

"Most key sports events we work on trying to bring in want to know that the public sector is supportive and he and the Legislature and other government have both been helpful on our efforts," said Jeff Robbins, president of the Utah Sports Commission. "Especially with international and/or major events, the support of the public sector always seems to be a piece of the equation, even if it is only for protocol and diplomacy purposes, and the governor is very good at that."

4. TOM HOLMOE, BYU ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

2007 RANKING: 5

Like putting money into a stock early and watching it take off, Holmoe was on target this year with his major coaching decisions. The BYU athletics director signed football coach Bronco Mendenhall and basketball coach Dave Rose to contract extensions before the school year and removed the interim title from men's volleyball coach Shawn Patchell.

Mendenhall led his team to its second straight Mountain West Conference title, a Las Vegas Bowl victory and a national ranking. Rose's team vaulted into the rankings early in the season, repeated as outright Mountain West Conference regular-season champions and earned another at-large NCAA bid.

Patchell's squad shared the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title and was a victory away from reaching the Final Four.

5. BILL MAROLT, U.S. SKI AND SNOWBOARD ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

2007 RANKING: 6

Marolt oversees the $40 million, Park City-based organization that enjoyed a banner year. The U.S. led all nations with five titles in the Alpine World Cup, led by overall champions Lindsey Vonn and Bode Miller.

The USSA also won World Cup events in snowboarding, disabled, cross country, Nordic combined and freestyle skiing. History was made in cross country skiing as Kikkan Randall became the first American woman to win a race, doing so in December in Russia.

In March of 2009, the organization's $22.5 million national training center, the Center of Excellence, will open in Park City.

6. JERRY SLOAN, JAZZ COACH

2007 RANKING: 3

Sloan took care of what could have been two distractions early in the 2007-08 season, first mending his relationship with forward Andrei Kirilenko and then signing a contract extension to remain with the Jazz through the 2008-09 season.

Sloan led the Jazz to the conference semifinals, his team was nearly unbeatable at home (37-4 compared with 17-24 on the road) and it maintained a reputation of being one of the most physical in the league. But, in the end, that trait helped doom the Jazz as Kobe Bryant's frequent trips to the free-throw line were an integral part to Utah's elimination from the playoffs.

7. KEVIN O'CONNOR, JAZZ SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS

2007 RANKING: 3

O'Connor has fewer doubters now than ever as personnel moves continue to make the Jazz stronger. He made a big move in December, getting rid of Gordan Giricek and bringing in Kyle Korver. The Jazz were 38-12 with Korver on the roster.

Carlos Boozer made the All-Star team while Deron Williams continues to assert himself and Morris Almond, Utah's first pick in the 2007 draft (25th overall), led the D-League in scoring averaging 25.6 points.

Now we'll see if O'Connor made the right choice in drafting Ohio State's Kosta Koufos.

8. BRONCO MENDENHALL, BYU FOOTBALL COACH

2007 RANKING: 9

As outsiders questioned whether the offense could recover from so many personnel losses, Mendenhall never wavered in his confidence. He was intent on proving BYU football was back to being a consistent, quality program.

The Cougars finished 11-2 with a 10-game winning streak, defended their Mountain West Conference title with a perfect conference record and won another Las Vegas Bowl game.

They ranked No. 17 in the final BCS standings and No. 14 in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches' Poll.

Mendenhall is the only coach in BYU football history to win 25 games in his first 35 attempts, and has a three-year record of 28-10.

9. RANDY RIGBY, PRESIDENT, UTAH JAZZ/LARRY H. MILLER SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT GROUP OF COMPANIES

2007 RANKING: NR

Rigby is nearing the completion of his first year as Dennis Haslam's successor as president of Larry Miller's companies. He spent his first 21 seasons overseeing sales and marketing and was responsible for all aspects of Jazz and Bees broadcasting and productions. Rigby is using that experience to oversee the growth of the team's media exposure, which includes radio, TV and Internet.

If you hear Larry Miller or O'Connor on the radio or see them on TV talking about the Jazz, there is a good chance Rigby had something to do with arranging the face time.

"There is a need for us to be out there, and I've been doing a lot of educating and saying, 'Here's why,' " Rigby said. "I've been pushing the value of that media and the relevance of it."

He has also been more involved in the day-to-day operations of the Jazz. He was involved in the trade for Kyle Korver as the middle man between Miller and O'Connor and helps manage $70 million in coaches' and players' salaries.

"That has been the biggest adjustment for me," Rigby said. "I'm working with a lot of coaching staff, players and issues I've never dealt with before."

10. CHRIS HILL, UTAH ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

2007 RANKING: 17

Hill's biggest move in the last year was hiring Jim Boylen to replace Ray Giacoletti as men's basketball coach, a decision that so far has been fairly well received.

The Utes went 18-15 overall and were just 7-9 in conference play, but Boylen's enthusiasm and accessibility to fans increased the excitement and interest in the program.

Hill's big hire three years ago, football coach Kyle Whittingham, guided the Utes to a 9-4 season and a sixth-straight bowl win.

Other sports excelled as well, with the gymnastics team finishing second at the NCAA Championships and the women's basketball team completing a 16-0 conference sweep.

Hill also serves on the NCAA Division I men's basketball committee and is a member of the Utah Sports Commission's Executive Committee.

11. GREG MILLER

2007 RANKING: NR

When Larry Miller was hospitalized because of complications from diabetes, his eldest son, Greg, served as the voice of the family. It was a harbinger of the future as the 42-year-old has emerged as the heir apparent to Miller's empire.

After several years of working with his father's car dealerships, Greg was asked to join his father in the corporation that oversees all of Miller's ventures. It sounded like a good idea, but learning by observing didn't work out too well for Greg, who prefers to be involved directly, a trait he shares with his father.

"I have a very short attention span and need to be actively engaged in whatever I'm doing," he said. "I like harmonized chaos. I was watching and didn't get a chance to make decisions. I just couldn't do it."

He was given the task of overseeing the development of the Miller Motorsports Park, where he now spends 80 percent of his time. He also is one of the primary reasons the Miller name has become associated with several cycling events in the state, including the resurrection of the Tour of Utah after a year's absence. He serves as chairman for the race and the company is a major sponsor.

An avid cyclist himself who is on track to log 4,000 miles this year, Miller fell for the sport when he watched Lance Armstrong win a crucial mountain stage in the 2003 Tour de France.

Miller, an outdoors enthusiast who spends much of his free time on the family ranch in Idaho with his six children, still prefers to hide from the public life himself.

"I like going into restaurants and people not recognizing me yet," he said.

That ability to go unnoticed is changing as he becomes more of an influence in his dad's world.

"He is still in charge and when he is ready to move on, whenever that may be, hopefully I will be ready to step in and fill his shoes," he said. "It's not intimidating. I feel like hard work and common sense can get me through anything that could be ahead of me."

12. MATTHEW GODFREY, OGDEN MAYOR

2007 RANKING: 10

Godfrey continues to push Ogden as its own outdoor sports capital and has mostly succeeded with businesses such as Descente, Scott, Nidecker Snowboards and Amer Sports Corp. relocating to the area.

The city made a push to land the USA Cycling headquarters, but lost when the organization decided to remain in Colorado Springs, Colo. However, it did land the XTERRA Mountain Championship - a world-class event that will be held for the second year at Snowbasin. The city also boasts a $19.5 million high adventure recreation center called the Salomon Center, a 125,000-square-foot facility that features a wind tunnel, climbing walls and other athletic diversions.

13. THE GARFFS, BLAZE OWNERS

2007 RANKING: 12

The Utah Blaze still haven't turned a profit in their three years as an Arena Football League franchise playing at EnergySolutions Arena, but they have certainly found their place on the state's professional sports lineup.

Owned by the father-and-son duo of Robert and John Garff, the Blaze continue to be among the league leaders in attendance.

The Garffs hung on to coach Danny White despite an 0-9 start this season. Utah won five of its last six games to make the AFL playoffs for the third straight year, but White resigned after a first-round loss to Colorado.

All in all, the franchise has proved to be a viable alternative for fans who can't wait for the fall to get their football fix.

14. DAVE CHECKETTS, RSL OWNER

2007 RANKING: 15

The past year was much quieter for the RSL owner, compared with 2006, which included his very public battle to have his stadium project approved in Sandy. The $110 stadium is nearing completion and is set to host its first event Oct. 9.

And Real Salt Lake, after some trades and staff overhauls, is making a bid to go from worst to best.

15. DERON WILLIAMS, JAZZ POINT GUARD

2007 RANKING: 8

Linked with Carlos Boozer on last year's list, Williams makes it on his own this season after a year in which he played with more confidence and enjoyed free rein from coach Jerry Sloan. Williams averaged 18.8 points and 10.5 assists, third in the league behind Chris Paul and Steve Nash.

His best month was in March when he had 212 assists, the most by any NBA player in a month since John Stockton in January of 1992.

Williams was named to the All-NBA second team in what the Jazz hope is just the start of postseason honors for the young guard.

16. ALAN WILSON, CEO AND GENERAL MANAGER OF MILLER MOTORSPORTS PARK

2007 RANKING: 18

Wilson was hired by Larry H. Miller to build his sports park because of his experience in design and global reputation. That hiring continues to pay off as the park, now in its third year, is thriving.

The park drew the World Superbike Championship primarily because organizers had confidence in Wilson that the track would be safe and the event would run smoothly. Held in May in conjunction with the AMA Superbike Championship, the event drew an estimated 12,000, the largest crowd ever to watch a race in Utah.

The track also holds the American Le Mans Series Utah Grand Prix and the Camping World West Series, formerly known as the Grand National West Series of NASCAR.

17. DAVE ROSE, BYU BASKETBALL COACH

2007 RANKING: NR

He continues to elevate his program to record-setting levels. The Cougars set the school record for regular-season victories (25) and finished with the second-best record in history with a 27-8 finish. It marked BYU's first back-to-back Top 25 seasons since 1981-82.

Rose led BYU to another Mountain West Conference outright regular-season title and another at-large NCAA Tournament berth.

Rose is 72-26 in three seasons and his win total is second nationally to Tennessee's Bruce Pearl for the most among coaches hired before the 2005-06 season.

It's not just on the court where BYU is making the grade. Rose's team was one of only two at BYU to be recognized by the NCAA for its multi-year Academic Progress Rate scores.

18. ERIC HEIDEN AND MAX TESTA

2007 RANKING: NR

Heiden, an Olympic gold medalist in speedskating, and Testa, a world-renowned cycling coach who counts Rowland Hall graduate Levi Leipheimer among his clients, moved their sports enhancement clinic to Salt Lake City in August 2006.

In 2007 the U.S. Cycling team held a camp in Salt Lake City so the riders could work with the duo. Testa has served on anti-doping committees. Heiden serves as the medical director for the U.S. speedskating and cycling teams and serves as an executive committee member for the Utah Sports Commission.Eric Heiden Max Testa19. MAX HALL, BYU QB2007 RANKING: NR The redshirt sophomore had big shoes to fill in taking over for John Beck. Considering Hall hadn't taken a snap in a game since his senior year of high school in 2003, he wildly exceeded expectations and kept BYU's offense humming.

He became the Mountain West Conference's all-time leading sophomore quarterback with a league-best 3,848 yards passing. Hall led the conference with an average of 296 passing yards per game and finished as the nation's top-ranked sophomore QB.

His toughness and grit were displayed in playing through a separated shoulder to lead BYU to a conference title and Las Vegas Bowl victory. The Arizona native's signature play was his fourth-and-18 completion to Austin Collie that propelled the Cougars to a comeback victory over rival Utah in the waning seconds.

20. DR. THOMAS ROSENBERG

2007 RANKING: NR

When the best golfer in the world couldn't take his knee pain any longer, Tiger Woods turned to Dr. Thomas Rosenberg of the Orthopedic Clinic in Park City to fix him. Rosenberg performed arthroscopic surgery on Woods' left knee in April to repair cartilage damage.

Woods didn't play in the Memorial because the knee wasn't healthy enough, but he didn't pass on the U.S. Open. There, he delivered one of golf's greatest wins as he winced, limped and grimaced his way to the title.

In the days that followed, it was revealed Woods had played with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He recently had it surgically repaired, by none other than Rosenberg. The surgery was the third time Rosenberg has operated on Woods' knee.

Rosenberg is no stranger to operating on world-class athletes as a physician for the U.S. ski, speedskating and snowboarding teams.

21. TED LIGETY, SKIER, BUSINESSMAN

2007 RANKING: NR

The Park City native starred on the slopes, winning the World Cup giant slalom title, and is expanding his business experience with his own company, Shred Optics, for which he designs all the goggles and promo products.

Ligety came up with his design in 2006 following his gold medal performance at the Olympics because he didn't want "race" goggles. He wanted something a little more adventurous and free-spirited. He and friend Carlo Salmini came up with the design and now Shred goggles, with their neon colors and "retro-punk" style, are becoming some of the most popular accessories on the mountains.

22. JOHNNY MILLER, FORMER PRO GOLFER

2007 RANKING: NR

Besides being considered one of the top television analysts in sports as NBC's golf voice, Heber Valley resident Johnny Miller plays a major role in Utah golf as the host of the Sorenson Champions Challenge.

His annual two-day event at Thanksgiving Point is the only Utah showcase for established golf stars, and Miller succeeded in bringing Annika Sorenstam and Jack Nicklaus back to Lehi this year.

Miller has not been able to use his connections with the United States Golf Association to bring a USGA championship to Thanksgiving Point, as he once envisioned, but the Champions Challenge has remained on the calendar for 11 years amid sponsorship changes.

23. ASHLEY POSTELL, UNIVERSITY OF UTAH GYMNAST

2007 RANKING: 25

Her last night in the Huntsman Center was one of the most memorable for Utah's successful gymnastics program as a standing room only crowd of 15,447 people turned out to see the senior's final home performance. It was the largest crowd in NCAA history for a gymnastics meet and was the first time the Huntsman Center had sold out since a men's basketball game against BYU in 2005.

Maybe fans initially attended the meet for other reasons, but by the end of the night the arena was hers, judging by the standing ovations she earned. She scored a 10.0 on the balance beam, won three events and the all-around and led the Utes to a 197.1-193.85 win over BYU.

Postell ended her career with an NCAA-record 20 All-America awards and school records in wins in a season (47), and in a career (120). She tied the school record for all-around wins in a season (11).

24. LINDSEY VONN, ALPINE SKIER

2007 RANKING: NR

Vonn, who once called Vail, Colo., home but now lives and trains in Park City, enjoyed one of the best seasons by a U.S. alpine skier as she became the first woman to win the World Cup overall since Tamara McKinney in 1983.

Her 10th downhill victory made her the most successful downhill skier in U.S. history, surpassing Daron Rahlves and Picabo Street.

A member of the Alpine ski team for eight years, the two-time Olympian has made it to the podium 33 times in World Cup events.

25. CRAIG THOMPSON, MWC COMMISSIONER

2007 RANKING: 23

Thompson's reputation as a league leader was hurt by the problems his conference has had in getting the mtn. carried by satellite companies. Those companies are slowly being brought on board and in turn are slowly quelling fans' frustrations.

The conference's success was more evident on the football field. MWC teams went 4-1 in bowl games to register the best winning bowl percentage among the 11 conferences that make up the Football Bowl Subdivision.