Meet Ian and Tavia: Kroc Sports Team
A little over seven months ago Kroc Sports came under new leadership as Ian Bailey and Santavia Macomson (Tavia for short) joined the Kroc Greenville team!
Both hold degrees in Sports Management from Southern Wesleyan and North Greenville Universities. Both have experience in community centers, and both are passionate about making a positive impact in their program participants' lives.
Background and Experience
Ian, Sports Manager, served as a South Carolina YMCA Sports Director for three years. Before that, he’d been on staff part time and during summers for two years, and before that, Ian worked within his collegiate Sports department at North Greenville.
In his role, Ian says the most rewarding part of his work is developing strong relationships with his coworkers and Kroc community members. The smaller size of Kroc Greenville’s facility and programming allows for more intentional connections between coaches and participants; it also provides room for more personal communication with families which Ian highly values.
Tavia, Assistant Manager, interned at the same YMCA as Ian during her coursework at Southern Wesleyan; her responsibilities there included administrative work and coaching youth sports. At The Kroc, Tavia’s position has her organizing programs, completing rental contracts, maintaining quality customer service, and training youth participants.
Prior to accepting this role, Tavia was a senior forklift operator at an Adidas warehouse, but she finds this work more rewarding, saying, “It feels like home, not like a job.”
Proud Moments
In her short time at Kroc Greenville, Tavia has already logged her share of proud moments. During 2025’s Youth Winter Basketball, one girl with fewer resources than her peers was able to join a team, gain her confidence, and score for the first time in the very last game of the season. The crowds went wild, the whole gym in a supportive uproar!
In addition to her involvement in youth sports programs, Tavia also coached the dry land portion of Kroc Swim Academy’s athlete conditioning routine. In the process, she got to know many of the KSA swimmers, but she beams describing sibling set Charlotte, Evan, and Everette as “a joy to be around!”
Sports Team Dynamics
Turns out, she’s a joy to be around too. Ian calls the pair’s working dynamic the perfect balance between empathy and drive. Both he and Tavia have unique perspectives based on their lived experiences, and they “bring out the best in each other.”
Ian sees himself just as much a part of the team as anyone else. He strives to lead from a place beside his team, not from behind, so his direct reports feel supported by someone they know is willing to “do the work.” He’s not one to manage his department from behind closed doors.
Tavia’s motivation stems from a respect for her purpose and her faith. She explains, “God gives me opportunities to make an impact. My purpose is to teach kids from all backgrounds that sports can set them up for success. I can help point them in the right direction.”
Goals and Hurdles
As a child, Tavia dreamed of owning and operating her own youth training facility, but for now, she’s got other goals in mind as she plans to eventually join the Airforce and go back to school, possibly to continue studying Sports Management or maybe to become a Physical Therapist.
For now, there’s work to be done at The Kroc. Both Ian and Tavia agree that the future of Kroc Sports includes expanding programs to invite more enrollments and facility rentals, adding volunteer coaches and referees, and growing the department's reputation throughout the greater Greenville area.
Most importantly to Ian, he adds, the heart of Kroc Sports is not just about games and practices. It’s about helping people connect with each other and improve their physical, mental, and spiritual health.
After all, according to Ian, running impactful rec. Sports programming comes down to a mentoring approach that prioritizes relationship building at every turn. This means being there for families, observing participants closely, strategizing changes based on individualized needs, and being sensitive to parent, guardian, and staff needs just as much as players’.
Outside of Work
In the office, on the court, and on the turf, Ian needs his energy drinks. Okay, it might not be a need, but it’s not often he’s caught without a can in hand. The original, green Monster is his go-to option today, but his all-time favorite is Monster’s “Assault” flavor which had a cherry taste and was discontinued in 2014 with a brief resurgence in 2020 (with a reformulated flavor).
Tavia is more of a fan of healthy, solid foods with her favorite dishes to cook at home being salmon or chicken with rice, black beans, and peppers; it’s that or a simple tuna salad scooped with crackers. If she’s eating out, Tavia leans towards any type of rice bowl: poke, Mexican, or Mediterranean. She also spends time with her family or serving at her church.
When he’s not at The Kroc, Ian “tries to stay sore,” either working out at the gym or playing grass volleyball, indoor volleyball, softball, and, sometimes, basketball.
Ian and Tavia have become pillars of The Kroc team, especially in the back office where they have both melded into the company culture. Tavia comments on her experience this past year, explaining, “I love how The Kroc is a faith-based organization, so there’s a sense of freedom here.” She adds, “I can express my beliefs and enjoy how my coworkers have so much personality!”
Get Involved
If you or someone you know is looking for the chance to build lasting memories and make an impact in a child’s life, contact Ian about becoming a volunteer coach or referee ([email protected]).
In a different stage of life? Register your youth for Summer Basketball, Fall Soccer, or one of our upcoming Summer Sports Camps running May 26th – July 31st! With three and five-day options, each week is designated for a specific sport: basketball, volleyball, football, or soccer. There is also an “All Sports” combo week, June 22nd - June 26. Parents pickup between 7:30AM and 9:00AM and pickup between 4:15PM and 5:30PM.
Adults are also invited to enjoy Kroc Sports through seasonal leagues as well as pickup volleyball and pickup basketball games. You can also rent turf field or indoor gymnasium space for private play by contacting Tavia for further details ([email protected]).
Regardless of how you engage with Kroc Sports, we are glad to welcome you as a member of our community, and now you know if you ever see an “Assault” Monster at your local gas station, you’d better pick it up because that’s a limited edition flavor, endorsed by a true energy drink connoisseur.
Or just get a water, your choice. We support you either way, and so do Ian and Tavia!