Originally published in Carroll Capital, the print publication of the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. .听
Updated: August 5, 2026
Kevin Schohl '06 loves a good game. He鈥檚 felt that way since his childhood in Cleveland, learning to contend with the sometimes agonizing experience of being an Ohio sports fan at the time.
Kevin Schohl 鈥�06 at Portland鈥檚 Fitzpatrick Stadium, where the Hearts of Pine have built one of the most successful鈥攁nd community-driven鈥攍aunches in USL League One history.
That love of sports has buoyed him across his career, through his strategy and analytics internship with Major League Baseball; his time as director of analytics and strategic initiatives for both the Atlanta Falcons and Major League Soccer team Atlanta United FC; and even the half a decade spent at sports betting company DraftKings, where he climbed the ranks to vice president. That鈥檚 where he was when he heard about a brand new soccer team launching in Portland, Maine.
In spring 2024, Schohl joined the Portland Hearts of Pine, a men鈥檚 soccer team in the third division of American professional soccer, USL League One, as its first president and chief business officer. The opportunity was too good to pass up, he says. 鈥淭hey needed someone who鈥檇 be able to lead a business, wear a lot of hats, and grow something from nothing.鈥� In short, it sounded like a dream job.
On a sunny October day at the tail end of the Hearts' first season, preparations were underway for a match against Westchester Soccer Club. Wearing a blaze orange camo Hearts of Pine jersey and a big smile, Schohl walked the outer track around Portland鈥檚 Fitzpatrick Stadium, where the Hearts play home games.
Spirits were high鈥攑rior to kickoff, the club was hosting a fall fair with a petting zoo and carnival games. The Portland High School girls鈥� soccer team wandered by to pose for a photo with team mascot Moxie the Moose, and Schohl pointed out the dunk tank, where fans would have a chance to submerge team founder and Chief Community Officer Gabe Hoffman-Johnson later on.
When Hoffman-Johnson founded the Hearts of Pine, he envisioned the team being a beacon of what soccer could be in America, with real community impact like other soccer teams around the world. But to reach those heights, 鈥淵ou need to surround yourself with really high-quality leadership,鈥� he says of bringing Schohl on as president. 鈥淎s an operator, his ability to execute is phenomenal.鈥�
That ability was clear all the way back to when Schohl worked on the business team of Boston College鈥檚 independent student newspaper, The Heights. 鈥淧eople at The Heights were writing good stories鈥攖hat didn鈥檛 need to be my strength. I was able to bring my business talents and provide the revenue for it to succeed,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t was a good example of being able to match different talents together."
Hoffman-Johnson says that if he鈥檚 the why of Hearts of Pine in his role as chief community officer, then 鈥淜evin鈥檚 more of our how: the person who has the ability to think really big and five years forward, and at the flip of a switch, jump into the nitty-gritty,鈥� he says. 鈥淸Hearts of Pine] has his fingerprints on it just as much as mine, if not more.鈥�
Boston College鈥檚 emphasis on becoming a well-rounded learner has served Schohl well. In addition to his finance and operations management studies and his time on The Heights, he was also a history major. 鈥淭hat generalist mindset has really benefited me, especially in a role like this,鈥� Schohl says鈥攁t any given moment he might be proofreading a marketing email, doing a million-dollar partnership deal, or dealing with an HR issue. 鈥淚鈥檓 having to feel confident in doing all of those things. That鈥檚 what the Carroll School trains people to do.鈥�
“ Success isn鈥檛 just who鈥檚 the best marketer or the best accountant. It鈥檚 about who can understand what we鈥檙e trying to do and lead with their heart. ”
Schohl, who went on to get a Harvard MBA, still feels deeply connected to Boston College. 鈥淚 have a lot of pride, that鈥檚 who I am. I鈥檓 still a huge fan of BC sports,鈥� he says. In building the Hearts of Pine community, he鈥檚 infusing it with that same enthusiasm.
The Hearts were dubbed 鈥渢he buzziest new team in US soccer鈥� by AdAge, thanks in part to an emphasis on community. For example, the camo jersey Schohl wore is a nod to Maine鈥檚 hunting culture. There鈥檚 also a kit dotted with red hearts, evoking a Portland tradition where the so-called Valentine鈥檚 Day Bandit secretly听hung paper hearts around the city. In the 2025 season, these design choices led to the team selling more merchandise than all other USL League One teams combined.
鈥淸We鈥檙e always] thinking about community,鈥� he says. One of the toughest challenges he has to tackle isn鈥檛 about optimizing revenue鈥攖he club topped gross revenue and ticket sales for the league in its inaugural season鈥攂ut about 鈥渇inding ways for soccer or nonprofit groups to [attend games], and making sure we鈥檙e not shutting people out,鈥� he adds. 鈥淲e know this loyalty will pay off in the long run.鈥�
At the end of their first season, the team made it all the way to the playoff semifinals. Now in year two, there is no shortage of support for what the Hearts are doing. There was a 98 percent season ticket renewal rate, with more than 8,000 people on the waitlist, and in early August, the organization announced plans to construct a new $50 million soccer-specific stadium along Portland's waterfront.
鈥淸In] sports business, if I were to do the exact same things in the wrong place, maybe it wouldn鈥檛 work,鈥� Schohl says, explaining how the team鈥檚 success owes as much to the Portland community rallying around the Hearts as it does to the players and staff.
鈥淚鈥檝e worked with a lot of very high-caliber people throughout my career, but you realize some people aren鈥檛 cut out to work for a lower division soccer team,鈥� he says. 鈥淪uccess isn鈥檛 just who鈥檚 the best marketer or the best accountant. It鈥檚 about who can understand what we鈥檙e trying to do and lead with their heart.鈥�
