When Grand Canyon University President Brian Mueller approached Valley sports icon Jerry Colangelo with a vision and a plan four years ago, the former Suns and Diamondbacks owner was sold.
He was intrigued by how the hybrid online revenue was growing the private institution from being on the brink of bankruptcy to vibrant and profitable in the wake of the recession.
"It was a new model," said Colangelo.
When Mueller wanted basketball to be the calling card, "that rang my bell," Colangelo said.
Colangelo knows a lot of people in high places in the basketball world.