Many times in previous articles, this reporter started off the story by saying the people who are the subjects of the story either did not want their position at first (Dr. David Rudd) or were lucky and fell into their position (Woody Paige).
Not Kosha Irby. He wanted this job.
“It’s exciting to build a team in Memphis,” says Irby, President of the Memphis Express. “I love this city.”
Irby was born in Meridian, Mississippi and lived part of his youth in Nashville. However, he is no stranger to Memphis. He went to college and graduate school and played football at the University of Memphis. He was a redshirt freshman in 1996 when the Tigers beat Payton Manning and the Tennessee Volunteers 21-17 to score their first and only victory in school history against the Volunteer football team.
“I may or may not have been on the goal post after that game,” laughs Irby. “I can also neither confirm or deny that I have a piece of that goal post at my house.”
After Irby finished his Masters degree, he went to work for Dell Computers in sales. He was known only by his employee number and wanted to do more. He went to work in the athletic departments at St. Louis University and the University of South Florida before going to Georgia State University in 2009. There he helped start their football team, which began playing in the Georgia Dome 2010.
It was at the Georgia Dome where Irby caught the eye of World Wrestling Entertainment. He was helping them orchestrate an event at the facility, and eventually went to work as their Director of Live Events.
“I was helping them put together this event and later I got a call from WWE telling me they were putting together a live events office in Los Angeles and asked me if I would run it,” says Irby.
Irby worked for the WWE for almost seven years putting on more than 550 shows a year. He worked on numerous events including the promotions “big four” pay-per-views: Royal Rumble, WrestleMania,SummerSlamand Survivor Seriesas well as Monday Night Rawand SmackDown Live. Irby was instrumental in planning WWE’s tour in India as well as The Greatest Royal Rumblein Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He was working on the WWE Super Show-Downin Melbourne, Australia before taking the job with the Express. Before the Express moved into their permanent offices, their furniture consisted of WWE commemorative ringside event chairs with the likes of John Cena, the Undertaker and Randy Orton’s image on them.
“The WWE is a brotherhood and a sisterhood and I’m proud I got to work with those talented men and women,” says Irby. “Vince is a hell of a storyteller and a promoter and I’m glad I got to work with him.”
Kirby still keeps in touch with the WWE Superstars and competes with them in CrossFit.
“I’m a competitive person,” Irby laughs. “We post our CrossFit times and I try to beat their times.”
Irby hopes to bring the art of storytelling he learned from the WWE to the Express. The team added two party decks in the north end zone of the Liberty Bowl as part of an upgraded fan experience. They were enjoyed by fans during the team’s home opener and officials said the University of Memphis will also add party decks during the Tigers season as well.
“Vince does a good job of telling a story using sports. I hope to do the same thing with the Express. I want a great football team and I want to win,” says Irby.
When the opportunity to build a professional football team in Memphis was presented to Irby, he knew he could not turn it down.
“There’s only one Memphis,” exclaims Irby.
Express News and Notes
The Memphis Express did not survive a rally from the Arizona Hot Shots and lost 20 – 18 Saturday night to fall to 0 – 2 on the season. Quarterback Christian Hackenberg went 14 – 25 for 102 yards passing and running back Zack Stacy led the Express in rushing with 19 carries for 101 yards.
“Well, obviously disappointing,” said Express coach Mike Singletary. “Our first home game got off to a good start and we simply did not finish the game. We just have to do a better job. We have to regroup, continue to get our guys healthy and be ready to go next week.”
The Express will try to win their first game of the season as they take on the Steve Spurrier led Apollos Saturday, February 23 in Orlando at 7:00 CST. The game will be televised on the NFL Network.
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