Leveraging his nearly 30 years of experience as an international lawyer and business advisor and educator, Kalman Magyar has served in legacy-building leadership and advisory roles for sporting organizations, athletes and sports executives over decades.
The son of a former Long Island University men’s Hall of Fame soccer team player and 1966 NCAA Division I finalist, Kalman was exposed to soccer from a young age. He grew up watching New York Cosmos legends play in Giants Stadium, and played in recreational and competitive leagues in New Jersey. Following his move to Toronto in 2007, he became a season ticket holder for then-expansion Major League Soccer team Toronto FC and was a goalkeeper for various men’s soccer teams at Ballsports-Polson Pier for several years.
Kalman’s first exposure in sports leadership came through volunteer coaching his children at Toronto High Park Football Club (THPFC), one of the largest community soccer clubs in the Greater Toronto Area. Throughout his coaching experience over a dozen years, he eventually became a Soccer for Life U13+ youth competitive coach certified by Ontario Soccer, and coached and managed competitive youth teams at the regional level.
Kalman’s leadership experience propelled him into a volunteer position on THPFC’s Board of Directors, where he took on the pivotal role of Vice President of Football as he helped guide the Club in joining the Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) and receiving Ontario Soccer’s Club Excellence Award – Gold Level. He was also actively engaged in overseeing the hiring and managing of coaching staff, assisting in building the Club’s technical and player development programs. After his term ended in 2019, Kalman remained engaged with THPFC as external legal counsel advising the Club on a variety matters, including pandemic-related challenges and its League One Ontario (L1O) membership bid.
Throughout his legal career, Kalman provided advice to sports-related organizations and leaders on a wide array of issues. His clients have included sports executives, coaches, clubs, associations and leagues; Olympic athletes; apparel and equipment manufacturers and suppliers; fitness professionals; and sports nutrition brands. The matters he worked on have encompassed corporate law and governance, complex transactions, intellectual property, marketing, leasing, licensing, privacy, insurance, and employment.
Kalman remains actively involved in playing sports, now as a competitive tennis player. As in soccer, he has taken multiple leadership roles in tennis organizations, such as Vice President of Swansea Tennis Club (Toronto) and captaining several competitive Intercounty Tennis Association teams.