Ty Mathews

I’m Ty Mathews, the founder and CEO of Mid State Sports, a recreational sports league organization based in Nashville, Tennessee. I started the company in 2009 after realizing there weren’t many organized sports opportunities for adults in the area. I believed people still wanted to compete, stay active, and connect with others through sports, even after their school years were over. What began with just a few leagues has grown into one of the largest adult recreational sports organizations in the Southeast, now welcoming more than 20,000 participants each year across sports like softball, kickball, volleyball, basketball, soccer, and flag football.

I grew up in East Tennessee in a family that valued hard work and determination. One of the biggest influences in my life was watching my dad leave a stable corporate career with Farmer’s Insurance to start the first baseball school in the state. Seeing him take that risk to pursue something he loved showed me what entrepreneurship could look like.

Through Mid State Sports, my goal has always been to create opportunities for people to stay active, meet new friends, and feel part of a community. Outside of work, I enjoy walking, spending time with family and friends, and watching my kids play sports.