There are starts and stops, straightaways and bends alongside the route. But Hathcock, who spent his elementary college yrs below, in no way really left. His coronary heart constantly remained close by mainly because of the Gators. It did not make any difference that he manufactured his residence and developed a hugely effective business in Valdosta, Ga., the place most locals bank loan their loyalty to a different Southeastern Conference powerhouse.
Hugh’s father, the late Douglas Hathcock, passed his enthusiasm for the Gators down to his son. Hugh did the very same when his boys came along, scheduling loved ones journeys to Sugar Bowls and Remaining Fours with sons Brandon and Gage, and nephew Seth Rountree, whom Hugh reported is “like my son.”
All individuals Orange & Blue memories in excess of the years trace again to Hugh’s formative decades.
“My earliest Gator memories are my dad having me to watch Spurrier enjoy when I am like 5 several years outdated,” Hathcock stated. “With no him, I would in no way have been a Gator supporter.”
Hathcock’s father labored for Western Electric powered in those people times, and the loved ones ultimately moved to Valdosta, the place Hathcock went to substantial school. When the time arrived for faculty, Hathcock found his way back to UF — but not for extended.
He attended for a semester. His interest in Gators sports activities nonetheless burned deep, but there was a large planet outdoors town limitations, and Hathcock dreamed of earning his mark as a businessman.
“At that place, I failed to sense like any university was heading to train me how to be an entrepreneur,” Hathcock stated. “My spouse and children was quite middle class. My parents worked their ass off, but they had no dollars. I grew up with no funds, so folks who improve up with no dollars want to make funds.”
Ahead of a dive into the details, know that Hathcock built sufficient dollars to not too long ago pledge a $12.6 million contribution to Gator Boosters, the greatest one economic present from a donor in the organization’s record. To recognize and honor this recreation-altering reward, in early December the UF Board of Trustees permitted the naming of the Hugh Hathcock Suite Tower at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and the Hugh Hathcock Basketball Intricate at the UF Basketball Follow Facility. Portions of the reward will be earmarked for renovations to the basketball apply facility, whilst the equilibrium will assist the UAA Services Learn Prepare. Gator Boosters has obtained commitments of $148.8 million in personal assistance toward the grasp strategy.


Hathcock’s loyalty to the Gators goes very well outside of his most-new present.
“This document-environment present is another instance of Hugh’s unwavering determination and help,” claimed Phil Pharr, Gator Boosters Executive Director.
As his five kids grew up, the UF football and men’s basketball groups served as consistent companions. Two of his daughters attended UF, which includes 1 established to graduate in late April.




— Hugh Hathcock (@HughHathcock) February 27, 2020
The Hathcock loved ones produced outings frequently to the UF campus for sporting gatherings. They traveled to bowl video games shut and considerably. They celebrated nationwide championships and received to know coaches and players.
Doug Brown, Deputy Government Director of Gator Boosters, has recognized Hathcock since he was starting out and has watched Hathcock’s business profession blossom. No matter his station in everyday living, Hathcock usually kept interested in what was happening with the Gators.
“Hugh is a Gator to his core,” Brown said. “For decades he has supported us in so lots of strategies. He is a great Gator and we need to have a entire whole lot extra just like him.”
The Gators turned section of the Hathcock relatives.
“Even when I was in my 20s, just commencing to make dollars, I was continue to a season-ticket holder,” Hathcock reported. “When they did the Landing Terrace, I was 1 of the very first kinds to [contribute]. You are not in a position to seriously do the issues you want to do until eventually you hit it significant. They understood me again when my corporations were being just modest businesses.”
Hathcock’s business career is the authentic tale in this article. In the mid-1980s, he commenced a enterprise called Fresh Beginnings to assistance vehicle dealers all around the region link in a more personal way with consumers. He came up with a easy nonetheless brilliant notion.
“It was cookies that we place in 2.5-pound designer canister bins, and we had a card system that I set the dealers’ identify on it,” Hathcock stated. “It was a thank-you card. We went to motor vehicle sellers all throughout the United States telling them when they bought a auto, we would deliver this can of cookies with this card system.”
Hathcock commenced small. His father and other spouse and children associates even helped bake the cookies. The concept was a substantial hit and developed into a company referred to as eLead, which established and integrated CRM (consumer partnership management) technological know-how to acquire a database for consumer referrals, services visits, and different responsibilities involved with the automotive sector.
Contemporary Beginnings grew to indicator up extra than 3,000 dealerships to use the support in its to start with five a long time. It opened a get in touch with center in Valdosta that became the biggest in the state in the automobile sector. As soon as Hathcock pivoted to the a lot more technological eLeadCRM, the small business serviced more than 5,000 dealerships throughout the U.S.
“I was generating cell phone calls for every little thing from services visits to buying a vehicle to equity phone calls,” Hathcock stated. “Then, in 2000, I formulated the initially CRM. This is really what I did to make the funds to give this gift. In the vehicle business in the late ’90s, there was no CRM. I acquired a firm in Destin, and I created this software organization and produced an automotive CRM, and I was the initial to sector with it.”
ELeadCRM grew into an field big for the next two a long time until eventually Hathcock sold the firm in 2019 to CDK International for $550 million.
But Hathcock’s tale won’t conclude there. As a substitute of retiring to a recliner, Hathcock is motivated by a enthusiasm for shaping the potential of the automotive business. He launched a new firm in 2020 named Velocity Automotive Options and subsidiary ReconVelocity. The firm is primarily based in Destin, wherever Hathcock now lives, and features a technology center in Atlanta.


According to its mission statement online, Velocity Automotive Methods is “committed to aiding sellers change how they engage with their clients and their small business by offering evolving software package alternatives that streamline and completely transform how dealerships share details with their buyers and produce operational efficiency for rising gross earnings.”
Hathcock explained the enterprise is rising and has signed up 1,000 dealerships in its initial two a long time. Hathcock and business executives not too long ago traveled to Las Vegas this month for the Countrywide Auto Dealers Association once-a-year trade exhibit to endorse their most up-to-date technological know-how.
You could say daily life is good for Hathcock. He lately married Kalah McCoy. She has blended seamlessly into Hathcock’s Orange & Blue-tinted daily life in excess of the past three many years. McCoy attends Gators activities with Hathcock and was with him at soccer coach Billy Napier‘s introductory press conference in December.
Hathcock mentioned the timing was appropriate for these kinds of a important money reward to the Gators.
“I marketed my organization about three years back,” he stated. “When you appear into that type of funds, that helps make it a excellent time. There are loads of great strategies, but you have to put a ton of terrific people about you, and you have to execute. I in no way had anybody finance me. I never took partners in. I in no way took any buyers. To get a business from zero and be a poor region boy from Gainesville and then Valdosta, it’s been fairly very good.
“You never ever desire that when you begin a little something, that it’s heading to convert into a little something that helps make you pretty much a billionaire.
A significantly various everyday living than Hathcock realized growing up. The just one frequent has been his loyalty to the Gators.
