But Path to Getting There Remains Unlikely
by Adam Wodon/Managing Editor (@chn-adam-wodon)
A benefactor to Oklahoma State’s club hockey program is attempting to steer it to the NCAA Division I level, though a lot of hurdles remain, mainly whether there are enough resources to make that happen.
According to sources, Dallas-based financier Michael Mann is attempting to work with Oklahoma State to fund a varsity hockey program. Mann’s interest, and promises of a large donation, was enough for OSU athletic director Chad Weiberg to agree to a meeting with Mann. From there, the pair requested a meeting with Arizona State, which agreed to meet prior to a recent game. Weiberg, Mann, and other club team representatives met at Arizona State with ASU athletic director Graham Rossini and coach Greg Powers. NCHC commissioner Heather Weems also happened to be there for the ASU game, and met with OSU’s reps as well.
Arizona State is the most recent “Power 4” school to add college hockey, and did so successfully despite numerous hurdles. The cost of adding a program has likely gone up in recent years with the new NCAA landscape.
“What OSU hockey has done in recent years is very impressive, but it’s premature to say that Oklahoma State will be adding ice hockey as a varsity sport,” said Gavin Lang, Oklahoma State’s Associate Athletic Director for Communications.
Mann has helped fund OSU’s club program, which plays on the Division II level of the American Club Hockey Association (ACHA). He has steered players to OSU, some of which have played at higher levels. In addition, he has funded the salary of its head coach, Jared Erickson, a former UNLV club team player, paying him north of $100,000.
However, funding a varsity program at Oklahoma State will cost a lot more than that, upwards of $300 million potentially. It would need to pay for an arena, and the endowment of all scholarships and other funds the program needs. There are also Title IX implications. Both ASU and Penn State had to add women’s programs as well, whether in hockey or otherwise.
Sources told CHN that Mann has portrayed himself in meetings as someone with the funds to make it happen. His LinkedIn profile lists himself as founder and CEO of Anchor Capital GP, a Dallas private-equity and investment advisory firm. But the web site for the company is scant of details.
Though there was an Internet report that “plans” exist to add hockey, it’s not clear at this point where the funding would come from.
“Having plans is easy,” a source said. “Paying for them is another story.”
Meanwhile, Mann is currently being sued by Jean Christine Thompson and Thompson Petroleum Corporation for fraud, according to Modus Report. TPC hired Mann in early 2025 to be the company’s Chief Financial Officer, but fired him after three months.
“Over a three-year period, Mann wheedled his way into Thompson’s good graces, and her businesses, by holding himself out as a highly successful and wealthy investment broker. … After securing the loan and a lucrative C-suite position with TPC, Mann immediately betrayed Thompson’s trust by committing TPC to numerous ill-advised investments for Mann’s personal benefit and without Thompson’s knowledge or consent,” according to a complaint attained by Modus Report.
The complaint goes on to say that Mann fraudulently over-stated his assets, and used that to secure a $15 million personal loan. Later, after being confronted about violations of his employment agreement, he “flew into a rage.” TPC said his rant alone was enough grounds for firing.
Mann has denied all of the charges. In a court filing, he called the complaint an “unfounded smear campaign against a former business partner through a baseless lawsuit to bully them into capitulating to extortionist demands.”
Oklahoma State is hardly the only school to ever make noise about adding a program, only to have it quickly evaporate upon scrutiny. UNLV, Illinois and Georgia are just some of the schools in that category.
“If he gives OSU the money, they’ll be happy to start a program,” a source said. “But I’m skeptical. They’re not adding hockey unless it’s paid for.”