Jamey Rootes

{{Short description|American sports executive (1966–2022)}}

{{Use American English|date=August 2022}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}

Jamey Rootes (May 9, 1966 – August 22, 2022) was an American sports executive. He served as a long-term president of the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was responsible for the business operations of the team. Before joining the Texans, he was president and general manager of the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer.{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Jacob |date=2022-08-23 |title=Former Columbus Crew president Jamey Rootes dies at 56 |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2022/08/23/former-columbus-crew-president-jamey-rootes-dies-at-56/65415798007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626232559/https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2022/08/23/former-columbus-crew-president-jamey-rootes-dies-at-56/65415798007/ |archive-date=2023-06-26 |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=The Columbus Dispatch |language=en-US}} He went to Clemson University, where he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and played on the soccer team that won national championships both in 1984 and 1987. He earned an MBA at Indiana University Bloomington, where he also served as an assistant soccer coach.{{cite web |title=Houston Texans:Jamey Rootes |url=http://www.houstontexans.com:80/team/staff/jamey-rootes/01eccead-fcd6-4405-ad16-4643d8e42b8c |website=HoustonTexans.com |access-date=May 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607215611/http://www.houstontexans.com:80/team/staff/jamey-rootes/01eccead-fcd6-4405-ad16-4643d8e42b8c |archive-date=June 7, 2017 |url-status=dead}} Rootes worked for the Texans for over 20 years before announcing his resignation in February 2021.{{cite web|work=NFL.com|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/longtime-texans-executive-jamey-rootes-resigns-from-position-as-team-president|title=Longtime Texans executive Jamey Rootes resigns from position as team president|date=February 10, 2021|first=Kevin|last=Patra|accessdate=February 10, 2021}}{{cite web|work=ESPN.com|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30873617/houston-texans-president-jamey-rootes-resigned|title=Houston Texans president Jamey Rootes has resigned|first=Sarah|last=Barshop|date=February 10, 2021|accessdate=February 10, 2021}} Rootes worked as chief executive officer of the Houston Dynamo FC of Major League Soccer and Houston Dash of National Women's Soccer League before stepping down 18 days later.{{cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/dynamo/article/Dynamo-Jamey-Rootes-CEO-Texans-16265539.php|title=Dynamo hires former Texans executive Jamey Rootes as CEO|website=Houston Chronicle|date=June 22, 2021|access-date=June 22, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/dynamo/article/Houston-Dynamo-CEO-Jamey-Roots-quits-leaves-Texans-16304697.php|title=Jamey Rootes steps down as Dynamo CEO after just 18 days|website=Houston Chronicle |date=July 9, 2021 |access-date=July 9, 2021}} Rootes died on August 21, 2022, at the age of 56.{{Cite news |last=Kubena |first=Brooks |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/texans/article/Former-Houston-Texans-president-Jamey-Rootes-dies-17390889.php |title=Former Houston Texans president Jamey Rootes dies at 56 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=August 22, 2022 |access-date=August 23, 2022}}