Our Team

Hunter Kirsch
CEO and Co-founder
Hunter Kirsch, Co-founder and managing partner of Lionheart Sports Agency, launched the company in January 2024 with a vision to revolutionize athlete management. He kicked off his career post-graduation from the University of Maryland in May 2021. By August of that year, Hunter founded Nothing but NIL, an NIL Agency dedicated to optimizing athlete success in the dynamic NIL landscape, helping monetize and maximize athletes’ name, image, and likeness.
Shortly after, in October 2021, he joined GSE Worldwide, a top-tier sports agency, where he continued his impactful work. At Lionheart, Hunter leads with a commitment to core values like loyalty and trust, guiding athletes and families towards their aspirations. His dedication to the sports industry shines through in his proactive approach and achievements.

Matthew Sobel, JD
Co-founder & Managing Partner
Matthew Sobel is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of Lionheart Sports Agency. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2021 and from Brooklyn Law School in 2024. With his legal knowledge, Matthew helps navigate the complexities of sports management at Lionheart. As Managing Partner, he guides the company’s direction and builds partnerships. His commitment to excellence and passion for sports are driving forces behind Lionheart’s success in athlete representation and management.

Zach Garcia
Sports Agent; NIL Strategist
As a former Division 1 Athlete, Zach is committed to maximizing his collegiate athletes’ full potential. Representing 10+ athletes nationwide, he has secured NIL deals with top brands like Firefly and Bubbl’r. He specializes in collective deals for elite high school athletes and college transfers.

Garrett Wilson
NIL Agent
Garrett is a former Division 3 Football Player at Grinnell College, where he is currently finishing up his senior year of undergraduate. Garrett plans to pursue his Sports Management Masters degree upon graduation while working for Lionheart as an NIL Agent.
Garrett has been with Lionheart for 7 months, working primarily on maximizing Collegiate Athlete’s NIL potential while also doing research heavy work on finding the best brands and companies to pair our clients with.

Shelly Ellison
Head of NIL Development and Strategy
Shelly is a former All-American running back at Virginia Tech. He currently serves as the Director of Corporate Partnerships for the International Football Alliance in addition to his role at Lionheart. Shelly has over 15 years of experience in corporate partnerships and business development, Shelly excels at building strong relationships with sponsors to drive revenue growth and enhance brand visibility. A strategic thinker, he has successfully negotiated high value partnerships and is passionate about leadership, innovation, and giving back to the community through philanthropic efforts.

Grayson Sheena, JD
Senior Attorney & NIL Agent
Grayson graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2019. There, Grayson served on the University of Texas Football Coaching staff as a student assistant to Coach Todd Orlando. In 2023, Grayson earned his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston. Leveraging his legal expertise, experience, and passion for sports, he has quickly evolved into a prominent NIL agent and legal representative.