Clark Hunt Clark Knobel Hunt ( born February 19 , 1965 ) is Chairman and CEO of the National Football League ' s Kansas City Chiefs and a founding investor - owner in Major League Soccer . Hunt also serves as Chairman of Hunt Sports Group , where he oversees the operations of FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew of MLS . He is the son of Lamar Hunt and the grandson of oil tycoon H . L . Hunt . Following the death of his father in 2006 , Clark , his sister , and two brothers inherited ownership of the Chiefs . Clark serves as the ultimate authority as Chairman and CEO . Background . After graduating from St . Mark ' s School of Texas , he finished first in his class at Southern Methodist University in 1987 , where he was a captain of SMU ' s nationally - ranked soccer team and a two - time Academic All - American . Hunt earned a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance . He was a two - time recipient of the university ' s highest academic honor , the Provost Award for Outstanding Scholar . He also received a Masters of Business Administration from SMU . Hunt began his business career as an analyst with Goldman Sachs before starting the firm . He is married to Tavia Shackles , a former Miss Missouri Teen USA and Miss Kansas USA . The couple have three children . Involvement in professional sports . One of the driving forces behind the creation of Major League Soccer , Hunt helped his father run the Kansas City Wizards until the team was sold in 2006 . Hunt remains a member of the league ' s Board of Governors and owns the MLS clubs FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew . Kansas City Chiefs . Hunt was named Chairman of the Board of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2005 . After the Chiefs ' loss to the New York Jets in the 2007 season finale , Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson announced that both he and head coach Herm Edwards would return to the Chiefs in 2008 . However , Hunt declined to immediately comment on Peterson ' s status . Hunt spoke out weeks later and stated that the Chiefs were his " No . 1 priority " and that " to have the best chance of success in 2008 , having Carl here makes a lot of sense . ” Hunt wanted to avoid having a new general manager come in with a new head coach , and starting from scratch again . On December 15 , Hunt announced the resignation of Carl Peterson from his positions as general manager , president , and CEO of the franchise effective the end of the season . Prior the decision , the Chiefs had a combined record of 9 - 24 under Hunt ' s leadership since December 23 , 2006 . The official press release stated that Peterson resigned , but Hunt had said the conversation had been on - going throughout the season . Hunt said his decision to relieve Peterson of duties was not based on what happened the previous day , when the Chiefs lost an 11 - point lead in the final 73 seconds and were beaten 22 – 21 by San Diego , dropping their record to 2 - 12 on the season . Hunt also said that the fate of head coach Herm Edwards would be settled after the season when a new general manager would be hired . Hunt said he would split the duties previously held by Peterson and have someone in charge of the business side and someone else in charge of football for the franchise . Hunt had kept his search for a new general manager almost entirely leak - proof , instructing subordinates that only he is to speak to the situation . On January 13 , 2009 Hunt hired New England Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli as the new Chiefs general manager . On January 23 the Chiefs fired head coach Herman Edwards , and Todd Haley was hired as his replacement on February 6 . 2012 Season . Hunt fired Todd Haley on December 12 , 2011 , after the Chiefs had compiled a 5 - 8 record during the 2011 NFL season . Haley was replaced by defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel . Crennel finished his stint as interim head coach with a 2 - 1 record . On January 9 , 2012 , Hunt named Crennel the team ' s permanent head coach . The return of star players Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry led many to believe that the Chiefs would contend for a playoff spot . Instead , the Chiefs were historically bad through the first seven games of the season , failing to lead a game during regulation ( worst since 1940 ) , and holding a tie at the end of only two of twenty - eight possible quarters . Through seven games , the Chiefs were on pace to break the 1965 Pittsburgh Steelers record for worst turnover ratio by 11 turnovers . On October 28 , 2012 , the Chiefs lost to rival Oakland Raiders for the sixth consecutive time at home . To date , the only public comment Hunt has made during the season has been in defense of Chiefs fans , who were accused by new right tackle Eric Winston of cheering Matt Cassell ' s head injury during a game on October 7 , 2012 . Local and national media outlets have referred to the 1 - 6 Chiefs ' start as " rock bottom " and " competing against history " . Hunt has yet to comment publicly on the Chiefs ' season , though it is reported that he has spoken with several fans , and that the Chiefs have refunded tickets to holders who have complained . The Kansas City Star has referred to the season as among the worst in the history of professional sports . Columbus Crew . Under Hunt , the Columbus Crew won their first MLS Cup championship on November 23 , 2008 . West Ham United FC . Hunt was linked to the £120M purchase of West Ham United on August 6 , 2009 . However on 19 January 2010 , David Sullivan and David Gold bought the east London club . Crystal Palace FC . By February 2010 , rumours started to abound that Clark Hunt , was one of the interested parties looking at buying Crystal Palace FC from the administrators P & A Partnership .