Sports Division

Show-up talent alone isn't enough. Smart decisions improve individual and organizational performance and build lasting legacies.


At Neff Strategies, we partner with teams' Player Development efforts to empower athletes with the knowledge, tools, and mindset to succeed beyond the game. Led by former athletes, coaches, prosecutors, law enforcement, and military professionals, our training blends real-world cautionary tales with expert guidance on legal risks, leadership, personal development, and life readiness. We also mitigate and suppress risk for sports organizations using confidential, thorough expert investigations of issues, events, and situations that can derail a season or a program.

Sports services.

  • Player Development-related Educational Outreach

    Neff Strategies offers narrative-driven training that strengthens Player Development programs. Led by Steve Neff -- a former Division I college football player, coach, Army officer, and federal prosecutor -- these sessions use real-world stories to highlight legal risks like criminal behavior, financial irresponsibility, susceptibilities to becoming a crime victim, misuse of social media, and other kinds of misconduct that can affect current performance and future possibilities.

    Our multidisciplinary team equips athletes with tools for smart decision-making, leadership, and personal growth. Topics include legal literacy, financial responsibility, professionalism, continuing education, career development, media conduct, mental health, and more.

    Our outreach helps protect potential, foster accountability, and support long-term success—on and off the field.

  • Confidential Proactive “Red Flag” Investigations for Management

    We provide discrete, confidential, proactive investigative and background check services to support team leadership and help prevent disastrous personnel decisions that can cost millions of dollars and other valuable resources. We help decision-makers identify potential legal risks tied to current or future personnel by cutting through media noise and analyzing the true impact of criminal charges, legal matters, or behavioral red flags.

    Our team brings deep investigative and prosecutorial experience. We deliver detailed, confidential reports that inform high-stakes decisions. We also have the unique capacity to closely liaise with law enforcement and prosecutorial entities to provide additional context.

    We also support sports agents seeking to protect and guide their clients with confidence.

  • Confidential Reactive Investigations for Organizational Leadership

    Neff Strategies provides expert, independent investigations into off-field incidents involving current personnel. Our team of former law enforcement and legal professionals conducts deep-dive assessments—including background checks, evidence-gathering witness interviews, and legal analysis—to uncover facts and assess risk.

    With numerous decades of experience handling the most complex criminal cases and conducting sophisticated investigations, the Neff Strategies team delivers clear, confidential findings that inform leadership decisions and protect organizational integrity.

    Unlike league investigators, we work solely in your best interest, offering unmatched access, insight, and credibility when it matters most.

player development Training

  • Law & the Locker Room: Legal Awareness for Athletes

  • Money Moves: Financial Awareness for Players - Avoiding fraud, bankruptcy, and mismanagement

  • Next Play: Career Development, Networking, and Developing Relationships

  • Degrees & Dreams: Continuing Education for Athletes and Positioning for Future Success

  • Lead the Way: Professionalism, Leadership, and Accountability

  • Mind & Body: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Awareness

  • Off the Field: Family, Relationships, and Personal Wellbeing

  • Cyber Privacy & Hygiene: Digital protection in a hyper-connected world

  • Social Media Threats & Online Exposure: Managing threats and reducing risk without compromising branding and online presence

  • Travel Security: Threat awareness and risk reduction techniques tailored to the athlete’s lifestyle

CONFIDENTIAL INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES

Neff Strategies offers elite investigative support tailored to the high-stakes world of sports, helping teams, leagues, schools, and agents navigate sensitive legal and behavioral issues with confidence.

Our Proactive “Red Flag” Investigations provide confidential, in-depth assessments of players, coaches, or staff before contracts are signed—empowering leadership to spot legal liabilities, character concerns, or problematic histories that could jeopardize the organization. These services go beyond basic background checks, offering analysis rooted in decades of criminal, forensic, and prosecutorial expertise.

For current issues, our Reactive Investigations deliver elite-level casework in response to off-field incidents. Whether it involves violence, fraud, drugs, or other kinds of allegations of misconduct, our team investigates thoroughly—interviewing witnesses, uncovering critical facts, and working closely with legal and law enforcement contacts. Unlike league-appointed investigators, Neff Strategies works solely for the organization, ensuring your best interests are protected.

In an era when public perception and legal consequences can shift rapidly, our confidential reporting equips leaders to make informed, responsible decisions that uphold both team values and long-term success.

  • “I had the privilege of meeting Steve Neff a few years ago, and since then, he has not only become a friend but also an essential part of our annual National Scouting Combine. He brings a unique combination of coaching experience and a distinguished background in law enforcement, which adds tremendous value to our team.

    His insight, professionalism, and ability to connect with athletes make him an invaluable resource—especially for those striving to reach the next level. I've witnessed firsthand the impact Steve has had on our athletes, helping guide them with honesty, integrity, and a genuine desire to see them succeed.”

    - Jimmy Kibble

    CEO & President, Beyond Sports, LLC
    National Scouting Combine

  • "Coach Neff brings a unique and powerful combination of football knowledge and legal expertise that has made him an incredible asset to the National Scouting Combine. He’s not only able to coach multiple positions with confidence but also serves as a mentor and keynote speaker who truly connects with athletes. His guidance helps players grow both on and off the field. It’s been a privilege to work with Steve professionally and to know him personally—his impact is lasting and meaningful."

    - Jay Wilson

    Director of Player Personnel at National Scouting Combine
    AND the Wheeling Miners, National Arena League

The film Room: FOotball and forensics

This is where the locker room meets the courtroom. In Football & Forensics, Neff Strategies Founder Steve Neff draws from his background as a college football player, coach, and federal prosecutor to explore the high-stakes intersections of sports, law, and life. Through powerful real-world stories and expert insights, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the legal risks athletes face—and how smart decision-making, leadership, and integrity can protect careers, reputations, and futures on and off the field.

Interested in working together?

Or learning more about how we might support you in mitigating risk?

Click the link below to start a conversation.