Firebirds Behind the Flames (Part 4)

Happy Monday! Today, it’s time for the fourth part of our series, Firebirds Behind the Flames. The series features everyone in the Firebirds front office who makes what you see at games possible. If you’ve missed the last three parts, here they are:

Part 1: Petey Dorris

Part 2: Chris Smith

Part 3: Tex Greene

Today, I’ll introduce you to the man responsible for bringing professional basketball to Raleigh, Wade Harris. But first, a quick word from today’s sponsor:

Wade Harris is the owner and founder of Raleigh Personal Training and the team market owner of the Raleigh Firebirds. He is a native of North Carolina and lived in the state until college. He attended the University of Florida, where he studied exercise physiology and played Division One basketball. He later transferred to California State University, finishing his degree in Kinesiology and Physical Education.

Wade initially worked in telemarketing and sales for a health club chain and then returned to North Carolina in 1989 to work for another similar company. Four years later, he founded Raleigh Personal Training, and in 2018, helped create what we know today as the Raleigh Firebirds. Wade also runs the Boys Mentoring Network, a Raleigh Firebirds program designed to mentor young men in the Triangle.

Wade’s impact on the Firebirds and basketball in the triangle can’t be overstated. The Firebirds have become one of the most successful teams in The Basketball League—in their first ever season they made it to the TBL Semi-Finals, missing the championship game by four points. After COVID threw everyone off for a few years, Wade helped build the Firebirds back up to that point, capturing that Eastern Conference Championship and again bringing the Firebirds to the TBL Semi-Finals (this time losing by one point). Next season, it’s championship time.

Stay tuned for the fifth part of this series on Friday!

Until then,

-Tex