1938 - Academy Sports + Outdoors traces its roots to 1938 when
founder Max Gochman opened the Academy Tire Shop in San Antonio, Texas.
1939 - Academy Tire Shop begins selling military surplus.
1945 - Max changes store name to "Academy Super Surplus".
1956 - Max moves his business to Austin, Texas, and expands to
four stores.
1973 - Max's son Arthur Gochman purchases Southern Surplus Sales
in Houston and changes its name to "Academy Corp." Arthur opens six Academy Super Surplus stores
in Houston.
1978 - Arthur stops practicing law, devotes his time to Academy,
and moves the corporate office to Houston.
1980 - Academy introduces sports and outdoor items including
fishing, camping, and sporting goods to its product assortment.
1981 - Academy moves into new offices and a 50,000 sq. ft.
warehouse.
1983 - Academy runs its first multi-page newspaper advertisement
during the holiday.
1984 - Athletic brands are added to the Academy product
assortment.
1988 - Academy opens its first "big box" stores of 35,000-40,000
sq. ft.
1990 - Academy purchases its current corporate office and
distribution center at 1800 N. Mason Road in Katy, Texas. The company grows to 28 stores across
Texas.
1991 - Academy exits the military surplus business. Sales reach
$100 million.
1994 - Academy expands beyond Texas to Edmond, Oklahoma, and
Lafayette, Louisiana.
1995 - Company changes its name to "Academy Sports + Outdoors".
1996 - David Gochman, Arthur’s son and Max’s grandson,
becomes president and CEO. Academy Sports + Outdoors opens its first Alabama location.
1998 - Academy Sports + Outdoors opens its first Florida
location. Sales reach $500 million.
1999 - Academy Sports + Outdoors opens its first Tennessee and
Mississippi store locations.
2000 - 50th store location in Temple, TX opens.
2003 - Academy Sports + Outdoors opens its first Arkansas
location. Sales reach $1 billion.
2005 - Academy Sports + Outdoors opens its first Missouri and
Georgia locations.
2006 - Academy Sports + Outdoors employs over 10,000 team members
across the Southeast. The company opens its first 100,000 sq. ft. store.
2007 - Rodney Faldyn is named as President. Academy Sports +
Outdoors opens its first South Carolina location. Sales reach $2 billion.
2009 - Academy Sports + Outdoors adds a second distribution
facility in Twiggs County, GA.
2011 - Academy Sports + Outdoors is acquired by an investment
fund and other entities affiliated with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., (together with its
affiliates, "KKR"), a leading global investment firm. Rodney
Faldyn is named CEO & President. Academy.com launches as an eCommerce retail site.
2012 - Academy Sports + Outdoors opens its first North Carolina
and Kansas locations. Sales reach $3 billion.
2014 - Academy Sports + Outdoors opens its first Indiana and
Kentucky locations. Sales reach $4 billion.
2015 - J.K. Symancyk is named as CEO & President. Academy
Sports + Outdoors opens the 200th store location in Tupelo, MS.
2016 - Academy Sports + Outdoors opens its first Illinois
location and adds its third distribution facility in Cookeville, TN.
2018 - Ken C. Hicks is named as Chairman, President, and CEO.
Academy Sports + Outdoors opens 250th store location in Mansfield, TX.
2020 - In October, Academy completed its Initial Public Offering,
and is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market exchange under the ticker symbol "ASO."
2021 - Academy becomes an independent company.
2022 - Academy Sports + Outdoors opens its first Virginia and
West Virginia
locations.
2023 - Steven P. Lawrence is named as CEO, and Samuel J. Johnson
is named as President. Ken C. Hicks is named as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors.
2024 - Academy Sports + Outdoors opens its first Ohio location.
2025 - Academy Sports + Outdoors opens its first Pennsylvania and
Maryland locations.
Today - As of March 7, 2025, Academy Sports + Outdoors operates
301 stores in 21
states with more than 22,000 Team Members throughout the South, Southeast, and Midwest.
