About

About UCL

One league that makes local play count, from your first sanctioned event to the national stage.

Why UCL exists

Most cornhole players can't travel to a big event every weekend, but their local play still deserves to count. The United Cornhole League was founded to make it count. Every sanctioned local result builds an official conference ranking, and the best players in every conference earn a path to the UCL Championship and Pro status.

How the league works

UCL is built on six regional conferences: Pacific, Mountain, Southwest, Central, Atlantic and Southeast. Local directors run sanctioned events year-round and keep their own clubs, entry fees and sponsors. UCL sets the standards, keeps the rankings and runs the major events: Conference Signature Events, Conference Championships, a Pro National in each conference (held at any of that conference's events, including a Signature Event or the Conference Championship), and the season-ending UCL Championship.

Open by design

Players and directors don't have to leave other leagues to join UCL. Game play follows the same rules players already know, divisions are set by Scoreholio ratings rather than handicaps, and one UCL bag stamp is open to every licensed manufacturer.

Where we are now

The inaugural season runs January 1 to June 30, 2027, with six major events. The first full season starts September 1, 2027, and brings major events to all six conferences. The first Pros in all four divisions (Pro, Women's Pro, Senior Pro and Junior Pro) qualify through the six 2027 Signature Events, and UCL NEXT gives players under 18 their own free membership, skill tiers and Pro pathway.

Leadership

The Founders

UCL is founded and run by players, directors and builders from across the cornhole community.

Founder & President

Brent Loghry

Brings nearly three decades of military, federal service, and leadership experience to the United Cornhole League. A retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran with 20 years of service and nine years with the Department of Homeland Security, Brent is also the co-founder and owner of Brotherhood Cornhole, a nationally recognized competitive cornhole bag manufacturer. His experience in the sport includes serving as an ACL Regional Director, organizing competitive events, and owning the Cali Slingers professional cornhole team. As President and founding member of the UCL, Brent is focused on advancing the sport through strong leadership, fair competition, and opportunities for players, directors, and manufacturers at every level.

Founder & CEO

Richard Buchalter

Brings decades of entrepreneurship, business development, and executive leadership experience to the United Cornhole League. Based in Southern California, Richard began building businesses as a teenager, developing a career spanning sales, entertainment, and sports. His experience includes working with globally recognized companies such as Walmart, Target, Amazon, Costco, Netflix, and Best Buy, along with owning an amateur sports league that partnered with the Arena Football League. He was also co-owner of the Arizona Burn professional cornhole team. His military service helped shape his commitment to discipline, accountability, and leadership. As Founder and CEO of the UCL, Richard is focused on building a national platform that connects competitive opportunities for players with strong partnerships, expanded media exposure, and a sustainable foundation for the sport’s growth.

Founder & CFO

Phillip Celani

Phillip Celani is an accomplished financial executive, entrepreneur, and business founder with 20 years of experience building, scaling, and transforming companies. As Chief Financial Officer and partner of the United Cornhole League, Phillip brings extensive financial leadership, strategic vision, and entrepreneurial experience to the rapidly growing sport of cornhole. Phillip also serves as Chief Financial Officer of CloudCover and has held executive leadership positions at Ytel, Zonda, Experian, Sodexo, and Aramark. Throughout his career, he has led or participated in 30 acquisitions and strategic M&A transactions representing over $1 billion in aggregate transaction value. Beyond his corporate career, Phillip has founded and developed multiple businesses, including Pocket Technician, an AI-powered CRM and customer engagement platform, and the California Cornhole League (CCL), the West Coast’s largest cornhole league, with more than 35 participating clubs. Combining his passion for cornhole with decades of business leadership, Phillip is committed to helping UCL build a sustainable, nationally recognized organization that creates opportunities for players, clubs, manufacturers, and the entire cornhole community.

Founder & Head of Player Operations

Mark Lopez

Mark Lopez is a six-year American Cornhole League professional, three-time California State Champion, and co-owner of the Arizona Burn. He began competing in the Western Conference in 2018 and earned ACL Pro status in 2020. His ACL Pro Teams experience includes playing for the Sharpshooters, Sliders, Freeze, and High Rollers, as well as serving as general manager of the Arizona Burn. Dedicated to growing the sport, Mark has helped assemble the world’s first all-female professional cornhole team. He works closely with sponsors, partners, and small businesses to create opportunities for players and strengthen the cornhole community. Beyond competition, Mark brings extensive experience in business, technology, and knowledge management. He earned a degree in Business Administration from California Lutheran University and spent 12 years in the insurance industry, working across claims, underwriting, and project management. For more than 15 years, he has worked in the software-as-a-service (SaaS) digital banking industry, supporting mobile and online banking products, technology, and operations. His current focus is operations and knowledge management, where he develops and applies AI tools to make complex product information easier to organize, understand, and use throughout the organization.