By Andrew Ramspacher, fpa5up@virginia.edu
He’s been out of football for a while, but Chase Minnifield (A&S ’10), the businessman, hasn’t forgotten how to celebrate like he’s made a big play.
“I’ll still get off a big call,” Minnifield said, “and hit, like, three or four fist-pumps and let out a large yell – ‘Let’s go!’”
This week 14 years ago, the former defensive back scored the only touchdown of his outstanding University of Virginia career, a 54-yard interception return that helped the Cavaliers beat Duke University at Scott Stadium. The Wahoos again play the Blue Devils on Saturday, but Minnifield is preparing for a different kind of event around his alma mater.
Minnifield speaks at a conference on behalf of EZOS, the AI-powered property management software company he founded in 2018. (Contributed photo)
He’s a featured speaker at the UVA Real Estate Conference, held Friday at Old Cabell Hall and the McIntire School of Commerce. Minnifield, who earned All-America honors before going on to play in the NFL, is the Founder and CEO of EZOS, a successful AI-powered property management software company that helps fill maintenance tasks, mostly around student housing.
EZOS is a two-time Student Housing Business Award recipient and, in 2019, Minnifield was recognized on a Forbes “30 Under 30” list.
At Friday’s conference, he’s scheduled to join former UVA student-athletes Jimmy Miller, John Crotty, and Marc Yavinsky for a “From Sports to Real Estate” panel discussion.
Minnifield, who received his Sociology degree in 2010, is also a member of the advisory board for the pan-University White Ruffin Byron Center for Real Estate. He last played in the NFL for the then-Washington Redskins in 2014.
“I’m really a champion for teaching kids that what’s next doesn’t have to look a whole lot different than what you were trying to do to get to the NFL,” Minnifield said. “Waking up, being disciplined, putting the time and effort in to go after whatever you want to go after – it looks very similar. I really champion entrepreneurship for former athletes, and trying to get them to understand, like, ‘Hey, just because this is over, there’s a lot more opportunities still out there in the world.’”
In the beginning, all Minnifield wanted was to assist with the college move-in process. He recalled issues he faced as a student and sought solutions. He formed “Helping Hands” in that spirit in 2015, rounding up UVA football players for general moving tasks such as packing and unloading.
“We had a business model of trying to utilize ex-athletes or current athletes,” Minnifield said. “We wanted to help them have jobs in the summertime. This was before NIL, so we wanted to help people get some money in their pocket, especially if they were either seniors or just graduating and trying to figure it out.”
Minnifield says the idea has expanded through EZOS, which has generated $22 million worth of work activity so far this year. It partners with property managers from coast to coast to fill security, landscape, painting and cleaning positions, among other tasks.
“Anything that happens at a property could be scheduled out in our system,” Minnifield said.
Minnifield, who’s based in his home state of Kentucky, works with a small team of seven, including former UVA All-America offensive lineman Austin Pasztor (A&S ’12), EZOS’ head of data science.
One of EZOS’ most valued partners is Student Quarters, a large owner and operator of college campus-adjacent student housing properties led by CEO and UVA alumnus Andy Feinour (McIntire ’92, Darden ’97).
Minnifield returns an interception for a touchdown to help UVA beat Duke, 31-21, on Nov. 12, 2011, at Scott Stadium. Minnifield’s 13 career interceptions are the sixth-most in Wahoo program history. (UVA Athletics photo)
“There are so many connections in the UVA community,” Minnifield said, “and being able to tap into those over time is extremely beneficial for us football players.”
As is watching their old team ascend to new heights. The Cavaliers, ranked as high as 19th nationally, remain in pursuit of an Atlantic Coast Conference championship and their first appearance in the College Football Playoff.
“My hat’s off to coach (Tony) Elliott,” Minnifield said last week. “They got a lot of kids that I think can play longer than just their college careers. It’s been good football, and it’s been exciting to see Charlottesville rocking every Saturday.”
Should the Hoos make the ACC championship game on Dec. 6 in Charlotte, Minnifield said he plans to be there.
“I bought my ACC championship ticket a long time ago,” he said. “I bought it at the beginning of the season. I was bought in at the very beginning.”
This story was originally published on UVA Today Nov. 13, 2025.
