Syracuse Sport Management and Sport Analytics 2020-2021 Newsletter

Zooming Forward

In This Issue.

Director's Greeting

Several years ago, during the embryonic stages of this program, we embarked upon a strategic planning initiative. I called it “20-20 Vision,” as we planned for what the sport industry would be like in the year 2020. I can assure you that no one predicted a global pandemic would occur and shut down most of the world, proving for the first time in our nation’s history that sports are no longer recession proof. 

No one envisioned online courses, virtual classrooms, Zoom sessions, webinars, and limited or no social activities, including sports competition without spectators. Now, we again ask ourselves, “How will the sport industry change and evolve during the next decade? Quarter century?” Social activism, and diversity, gender equity, inclusion and access in sports will push the industry in a new and needed direction. Esports, legalized sports wagering, Name, Imagine and Likeness, Virtual and Augmented Reality, emerging digital platforms and social media innovations will all change how sports fans receive and engage in content and create new career paths. 

Sports seemed inconsequential with so many people losing their lives during the pandemic. Like society, our entire University has lived through an unprecedented time, and I salute our students, faculty, and staff for learning to adapt and pivot quickly, persevere, be resilient, overcome obstacles and finish strong. These life lessons over the past 18 months will pay dividends as the Class of 2021 embarks upon their careers. 

I am extremely proud of our faculty and staff, who have worked tirelessly under these pandemic conditions on behalf of our students to ensure they received a quality education and achieved the qualifications to earn their degree. 

Sport Management conferred the largest number of degrees in our department’s history with 121 students graduating from Sport Management, Sport Analytics, and our graduate program in Sport Venue and Event Management. 

Eighty-one Sport Management students successfully completed their Senior Capstones—nearly all of them virtually—in fields of study that included marketing, data analytics, business, finance, communications, public relations, social media, sales, event management, player representation, facilities management and operations, corporate sponsorship and branding and non-profit organizations, among others. 

We graduated the first recruited cohort of students from our Sport Analytics program, the nation’s first undergraduate degree in this field, led by Dr. Rodney Paul. 

Final proceeds of the Sport Management Club’s 16th Annual Charity Sports Auction— our first online auction—netted $43,500 for Meals on Wheels Syracuse and we have now raised $567,754 for charities in our community. Special thanks to senior president Sam Marteka, and auction co-chairs Kaitlynn Miller, Jakob Fox and Devan Dachisen. 

Our graduate students, under the direction of Dr. Gina Pauline, planned, implemented, and hosted a powerful five-hour virtual symposium titled “More Than a Game: Mental Health and Student Athletes,” an exceptional educational program that featured an all-star lineup of speakers and guest experts. 

Sport Analytics students won national competitions, presented research at prestigious conferences, received unprecedented academic honors and have helped make this degree program the best in the nation. 

To the members of the Class of 2021: I realize this is not how you envisioned your final year of college, both academically and socially. None of us did. Getting a job is lot like sports. It is about skill, timing, and positioning. Accept that denial and failure is part of that process. Learn from the disappointment, but remember, if you are not hired for a specific job or internship, “No” is only a temporary pause in your life. No. N-O really means Next Opportunity. 

You are not the first class to endure difficult challenges. Our first two graduating classes in 2008 and 2009 faced a daunting challenge when the Great Recession crippled our economy. You will overcome this challenging economic climate and job market, just as those graduates did. As the sports world returns to normalcy, so will your opportunities, so continue to persevere! 

San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich said, “The measure of who we are is how we react to something that doesn’t go our way.” 

You cannot script your life and ALL of us are experiencing that first-hand. It’s you vs. you. Everyday. Always has been. Always will be. Don’t be down on your luck. Battle through this temporary challenge because beginning your career is about offense. You will not reach your potential by being passive and playing defense. Succeed because you are determined to. 

As always, Be Loud, Be Proud, Be Orange!! 

Sincerely, 

Michael Veley , Director and Chair , Rhonda S. Falk Endowed Professor of  Sport Management 

From the Dean.

Each August as the new academic year begins, a very special enthusiasm blankets our campus. It is especially apparent to all of us in Falk College as we welcome our students back to Syracuse University after being physically apart as a campus community for much too long. 

This year, understandably so, being together means more than ever. As we look to the future with hope and optimism, we are excited to see the collective impact of Falk College and its Department of Sport Management continue. 

As you will read in the pages ahead, numerous members of the Class of 2021 were honored for excellence, including Jonathan Bosch, a sport analytics and math double major who was one of only 12 graduating seniors named a Syracuse University Scholar. 

Our students continue to excel when matched with their peers across the country, securing top finishes in the nation’s most prestigious competitions including the Diamond Dollars Case Competition on Baseball Analytics, N.B.A. Hackathon, M.I.T./Sloan Sports Analytics Conference and the Academy of Economics and Finance, among others. Similarly, our faculty, staff, advisory councils and industry partners lead the way in modeling best practices for teaching, advising and support. We are exceedingly proud and very grateful. 

With many in-person events returning to campus this year, I hope your travels bring you to Syracuse University and Falk College. Together we move ahead toward better, brighter days. 

— Diane Lyden Murphy, M.A. M.S.W., Ph.D., Dean, Falk College 

Read the most recent news from the Department of Sport Management at Syracuse University. 

Students.

Congratulations to the Class of 2021.

On May 23, 2021, Syracuse University held Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2021. The Department of Sport Management congratulates 81 Sport Management undergraduates, 24 Sport Analytics undergraduates, and 16 Sport Venue and Event Management master’s graduates who received their degrees as part of the Class of 2021. 

Eighteen Sport Management/Sport Analytics students in the Class of 2021 graduated with honors with a G.P.A. of 3.4 or higher. Seventeen students graduated Magna Cum Laude (G.P.A. of 3.6 or higher) and 23 students graduated Summa Cum Laude (G.P.A. of 3.8 or higher). 

The following members of the Class of 2021 graduated with double majors: Jonathan Bosch (Sport Analytics/Math); Joseph Deaton (Sport Analytics/Economics); James Hyman (Sport Analytics/Neuroscience); Colin Krantz (Sport Analytics/ Economics); Alejandro Pesantez (Sport Analytics/Economics); Justin Philbin (Sport Analytics/Economics); and Kushal Shah (Sport Analytics/Economics). 

Twenty-two students received the Director’s Academic Achievement Award for earning a G.P.A. of 3.4 or higher for each of their consecutive semesters at Syracuse University: Ryan Beaury, Jonathan Bosch, Bailie Brown, Matthew Diemand, Steven DiMaria, Katherine Eliou, Oliver Glavin, James Hyman, Max Josef, Josephine Kiesel, Seth Kourpas, Colin Krantz, Hannah Kuo, Nicolas Lemaire, Kaitlynn Miller, Cameron Mitchell, Jonathan Offit, Jenna Parker, Alejandro Pesantez, Simone Saputo, Dylan Schwartz and Kushal Shah. 

Department Marshals were Kaitlynn Miller (Sport Management), Jonathan Bosch (Sport Analytics) and Kayla Scognamillo (Sport Venue and Event Management). Max Josef (Sport Management) served as the Falk College Marshal. 

Sport Analytics majors Jonathan Bosch, James Hyman, Samuel Marteka, Alejandro Pesantez and Kushal Shah were named Falk College Scholars. 

Jonathan Bosch was named a Syracuse University Scholar. 

The Department of Sport Management traditionally celebrates its graduates during Commencement Weekend in May by holding an award ceremony and reception for seniors and their families, as well as faculty and staff. Due to COVID-19, this ceremony was not held. Here is a list of the senior awards: 

• Director’s Award – Samuel Marteka 

• Academic Excellence Award – Kaitlynn Miller 

• Matt Brodsky Philanthropic Excellence Award – Kristen Siermachesky 

• Sport Management VIP Award – Max Josef 

• Professional Engagement Award – Marc Orlin 

• Jason Morales Perseverance in Sport and Life Award – Daniel Cott 

• Director’s Award for Academic Promise – Josephine Kiesel 

• Kate Veley Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility Award – Caroline Johnson 

• Outstanding Graduate Student Award – Kamille Cooper 

• Sport Analytics Academic Excellence Award – James Hyman 

• Sport Analytics Research Excellence Award – Jonathan Bosch 

• Sport Analytics Research Excellence Award – Kushal Shah 

• Sport Analytics Director’s Award for Academic Promise – Colin Krantz 

• Sport Analytics Director’s Award for Academic Promise – Alejandro Pesantez 

• Sport Analytics VIP Award – Zachary Koeppel 

• Sport Analytics Game Changer Award – Bailie Brown 

Also, the M.S. in Sport Venue and Event Management program concluded its ninth year.

Visit Sport Management’s online resources:

Be sure to check out our website for department information, program news, club meeting dates and activities, and other special events. 

Also, be sure to follow Sport Management on Twitter @SUSportMgmt, and “like” us on Facebook at S.U. Falk College Department of Sport Management. 

Sport Venue and Event Management Master’s program graduates its ninth class. 

The Department of Sport Management’s master’s program in Sport Venue and Event Management (S.V.E.M.) welcomed its ninth class of graduate students to campus in July 2020. The program comprises 36 credit hours of intensive classroom learning, skill development and experiential opportunities in settings like Syracuse University’s stadium. 

The 2020-21 cohort included 15 students, with a diverse mix of educational backgrounds and from a variety of geographic locations. Students worked toward completing their practicum work in Summer 2021 and will continue in Fall 2021 with organization such as Winning Streak Sports, The National Diversity Council and Syracuse University Athletics. 

In addition to their classwork, graduate students took part in professional development seminars conducted by Falk College Career Services and Sport Management internship placement coordinators on networking, cover letters, resumes, strategic interviewing, salary negotiation, career guidance and using LinkedIn. 

In the Spring 2021 semester, students worked with associate professor Dr. Gina Pauline in the advanced event management course to plan a webinar focusing on the mental health of student-athletes.

Students in the first nine cohorts have immersed themselves in the program’s academic and experiential opportunities, and leveraged relationships to launch their careers in the industry. Graduates have secured positions at Dover Speedway, Brown University, Spectra Venue Management, Legends Hospitality, Spartan Race Inc., Country Music Hall of Fame, Syracuse University Athletics, Recreation Services at Syracuse University’s Barnes Center, Met Life Stadium, Boston Celtics, Boise State University, Nike China, and Tulsa Sports Commission, among others. 

The 10th S.V.E.M. graduate class began in July 2021. The S.V.E.M. curriculum is designed to provide graduate students with a set of courses focused on the management and operations of facilities and events in the realm of sports and entertainment. Additionally, the S.V.E.M. coursework contains theory-to-practice elements where students apply concepts learned in the classroom to actual industry settings in a hands-on manner. 

Learn more about the graduate program.

Practicum list for Sport Venue and Event Management master’s program:

Fall 2020:

• Madison Derita, Mercy High School 

• Jake Pickard, Sponsor United 

• Kayla Robinson, United Worldwide 

Spring 2021: 

• Yuqi Liu, Syracuse University Sustainability 

• Tiana Mangakahia, ACC network 

• Ziyny Shang, GORINK Training Center 

Summer 2021:

• Kamille Cooper, National Diversity Council 

• Mike Okin, Winning Streak Sports 

• Morgan Widner, Team Impact 

• Yuqi Liu, Syracuse University Dome Operations 

Welcome Class of 2025 undergraduates.

Sport Analytics:

California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Thailand, Utah, Virginia, Washington.

Sport Management:

California, China, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont.

Congratulations to the following students for achieving an overall cumulative G.P.A. of 3.4 or higher, as of the end of the 2020-2021 academic year:

Sport Management:

Sport Analytics:

Senior Capstone Experience

Among the most valuable attributes of the Department of Sport Management is its connection with the sport industry, which impacts students in numerous ways, including the Senior Capstone experience. As a part of their degree requirements, Sport Management students must complete a 12-credit Capstone providing an opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in the sports industry before graduation.

Since the Capstone is the culmination of one’s academic experience, the planning process begins during a student’s freshman year. The process concludes with the full-semester experience with a specific sport entity or organization as local as Central New York to across the United States and around the world.

A Capstone requires students to work with a sport-related organization for a minimum of 540 hours over the course of one semester, gaining experience in areas such as sales, marketing, finance, analytics, event management, collegiate athletics, communications, law, community relations, and more. 

Listed below are Sport Management students and the organizations where they completed their senior Capstone in 2020-2021. We are grateful to our growing list of Capstone partners, who continue to provide tremendous learning opportunities for our students. This all happens under the leadership of Sport Management internship placement coordinators Nicole Cost, Lisa Liparulo and Kevin McNeill.

Summer 2021:

Justin Abrams, IMPACT Sports and Entertainment

David Chow, Football Marketing Association

Robert Crawford, Rookie Road

Daniel Cott, Premier Partnerships

Tasha Getten, Wasserman

Ryan Harteveldt, Milwaukee Brewers

John Kindig, Canada-U.S.A. Sports L.L.C. - Batavia Muckdogs

Hannah Kuo, Allegiant Airlines

Henry Little, C4 Live

Yueqi Liu, C.A.A. - China

Cayne Mandell, CollectibleXchange

Emily Rubinshteyn, Wasserman

Keith Rubenstein, The Digital Renegades

P Bennett Sheppe, Camp Winnebago 

Aidan Wisher, The Players Impact

Spencer Weissman, Queensboro F.C. 

Capstone: Relevent Sports provides industry insight.

By Simone Saputo, S.P.M. ’21.

During the Spring 2021 semester, I had the opportunity to complete my senior Capstone with the Relevent Sports Group, an organization based out of New York City. 

Relevent Sports boasts a large array of organizations within its portfolio, including the International Champions Cup (I.C.C.) soccer tournament and LaLiga North America, Spain’s first division of soccer. I worked with the I.C.C. and LaLiga throughout my remote internship.

Throughout this experience, I learned a variety of skills in the Sales and Partnership Department for the I.C.C. and LaLiga North America. I was fortunate to work for two separate organizations, thus gaining insight in two distinct areas within the sports industry.

Over the course of the four months, I assisted with a variety of tasks, including prospecting for potential partners that would align with the organization. I helped to run activations with our existing partners, which included meet-and-greet events with LaLiga players. I oversaw how the event was built and executed. 

I also worked to maintain Relevent’s relationships with current partners by creating activation ideas that would meet the goals of both organizations. It was fulfilling to see my ideas implemented across a variety of platforms. 

Since graduating from Syracuse University in May 2021, I am looking to use the knowledge and experience that I have gained from my courses and internships to work in the sports industry, specifically in the domain of partnerships and marketing.

Capstone: Remote Capstone teaches time management, independence.

By Karis Felton, S.P.M. ’21.

In the Spring 2021 semester, I completed my senior Capstone with Grit Player Services as a Social Media Marketing intern. 

Grit Player Services was founded in 2020 by Jake Miller and Syracuse University Sport Management graduate David Jaffin ’18, as a social media agency for athletes. Grit acts as an advocate, providing athletes support in personal brand-building via digital media and business development. 

A benefit of completing my Capstone with a start-up company was experiencing all aspects of the company. Every day, my tasks were different. I researched influencers, pulled highlights from our clients’ podcasts, and even got to work on the recruiting of future athletes. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all Grit Player Services employees work virtually, which allowed me to complete my Capstone from Syracuse University’s campus. Having a remote Capstone taught me about time management and completing tasks without being monitored. It also introduced me to new ways to connect with team members, including one-on-one calls that took the place of talking with people in person at the office. These calls helped me feel more comfortable during the internship and connecting with my colleagues as more than just a name on a screen. 

My senior Capstone with Grit Player Services taught me so much about working in the sport industry. I am honored to have been offered a part-time position with Grit as a Growth Specialist in their sales department focusing on the recruitment of athletes. 

Capstone: Capstone leads to job with Montag Group.

By Caroline Johnson, S.P.M. ’21.

During the Fall 2020 semester, I completed my senior Capstone with The Montag Group, a company that specializes in talent representation, strategic consulting, media communications and content creation. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, I was unable to work in person at The Montag Group’s New York City office. My remote Capstone experience was invaluable in so many ways.

Throughout my time at T.M.G., I had the opportunity to explore multiple verticals that the company specializes in. I mainly concentrated on speakers, talent representation, and strategic consulting divisions. This rotational aspect allowed me to gain a broad set of skills as well as form connections with numerous members of the Montag team.

Two projects come to mind as being the most rewarding experiences. While conducting research in the talent representation division, I suggested a young newscaster named Brhett Vickery to an agent, who ended up signing her as a client a few weeks later. T.M.G. helped Vickery land her next job, where she was able to jump over 30 television markets. In the consulting division, I continuously contributed to deck formation and client meetings for our client Q-Collar. Having the opportunity to see my research presented to executives was very rewarding. I am extremely proud of my time at The Montag Group, which sparked my interest in consulting.

I am grateful for my entire senior Capstone experience and look forward to starting my career at The Montag Group as the Executive Assistant to Chief Executive Officer Sandy Montag. 

Capstone: Nashville provides senior on-site live event experience.

By Matt Diemand, S.P.M. ’21.

During the Spring 2021 semester, I completed my senior Capstone on location at the Nashville Sports Council and TransPerfect Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee. 

As an events intern, I helped plan and execute major sporting events in Nashville, highlighted by working in person at the 2021 S.E.C. Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. 

COVID-19 had a major impact on my Capstone experience, however, I was lucky enough to move to Nashville in January 2021, and stay through May, working in the office a few days a week.

Many of the Sports Council’s events were canceled or postponed, or had reduced capacity, such as the S.E.C. Basketball Tournament being limited to a 20 percent capacity. 

Despite COVID-19 limitations, I learned so much about the inner workings of planning a major sporting event, from volunteer recruitment to creating production schedules to setting up on-site fan engagement and sponsorship activation zones. I gained valuable experience organizing and facilitating a new virtual speaker series and events, including a Zoom speaker series with Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller, S.E.C. Commissioner Greg Sankey, and E.S.P.N.’s Holly Rowe. 

I assisted the Nashville Sports Council with various assignments, including membership sales and social media postings to engage the Nashville community. 

My Capstone was truly amazing and allowed me to gain on-site live event experience in a year when so much shifted virtual. This Capstone built upon my event planning and game-day activation skills that I will take with me as I begin my post-graduation career as an event trainee at Octagon. 

S.P.M. Club raises $43,500 at 16th Charity Auction.

The Sport Management Club at Syracuse University raised $43,500 for Meals on Wheels Syracuse as a result of its 16th Annual Charity Sports Auction. In November 2020, online supporters placed bids on more than 300 items, including sports memorabilia, electronics, jewelry, gift baskets, trips, clothing, and tickets to events. The money raised will help Meals on Wheels serve 11,000 meals to people in need in the Syracuse-area community. 

The S.P.M. Club is a student-run organization in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics’ Sport Management Department. Since its founding in 2005, the club has raised more than $567,000 for local charities. Previous beneficiaries of the club’s annual charity auction have included Boys & Girls Clubs, Golisano Children’s Hospital, the Ronald McDonald  House Charities of C.N.Y., the Central New York S.P.C.A., the Upstate Cancer Center, Special Olympics New York, Food Bank of C.N.Y., the Salvation Army, Rescue Mission Alliance, American Diabetes Association, Make A Wish C.N.Y., and McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center. 

“Our Sport Management Club was founded on the principles of teaching our membership the value of civic engagement, community service, and social responsibility through sports,” said Michael Veley, Rhonda S. Falk endowed professor and director of Sport Management, who also serves as the organization’s faculty advisor. “The countless hours of dedication by these students to ensure that the proceeds from our charity auction would help feed families in need in our community is extremely gratifying.” 

The Sport Management Club meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays during the academic year. For more information, contact S.P.M. Club president Blake Taub at bltaub@syr.edu. 

For more information about the annual Charity Auction, visit Twitter @SPMAuction as well as their website. 

Pictures with captions in this section include: Auction co-chairs Jakob Fox ’22, Devan Dachisen ’22 and Kaitlynn Miller ’21 (from left) stand in front of a large cardboard cutout of the Syracuse University men’s basketball team that was auctioned off as part of the 2020 event. 

Sponsorship class pairs students with Bowl Games.

In Fall 2020, students in Sport Management assistant teaching professor Dave Meluni’s S.P.M. 324 Sponsorship and Promotion class partnered with the Football Bowl Association (now named Bowl Season) for a class project. Each of the 29 students in the class were paired with a Bowl game and had a direct line of communication with their respective Bowl. 

Executive Director Nick Carparelli, who is a member of the Sport Management Advisory Council, helped pair students with executives at each Bowl game, where they worked with Sponsor United software to build a sales deck using real-life potential corporate sponsor prospects. 

The students were paired with Sun Bowl, Boca Raton Bowl, Texas Bowl, Cactus Bowl, First Responders Bowl, Independence Bowl, Gator Bowl, Los Angeles Bowl, Liberty Bowl, Quick Lane Bowl, Military Bowl, Holiday Bowl, Fenway Bowl, Cure Bowl, Frisco Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl, Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Cheez- It Bowl, New Orleans Bowl, Bahamas Bowl, Arizona Bowl, Citrus Bowl, Armed Forces Bowl, Pinstripe Bowl, Alamo Bowl, Music City Bowl, New Mexico Bowl, Outback Bowl and Duke’s Mayo Bowl. 

“The students received real-world experience using Sponsor United to provide their Bowl Game a genuine corporate prospect,” Meluni said. “They also collaborated to build a sales deck that the Bowl could use in the marketplace.” 

In the Spring 2021 semester, the S.P.M. 324 class worked with the Charlotte Hornets, while Meluni’s S.P.M. 215 sales classes worked with Sponsor United, Spotify and Disney. 

Esports companies provide real-world scenarios:

In Spring 2021, students in Sport Management endowed professor Rick Burton’s S.P.M. 300 Esports Management class received feedback on real-world projects for industry-leading companies such as E.S.L. Gaming, Copa 90, N.B.A. 2K, and Riot Games. 

Students represented sport management “agencies” for each of the above companies. Their job was to address challenges detailed by their “clients” and bring in solutions or new brand sponsors for leagues, tournaments and festivals. Leveraging tournament broadcasts, social media and on-site activations, students were tasked with creating compelling partnership platforms for brands to reach the company’s fanbase. The class was split into seven five-person agencies that created partnership programs or creative solutions to reach esports fans in unique, creative and authentic ways. 

Executives from the various companies provided feedback on the ideas and selected the top proposals for each assignment during the semester. 

“It’s always rewarding for students to get real-world practitioner feedback,” Burton said. “Working with industry giants like Riot Games, E.S.L. Gaming and the N.B.A., plus a major international brand like Copa 90, really made the class come to life and gave students a shot of confidence for future classes and their careers.” 

A letter from the S.P.M. Club president.

By Sam Marteka, S.P.M. ’21, S.P.M. Club President.

What a crazy, crazy year it was. From having a wonderful start to Spring 2020 in person, to navigating the challenges of remote learning and online club meetings, to holding our first-ever virtual charity sports auction, the students in the Sport Management Club at Syracuse University had the most unique club experience ever. And wow, they certainly rose to the occasion! 

The Sport Management Club, under the guidance of Professor Veley and phenomenal student leaders, provides invaluable experiential learning opportunities that expands our professional, academic, and social skillsets. Our trademark event, the annual Charity Sports Auction, which went completely virtual in 2020 for the first time in 16 years, raised $43,500 for Meals on Wheels Syracuse under the leadership of co-chairs Kaitlynn Miller, Devan Dachisen, and Jakob Fox. 

The S.P.M. Club welcomed numerous guest speakers in person and via Zoom from a variety of organizations throughout the 2020-21 year, including executives from the Pittsburgh Penguins, Genius, the N.B.A., Madison Square Garden, ISlide, and Syracuse University Football, among others. We also held professional development events to help students navigate applications, internships, cover letters, and resumes, and started a peer mentor initiative which connected upperclassmen with underclassmen in the club to provide advice and make new connections. 

I am proud to have led such an amazing group of students for the past two years who pledged their time and effort outside of class to the Sport Management Club every week. I look forward to seeing how the next wave of S.P.M. Club rock stars continues the legacy of those who went before them. I am grateful for the opportunities this club provides to its students, and I am confident the S.P.M. Club will continue to make an impact on the Syracuse University community and beyond for years to come. 

Pictures with captions in this section include: A majority of the S.P.M. Club meetings during the Fall 2020 semester were held via Zoom, making it challenging to plan its signature event, the Charity Sports Auction. 

Students receive assistance from scholarship funds.

Annual scholarships assist students with the financial aspects of completing summer internships or senior Capstones.

Jennifer Corn Carter Fund:

The Jennifer Corn Carter Senior Capstone Award for Sport Management supports students in the department during their senior Capstone experiences. 

For the 2020-21 academic year, two students were honored with this award: Caroline Johnson, who interned with The Montag Group in Fall 2020; and Kaitlynn Miller, who interned with Bowl Season in Spring 2021. Each received $1,000.

Jennifer Corn Carter is a graduate of Syracuse University, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work. She was honored with Falk College’s 2010 Alumna of the Year Award for her on-going support of our students and Syracuse University. Her vision and support created the Jennifer Corn Carter Resource and Career Center in Falk College.

Student Learning Fund:

Nine Sport Management seniors were awarded scholarships from the Sport Management Student Learning Fund during the 2020-21 academic year. Each received $500 to $1,500.

In Summer 2021, two students earned the scholarship: Yueqi Liu (Creative Artist Agency) and Henry Little (C4 Live Entertainment).

In Spring 2021, two students earned the scholarships: Andrew Bush (Queensboro F.C.) and Jack Rothstein (Radegen).

In Fall 2020, five students earned the scholarships: Oliver Glavin (SportsCastr), Margaret Haggerty (Bowl Season), Max Josef (Exclusive Sports Group), Seth Kourpas (Radegen), and Marc Orlin (Super Fan Fundraising).

Undergraduate Summer Internship Fund:

The Sport Management Summer Internship Fund is used each year to provide support to undergraduate students pursuing unpaid summer internships, enabling them to gain industry experience.

Twelve students were awarded scholarships for their 2021 summer internships: James Beck (Winston-Salem Dash), Jackson Beers (Carry Golf Investing), Mitchell Bereznay (Bowie Baysox), Anna Genter (Super Fan Fundraising), Andrew Licciardi (The Season Ticket), Connor Meissner (Danbury Westerners), Noah Minsky (Sussex County Miners), Joao Murray (ThePostGame), Benjamin Paglia (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders), Danielle Parr (Talent Resources Sports), Matthew Penn (Newark Pilots) and Benjamin Wachtel (CoachMePlus).

For more information about the funds, contact Sport Management internship coordinator Lisa Liparulo at lmliparu@syr.edu or 315.443.0450.

A.C.C. honors 20 student-athletes.

Twenty student-athletes from Syracuse University’s Department of Sport Management were named on the Atlantic Coast Conference Honor Roll for the 2020-21 academic year. The Honor Roll is comprised of student-athletes who participated in a varsity-level sport and registered a grade point average of 3.0 or better for the full academic year. The honorees are:

Kambel Beacom, ice hockey; Jackson Boeheim, basketball; Megan Carney, lacrosse; Peter Dearth, lacrosse; Joseph Eovaldi, track and field; Nicolas Giancola, basketball; Asa Goldstock, lacrosse (graduate student); Nicholas Hapney, lacrosse; Josephine Kiesel, rowing; Logan McGraw, soccer; Michael Midkiff, football; Anthony Queeley, football; Kristen Siermachesky, ice hockey; Marie Sommer, field hockey; Sarah Thompson, ice hockey; Jenna Tivnan, soccer; Connor Toomey, crew; Haley Uliasz, rowing; Elizabeth Vogt, rowing; Morgan Widner, lacrosse (graduate student).

Sport Professionals of Color Club building membership base.

The Department of Sport Management’s Sport Professionals of Color Club is an organization that strives to connect students who identify as people of color with sport professionals from across the industry.

The organization was formed during the 2014-15 academic year with the purpose of helping to guide young professionals in their pursuit of success and career establishment in the industry. The club strives to improve members’ professional skills, host speakers, foster networking growth, and take part in experiential learning opportunities.

In Fall 2020, the Club welcomed author/consultant Will Baggett, who spoke about his path to success and how minorities should navigate post-college life. Former N.F.L. player Jed Collins also virtually spoke to the club. Committees are being formed to help the club grow its membership and campus presence. 

The club is always looking for new members to take part in its activities and meetings. Past events include an N.F.L. Draft watch party, co-hosting a panel discussion on women in sports titled “Competing to Win” with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., as well as hosting a Madison Square Garden internship panel. The club has welcomed numerous guest speakers over the years, including executives from E.S.P.N., the Houston Texans, C.N.N., and Turner Sports, among others. 

Meetings are open to all Syracuse University students.

To get involved with this organization, email club president Elena Randolph at edrandol@syr.edu. 

Women in Sports and Events (WISE).

Women in Sports and Events (WISE) is a nationally recognized group whose goal is to be a leading voice and resource for women who currently work in, or aspire to be a part of, the professional field of sports and events. In 2009, Syracuse University was voted in as the first collegiate chapter of WISE’s national organization, and since its inception on campus, has offered professional development opportunities for members. Students in WISE are involved with numerous events and activities over the course of the academic year, including networking trips, fundraisers, interview workshops, professional development seminars, community service, and assisting with S.P.M. events. 

A main focus for the Spring 2021 semester was pairing with the University of Pittsburgh’s WISE Chapter to host a webinar titled “The Women Behind Pro and Collegiate Basketball.” The webinar featured S.P.M. alumna Drina Domic ’19 (N.B.A.), Natalie Dumin (H.B.S.E./ Philadelphia 76ers), Beth Kane (N.C.A.A.) and Audrey Stapleton (Charlotte Hornets). WISE also co-hosted a “Women in Sports Journalism” panel with The Women’s Network Syracuse, featuring Syracuse alumna Sarina Morales (L.A. Rams) and Maddy Glab (Buffalo Bills). 

“Working collaboratively with other student organizations to put on events like this is what makes being a member of WISE so important,” said 2020-21 WISE president Devan Dachisen (S.P.M. ’22). “Hearing from inspiring women in the industry is invaluable to our members, who are all striving to expand our networks and find success in the sport industry one day.”

In January 2020, partnering with Syracuse University women’s basketball, WISE co-hosted a “Professional Women of Syracuse” event at the Carrier Dome featuring panelists who shared their insights on working in athletics. 

WISE members often volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House in Syracuse to cook and serve meals to families staying at the facility. The group also co-hosts workshops focusing on campus resources and resumes; partners with Witty Wicks, a homemade candle company, and Chipotle, to fundraise for networking trips and events; and welcomes numerous guest speakers to campus or virtually. 

“WISE provides a fantastic way for young women to hold leadership positions and create opportunities for members, such as hosting events or collaborating with other on-campus groups,” said WISE co-advisor Nicole Cost, who is also an internship placement coordinator in the Department of Sport Management. “These are great talking points when networking as well as on interviews, not to mention a solid way to learn skills for when they leave campus.” 

Keep up with Syracuse University’s WISE Club on Social Media: Twitter: @WISE_SU; Instagram: WISE_Cuse; and Facebook: Women in Sports and Events at Syracuse University. 

The club officers for 2020- 21 were Caroline Johnson, Devan Dachisen, Cailtin Donoghue, Chloe Moss and Megan Monzo. 

The WISE Club includes women from all majors on campus interested in pursuing careers in sports and events. For more information, email WISE co-advisors Nicole Cost at nfimbrog@syr.edu or Lisa Liparulo at lmliparu@syr.edu, or club president Maddy Huzjak at mghuzjak@syr.edu. 

Blazing Her Own Trail.

First woman completes sport analytics degree at Syracuse.

Bailie Brown graduated in May 2021 from Syracuse University’s Falk College with a Bachelor of Science degree in sport analytics, becoming the first woman to complete the four-year undergraduate program since its inception five years ago. Her 23 classmates are men.

“It’s definitely an honor,” Brown said. “I think there’s a little bit of pressure that goes along with being the only female in the senior class. I feel like I need to be successful.”

Syracuse University and California Baptist University in Los Angeles began offering a four-year undergraduate course of study in sport analytics in 2016. Brown chose Syracuse after discovering the program by chance.

“I was just kind of searching for different opportunities and ran across this one and knew immediately it was exactly where I wanted to go. There wasn’t any question,” said Brown, who was salutatorian of her high school class in Florence, South Carolina. “I’ve always loved sports, baseball in particular, and math in high school was fun for me, for some reason, so it was kind of a no-brainer to put the two together.”

The opportunity at Syracuse was there, thanks in large part to the efforts of professors Michael Veley, founding director of the university’s sport management program, and Rodney Paul, director of the sport analytics program. Falk College’s 275 applications for the incoming class in August are the most for the program, up more than 11 percent from 2020, and 31 are women, more than triple last year’s total of 10.

Brown is in a good place at a seemingly opportune time. Women are gaining traction in management positions at the top echelons of professional sports, opening more doors for others to follow into a realm that’s been dominated by men.

“If you look at what’s going on in the sports world in general of women breaking down barriers that have been in existence for decades in terms of becoming a general manager of a major league baseball team, an official at an N.F.L. game, women coaching men’s sports, it’s starting to open up opportunities,” said Veley, adding that the school also is achieving its goal of attracting more minorities and international students. “We feel that women in the analytics field can be pioneers.”

Two years ago, Valerie Camillo became the first woman hired as president of an NHL franchise when she took the position with the Philadelphia Flyers. The Miami Marlins hired Kim Ng as general manager in October, the first female G.M. in the four major North American professional sports leagues. And in mid-April, Lucy Rushton, an analytics whiz, was hired as G.M. of D.C. United, just the second woman in Major League Soccer history to be a full-time general manager, after Lynne Meterparel with the San Jose Clash in 1999.

“It’s scary to think that it’s taken a good 20 years for the next one,” Rushton said. “Obviously, it’s a bit of a privilege to be in that position. It kind of gives me that little bit extra incentive to kind of create a pathway for women going forward. If I do a good job in my role, hopefully it does open up doors for other women.”

That Brown isn’t an athlete didn’t faze her one bit. Her foundation was developed by going to her younger brother’s Little League games and asking questions, lots of questions.

“I coached my son in Little League and she was always out there with us, asking me questions after the games and after practices,” said Ken Brown, Bailie’s dad. “We didn’t have the typical conversations. It was talking strategy about the game and what they should do. She has such a deep interest in the actual game and all the strategy. I’m very, very proud of her. She’s fulfilling her passion.”

“I love it! That’s amazing,” added Jessica Gelman, a pioneer in her own right as C.E.O. of Kraft Analytics Group in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and co-founder 15 years ago of M.I.T.’s Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. “Analytics kind of evens the playing field for women, so I’m glad to see that there are women who are taking interest in pursuing this area. Obviously, the past few years there’s been a huge focus on enhanced equality for women and under-represented minorities.

Rushton, a native of Reading, England, and a former soccer player for her hometown club (Reading F.C.), said she was surprised when she was hired a short time after receiving a Master’s degree in sports performance analysis from the University of Wales Institute in 2008. “You’re just waiting for that break and you just need someone to just take a risk on you,” she said.

Brown, 21, already has found that someone. She completed her final college semester remotely because of COVID-19 restrictions in upstate New York, and that dovetailed nicely with her new job working on baseball strategy as an operations apprentice with the Houston Astros, where Sarah Gelles is director of research and development.

“I hope this is opening up more opportunities for more girls to come to Syracuse and follow in my footsteps and my classmates’ footsteps so it’ll get to a point where it isn’t a big deal,” said Brown, who moved to Houston in April 2021. “It’ll be normal for women to be graduating with these kinds of degrees and working in fields such as sport analytics.”

(This story was originally published by Syracuse University in May 2021 and picked up by more than 50 national media outlets.) 

Pictures with captions in this section include: Bailie Brown poses in a cap and gown in front of the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, where she graduated with a degree in sport analytics in May 2021. Sport Analytics students Bailie Brown ’21, Dean Preston ’22, Christopher Thomas ’22, Brendan McKeown ’22 and Sean Kenney ’22 (from left) traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, during Spring Break in 2019 to compete in the National Sabermetrics Competition. 

Stepping Up to the Plate.

By Sarah H. Griffin, Syracuse University.

Sport management major aims to put his education to work for greater diversity and equity in the sport industry.

The game started at 7 p.m. Thirteen-year-old Christian Buonadonna sat with his aunt and uncle in the “nosebleed” section of the baseball stadium. Far below, their Philadelphia home team battled the opposing team into extra innings. As the night wore on, the crowd gradually thinned and Buonadonna and his family moved closer. Soon they were in prime seats and perfectly positioned to catch the foul ball that popped into the air and soared toward them. “It was the whole experience—being there on a summer night for 18 innings, up until 3 a.m., going home with a ball—I really fell in love with the game,” Buonadonna says. 

At first, Buonadonna’s interest in sports revolved primarily around baseball and the statistics of the game. When he first applied to Syracuse University’s David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, he thought he’d want to study sport analytics. But as he explored the range of Falk’s programs during his first year, he became captivated by the dynamism and interdisciplinary nature of sport management, which he eventually declared as his major. “Sport management brings in aspects from many other fields—business, communications, marketing, psychology. I like that you pull insight from all these different areas and then apply them in a sport context,” says Buonadonna, who is planning to graduate in 2022. 

Worthy Goals.

As he envisions his career plans, Buonadonna hopes to address issues of diversity and equity in sports and sport industries. “I always go back to the concept of intersectionality,” he says. “There are athletes who identify in multiple ways—some with identities they might even hide. I think it’s important to shine a light on what those athletes may deal with—the oppression they may feel—and also highlight ways teams can support them and really celebrate the diversity in athletic communities.” 

Buonadonna’s own life experiences inform his commitment to issues of diversity and inclusion and influence the empathy he brings to this work. He and his younger sister were born in South Korea and adopted as infants by white American parents. At times he has faced challenges as a Korean American who is racially different from his parents, but he appreciates the perspective and insight that those challenges have helped him develop.

Buonadonna—who often adds his Korean given name, Jung, to his signature—has found ways to explore and embrace the Korean side of his identity. One of the most meaningful has been his practice of the Korean martial art Tang Soo Do. 

“It has provided life lessons and helped me appreciate certain values, such as humility, self-control and integrity, which are part of our honor code and which I try to hold myself true to, to this day,” he says. 

He also participates in and leads programming at the Syracuse University Catholic Center, and says his faith has been an important source of guidance and community.

Putting His Education Into Practice.

Buonadonna serves as a resident advisor with the Office of Student Living and works with members of the Syracuse football team and the men’s and women’s basketball teams living in an apartment complex on South Campus. It’s a role that lets him put into practice event planning skills he’s gaining from his studies. Even before the pandemic, it took some creativity to organize successful community-building activities, he says, because of the athletes’ full schedules and their tendency to retire to their apartments rather than gather in the communal lounges. Buonadonna’s responsibilities include planning two events a month for the residents he serves. 

“I’ve realized the success of these activities depends largely on the way I market them and how and when I communicate to the residents. This connects to what I’m learning about in some of my courses—so I just keep adapting my techniques,” he says.

He works with other students and staff in the Office of Multicultural Affairs to organize programming for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which the University celebrated in April. He hopes to build on this experience in the guided internship he’ll complete in Fall 2021 as part of the sport management curriculum. In their final year, sport management majors complete a 12-credit Capstone that entails gaining hands-on experience in the sport industry. As he firms up plans for which organization he’ll work with, Buonadonna looks forward to being in a professional setting and expanding his knowledge of the ways different organizations are addressing issues around diversity and inclusion.

“There are so many people doing this important work already, and advocating for diversity and equity,” he says. “But there’s also still a lot of room for growth. I know I will find my place.”

(This story was originally published by Syracuse University in April 2021.)

Pictures with captions in this section include: Sport management major Christian Buonadonna ’22 has worked with Syracuse University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs to organize programming that celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage. 

Virtual combine a highlight for Sales Club.

The Sport Management Sales Club was established in 2015 to act as a medium for earning members hands-on experience in the sport sales industry. In a job market with increasing demands for preliminary experience, students can add practical sales experience to their resumes. The club welcomes guest speakers in person and virtually each semester, holds workshops and events for members, while also pairing with Syracuse University Athletics to help sell tickets. 

The focus of the Spring 2021 semester was on holding a virtual sales combine in collaboration with executives from the New York Mets, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Brooklyn Nets. Students benefited from sales training followed by head-to-head, scenario-based competition in the format of a combine. The event was held in person on campus on Spring 2020. 

During the Fall 2020 semester, the Sales Club partnered with the Boston Red Sox for its first-ever “Red Sox Premium Sales Project.” S.P.M. alumnus Sandor Kopitz ’15, who is the manager of the Red Sox Sales Academy, helped form the partnership between the students and the organization. Club members were split into groups and asked to research a specific business in the greater Boston area. Students then created and presented a 10-minute sales deck on why that business should purchase premium seats with the Red Sox. This allowed club members to practice their real-world research and sales skills. 

“It was great to partner with the Syracuse University Sport Sales Club to provide their members hands-on sales presentation experience,” Kopitz said. “My goal was to share a bit about our sales process here with the Red Sox and give Syracuse University Sales Club members a taste of what premium season ticket sales are like, how we sell and market them at Fenway Park, and highlight the tactics we use to build value during a sales presentation.” 

Students usually pair with Syracuse University Athletics each Fall to help sell tickets for Syracuse University football, and men’s and women’s basketball games. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was not able to happen in Fall 2020. The partnership will begin again in Fall 2021. 

During the Fall 2019 semester, club members cold-called businesses near and far to solicit table sponsorships for the Department’s 15th Annual Charity Sports Auction benefiting Make-A-Wish Central New York. In February 2020, club members had the opportunity to get face-to-face selling experience through the annual Select-A-Seat event hosted by Syracuse University Athletics. Fans in attendance had the ability to try out and select seats for the upcoming football season. S.P.M. Sales Club members were on hand to qualify buyers and walk them through the process. 

The club officers for 2020-21 were Ian Benepe, Casey Millar, Sam Crampton, Nick Costanzo, Alex Guo and Richie Clarke. 

The Sales Club meets weekly during the academic year. For more information, contact Palczak at jcpalcza@syr.edu. All Syracuse University students are welcome to attend. 

Sport Media and Marketing Club:

The Department of Sport Management formed a Sport Media and Marketing Club in Fall 2020 in hopes of providing students an opportunity to learn more about these particular segments of the sport industry. The club’s mission is to provide real-world experiences for students by taking part in projects as well as connecting with peers, faculty advisors and industry professionals. Club members are interested in hosting guest speakers, marketing Falk College’s student organizations and events via social media, participating in marketing case study competitions and providing training on MailChimp, Canva and other commonly used programs in the industry. 

Club officers for 2020-21 were Alex Guo, Blake Taub, Maeva, Matthew Penn and Faith Porter. 

Analytics.

Sport Analytics students waste no time putting Syracuse degree program on the map.

Sport analytics is a fast-growing segment of the sport industry, where many young, aspiring sport professionals are choosing to make a career. They’re data-driven—and they’re catching the eye of sports teams all over the world. In fall 2016, Syracuse University’s Sport Analytics program welcomed its first official freshmen class as the first undergraduate degree of its kind in the nation. The intensive program with coursework in economics, mathematics and computer programming has attracted students from around the world.

Since its launch, Sport Analytics at Syracuse has celebrated many successes. The program has established student-industry collaborations with EDGE10, X.F.L., Spotted, and Syracuse University Athletics, among others. Students have secured professional job placements prior to graduation as well as internships with top sport industry organizations and major league teams. Students and faculty have published and presented research internationally and competed in prestigious industry and academic competitions, including S.A.B.R. Diamond Dollars, M.I.T. Sloan Sports Analytics, A.C.C. Meeting of the Minds, Carnegie Mellon, and the Academy of Economics and Finance National Conference, among others. The program graduated four students in 2019, 13 in 2020, and 24 in 2021. 

Here are some program highlights from 2020-2021: 

Twelve seniors were named Berlin Scholars for the class of 2021: Zachary Anhalt, Jonathan Bosch, Bailie Brown, Jacob Cummis, Drew DiSanto, James Hyman, Zachary Koeppel, Colin Krantz, Samuel Marteka, Cameron Mitchell, Alejandro Pesantez, and Kushal Shah. The scholarship is named for Andrew Berlin, who donated $1 million to Syracuse University’s Sport Analytics program in 2018.

Eight seniors completed the Sport Analytics program in three years. Joseph Deaton, James Hyman, Colin Krantz, Cameron Mitchell and Kushal Shah plan to continue their studies in Fall 2021 through the Applied Data Science master’s program housed in Syracuse University’s iSchool. Also finishing in three years are Bailie Brown, who began a job with the Houston Astros in May 2021; Steven DiMaria, who interned with the New York Yankees in Summer 2021; and Davis Showell, who plans to attend graduate school at Temple in Fall 2021. 

Eight seniors completed the Sport Analytics program in three years. Joseph Deaton, James Hyman, Colin Krantz, Cameron Mitchell and Kushal Shah plan to continue their studies in Fall 2021 through the Applied Data Science master’s program housed in Syracuse University’s iSchool. Also finishing in three years are Bailie Brown, who began a job with the Houston Astros in May 2021; Steven DiMaria, who interned with the New York Yankees in Summer 2021; and Davis Showell, who plans to attend graduate school at Temple in Fall 2021.