Syracuse Sport Management and Sport Analytics 2021-2022 Newsletter

Pivot | Persevere | Pride

In This Issue:

Please note this is a corrected digital edition dated September 2022. The print version misidentified the winner of the Sales Combine on Page 15.

Director's Greeting.

The resiliency of Syracuse University students, faculty and staff during the global pandemic amazed me and that same elasticity and adaptability has been evident in the post-pandemic sport industry. The ability to pivot on short notice, adapt to an ever-changing environment and set of parameters, and modify ways of conducting business and communicating with constituents have allowed sports to bounce back far sooner than expected. Spectators are filling stadiums and arenas, television rating are rebounding to pre-COVID levels, and new sectors of growth have re-ignited the industry flame. 

We pride ourselves in diversity and being visionary. This past year, assistant teaching professor Dave Meluni created the nation’s first undergraduate class on Name, Image and Likeness – legislation that has transformed how student-athletes can monetize their personal brand and receive financial compensation. Professor Meluni has become a leading authority in this field and was awarded the 2022 Evan Weissman Memorial Teaching Award for Falk College. 

Our Sport Analytics program, under the leadership of Professor Rodney Paul, continues to garner national attention and earn awards for student research presentations, case competitions, and faculty research, both domestically and internationally. Graduates of this program have secured jobs with college athletics, Major League Baseball teams, NFL franchises, the NBA, and several private sector businesses both in and outside of sports. 

We continue to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by using sports as a platform for social responsibility. In October 2022, we will host our inaugural DEIA symposium thanks to the generosity of Syracuse alum Jonathan Wanderstock. 

Our academic program has prided itself on creating pathways for women in sports and will continue to move the needle through enhanced experiential learning opportunities, recruitment of female students, faculty, and staff, providing gender-based scholarships to women and students of color, and working with employment recruiters in multiple sectors of sports. 

Additionally, the Department of Sport Management and Syracuse Athletics have created a 10-year partnership with Legends, a premium experiences company with six divisions operating worldwide. Legends offers clients and partners a 360-degree data and analytics fueled service solution platform to elevate their brand and execute their vision. The alliance will allow current students to benefit from project-based and experiential learning, mentorship, and visibility into job openings. This will provide unprecedented opportunities for Falk sport management and analytics undergraduates and our Sport Venue and Event Management graduate students to intern with Legends and prepare them for full-time positions upon graduation. 

Sports can be an ideal platform to affect social change and it has been a hallmark of this program and the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. We continue to use sports as a platform to teach social responsibility and aid our community. The Sport Management Club’s Charity Sports Auction, under the leadership of co-chairs Jakob Fox ’22, Luca Giacobbe ’22 and Megan Monzo ’22, raised $45,000 for the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation, and the graduate students hosted the “Future’s Lax Bash” to benefit Tackle ALS that raised $5,000 under the leadership of Dr. Gina Pauline. 

Several student organizations created and hosted social advocacy programs and webinars as part of their mission to promote DEIA initiatives in conjunction with the department’s overall commitment to these causes. 

We’re ORANGE TOGETHER! I hope you take pride in the accomplishments of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff. 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.

It is a great joy to see our Orange community once again learning and creating together, in person, both on campus and around the world. As a university, we celebrate the proud and powerful Orange network that creates vast opportunities for our students and alumni. And that is certainly true among the Department of Sport Management, which boasts partnerships throughout the sport industry. 

Immersion trips are one way in which students are able to meet and learn from innovators and leaders in sports. This past year, students gained insights into various industry segments and established important professional connections from Boston to Los Angeles to New York City. 

They witnessed—and took part in—the transformational work our growing sport management community is doing, spanning business innovation, research and analytics, community development, environmental sustainability, as well as diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion initiatives. 

Immersion trips, internships, competitions and conferences cultivate the Orange network and establish our students in the sport industry before they even graduate. None of these opportunities would be possible without our alumni, partners, supporters and friends of Falk College and Syracuse University. We thank you. 

I encourage all of our esteemed alumni to stay in touch with us, and hope you find yourself back on campus soon for some of our exciting upcoming events. Until then, be well and Go Orange! 

— 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 2022.

On May 14, 2022, Syracuse University’s David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics celebrated its Class of 2022 Convocation ceremony at Manley Field House. The Department of Sport Management congratulates 97 Sport Management undergraduates, 38 Sport Analytics undergraduates, and seven Sport Venue and Event Management master’s graduates who received their degrees as part of the Class of 2022. 

Sport Analytics major Mackenzie Mangos served as a Falk College Marshal and delivered a speech at Convocation. Department Marshals were Connor Howard (Sport Management), Samual Ayers (Sport Analytics) and Camryn DeLucie (Sport Venue and Event Management). 

The Department of Sport Management’s traditional celebration of its graduates on Commencement weekend continued this year with more than 200 parents, family members, friends, faculty and staff gathering in Falk College on May 13 to celebrate the accomplishments of the Sport Management and Sport Analytics undergraduates and Sport Venue and Event Management master’s students. 

Forty-two students received the Director’s Academic Achievement Award for earning a GPA of 3.4 or higher for each of their consecutive semesters at Syracuse University: Benjamin Allen, Luke Adelstein, Samual Ayers, Evan Baum, Christian Buonadonna, Devan Dachisen, Josh Danzig, Matthew Davis, Ryan Dilts, Drew DiSanto, Caitlin Donoghue, Brian Drew, Rachel Duke, Jakob Fox, Colin Hardy, Justin Harrington, Connor Howard, Kevin Ivers, Dylan Kelly, Sean Kenney, Preston Klaus, Hannah Kuo, Jared LaVigueur, Yueyang Li, Zichen Lu, Mackenzie Mangos, Connor Meissner, Margaret Monzo, Joao Murray, Daniel Nagle, Michael O’Connor, Danielle Parr, Lucas Prestamo, Harrison Rayhill, Dominic Samangy, Kira Sebastianelli, Cooper Shawver, Ryan Song, Quinn Spangler, Jenna Tivnan, Seth Warner and David Zukowski. 

Five Sport Analytics seniors were named Falk College Scholars: Drew DiSanto, Preston Klaus, Mackenzie Mangos, Dominic Samangy and Cooper Shawver. 

Here is a list of the senior awards:

• Academic Excellence Award – Jenna Tivnan 

• Director’s Award – Margaret Monzo 

• Director’s Award for Academic Promise – Joseph Eovaldi

• Jason Morales Perseverance in Sport and Life Award – Danielle Parr 

• Kate Veley Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility Award – Jakob Fox 

• Matt Brodsky Philanthropic Excellence Award – Luca Giacobbe 

• Professional Engagement Award – Devan Dachisen

• VIP Award - Joao Paulo Murray

• Patrick T. Ryan Sport Management Technology Award - Rachel Duke

• Outstanding Graduate Student Award – Hannah Gigliotti

Sport Analytics: 

• Academic Excellence Award – Preston Klaus

• Academic Excellence Award – Jared LaVigueur

• Director’s Award for Academic Promise – Kevin Ivers 

• Director’s Award for Academic Promise – Michael O’Connor 

• Research Excellence Award – Daniel Nagle

• Research Excellence Award – Dominic Samangy 

• Research Excellence Award – Quinn Spangler 

• VIP Award – Samual Ayers 

• Game Changer Award – Bailie Brown 

Also, the M.S. in Sport Venue and Event Management program concluded its tenth 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 tenth class. 

The Department of Sport Management’s master’s program in Sport Venue and Event Management (SVEM) welcomed its 10th class of graduate students to campus in July 2021. The program comprises 36 credit hours of intensive classroom learning, skill development and experiential opportunities in settings like SU’s Dome. 

The 2021-22 cohort included seven students, with a diverse mix of educational backgrounds and from a variety of geographic locations. Students worked toward completing their practicum work in Fall 2021, Summer 2022 and will continue in Fall 2022. 

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 2022 semester, students worked with associate professor Dr. Gina Pauline in the advanced event management course to plan a charity event to benefit Tackle ALS, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. (See Page 18) 

Students in the first 10 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’s Dome, Syracuse University’s Barnes Center, Met Life Stadium, Boston Celtics, Boise State University, Towson University Athletics, Nike China, and Tulsa Sports Commission, among others. 

The 11th SVEM graduate class began in July 2022. The SVEM 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 SVEM 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 2021:

• Drew Hurley, Allegiant Stadium and Washington Nationals 

• Kayla Scognamillo, Make-a-Wish Foundation Southern Florida 

• Yuqi Liu, Syracuse University Dome Operations 

• Kaci Wright, CNC Group/FANzSpeakOut 

• Joshua Moshier, University of Denver Athletics 

• Guzal Yusupova, Sportime 

• Maureen Lavallee, Ohio State University Athletics

Spring 2022: 

• Julian Santiago, Syracuse University Recreation Services 

• Camryn Delucie, Syracuse University Athletic Operations 

• Oluwatobiloba Joshuasville, Syracuse University Athletic Operations 

• Daniel Hewitt, Addition Financial Arena/Oak View Group

Summer 2021:

• Camryn Delucie, Baltimore Ravens 

• Hannah Gigliotti, Townson University Athletics 

• Taylor Tsatsis, Wagner College Athletics 

• Julian Santiago, Prodigy Racing 

• Naje Murray, Athletic Unlimited/AUX Softball 

• Chris Szlamczynski, Syracuse University Athletics

Photos with captions in this section included: Sport Venue and Event Management master’s students visited with executives from the Syracuse Mets and the Lakeview Amphitheater to learn about facility management. Camryn Delucie, Oluwatobiloba Joshuasville and Taylor Tsatsis (from left) are shown at the 2022 Falk College Convocation.

Welcome Class of 2026 undergraduates.

Sport Analytics:

Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Quebec, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin.

Sport Management:

Arizona, California, China, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kenya, Korea, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Queensland, Spain, Taiwan, Texas, United Kingdom, Virginia, Wisconsin.

Congratulations to the following students for achieving an overall cumulative G.P.A. of 3.4 or higher, as of the end of the 2021-2022 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 2021-2022. 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 the Sport Management internship placement coordinators.

Capstone: Full speed ahead at NASCAR Capstone.

By Connor Howard, S.P.M. ’22.

During the Spring 2022 semester, I was privileged to complete my senior Capstone with NASCAR in Daytona Beach, Florida.

My work was within NASCAR’s Southeast Region, which oversees all events at Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Events included the Daytona 500; Geico 500; “BEEF. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300;” Rolex 24; Bike Week; and AMA Supercross Championship.

Working as a client services intern, I managed my own book of business, servicing partnerships and corporate hospitality. Activating some of the races’ largest partnerships, I fulfilled orders for all assets, managed signage, and provided solutions to problems that arose. I also assisted with prospecting, grassroots marketing, and executing fan experiences.

I learned how partnerships are executed from start to finish, how to manage partners and how to create an enjoyable guest experience for fans. I am proud of my work, which saw success in the forms of retaining partners and executing memorable fan experiences for sold-out races.

I am extremely thankful to have completed my Capstone with NASCAR, as it allowed me to gain real-world experience and learn more about the industry. This experience allowed me to transition into a full-time role with NASCAR’s Partnership Strategy Department.

Capstone: From Bowl Season Capstone to WWE job.

By Ryan Charles, S.P.M. ’22.

I was privileged to work remotely as a sponsorship and marketing intern for Bowl Season during the Spring 2022 semester. Bowl Season is the overarching brand of college football’s postseason, including 44 bowl games and the College Football Playoff. 

I worked closely with the Director of Sponsorships, John Egan, with a goal of prospecting, selling and activating Bowl Season’s sponsorships. A lot of my time was spent in client-facing work, where I researched and contacted prospective companies in an effort to bring in sponsorship revenue. I also created sales decks, attended sales calls, wrote contracts, and brought client activations to life. 

The highlight of my Capstone was planning and attending Bowl Season’s Annual Meeting, which drew more than 200 people and featured a 54-booth tradeshow. I played a vital role in the coordination of the tradeshow with sponsors, and the execution of various on-site activations. 

I learned a lot during my Capstone, such as the value of time management and the importance of being organized. My biggest lesson was in professionalism. Within my first two months at Bowl Season, I was meeting with and emailing upper-level management executives. I had to learn how to conduct myself in that environment as I strive to be on that level one day in my career.

I’m proud to say that my hard work at Bowl Season and Syracuse University helped me land a full-time position as a Partnership Marketing Coordinator at WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). 

Capstone: Senior lands dream job with PGA Tour.

By Megan Monzo, S.P.M. ’22.

I completed my Senior Capstone with the PGA Tour at TPC Sawgrass during the Spring 2022 semester.

TPC Sawgrass is home to the PLAYERS Championship and is located in beautiful Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. I served as an intern with numerous departments throughout the duration of my Capstone and worked in multiple areas, including merchandise, membership, marketing, social media and PGA Junior League.

During the PLAYERS Championship, I worked in the main fan shop and ran the TPC Sawgrass Instagram. It was quite the experience and one I will never forget. I also worked at the Tim Tebow Charity Golf Classic and marketed the PGA Tour through national campaigns. I am fortunate to work in an environment where I am constantly on the go and meeting notable people from around the world. 

Every day working for TPC Sawgrass feels like Disney World! It’s exciting, fast-paced and challenging all at the same time. I am proud that my Capstone experience led to a full-time role with the PGA Tour at TPC Sawgrass as a Membership Services Specialist. My main responsibilities are to run the social media, create advertisements and campaigns for TPC Sawgrass for regional and national audiences, work with members and coach the PGA Junior League. I can’t believe I am working my dream job right after graduation.

I am thankful that Syracuse University’s Department of Sport Management prepared me for this role and I look forward to interacting with Sport Management students who will be searching for a Capstone in the future. 

Capstone: Virtual Thuzio experience builds network.

By Caroline Dorfman, S.P.M. ’22.

During my Fall 2021 semester, I completed my senior Capstone experience virtually with Thuzio as an events intern. As a premium influencer events and experiences company, Thuzio provides access to the greatest stories in sports, entertainment, culinary, and business with exclusive interviews with the legends who lived them. 

As an events intern, I completed a plethora of tasks to strengthen Thuzio’s events, including virtual and live event production, talent sourcing and contracting, media database management and so much more. A highlight of my Capstone experience was receiving an event scope from a client, and building proposal decks based on their request. These proposal decks contained various venue options, including price, capacity, location, availability, and a description of the experience. I loved being able to see the client’s vision and bringing it to life for them. 

I also was fortunate to learn the production side of Thuzio’s Member Events. I had a goal to attend as many Thuzio events as possible, wanting to contribute to and experience as much of the Thuzio product as I could. These events included Thomas Jones, Kirk Herbstreit Book Event, Chef Eduardo Garcia, Guy Fieri, ByHeart Feed Fest, Leland Melvin, Keren Elazari, and Amanda Freitag. 

I will be forever grateful for my time at Thuzio as it helped me grow personally and professionally, while gaining real-world industry experience to build my network within the sports industry, and showcase my passion for events.

S.P.M. Club raises $45,000 at 17th Charity Auction.

The Sport Management Club at Syracuse University raised $45,000 for the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation as a result of its 17th Annual Charity Sports Auction. 

During the Syracuse men’s basketball game on November 20, 2021, supporters placed bids on various items including sports memorabilia, electronics, jewelry, gift baskets, trips, and tickets to major sporting events. In addition to the in-person event, an online auction was held November 20-27, where online supporters placed bids on hundreds of items. 

The Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation strives to enrich the lives of kids in need within the Central New York community, as well as provide support for eliminating cancer through research and advocacy.

The SPM 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 $613,000 for local charities. Previous beneficiaries of the club’s annual charity auction include Boys & Girls Clubs, Golisano Children’s Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY, the Central New York SPCA, the Upstate Cancer Center, Special Olympics New York, Food Bank of CNY, the Salvation Army, Rescue Mission Alliance, American Diabetes Association, Make A Wish CNY, Meals on Wheels, 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 benefit our community via the Boeheim Foundation is extremely gratifying.”

The Sport Management Club meets at weekly during the academic year. For more information about the annual Charity Auction, visit Twitter @SPMAuction, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SPMAuction and Instagram @spm_auction, as well as www.sucharitysportsauction.com. 

The Sport Management Club meets during the academic year. For more information about the annual Charity Auction, visit Twitter @SPMAuction, Facebook and Instagram @spm_auction as well as their website. 

Pictures with captions in this section include: Charity Sports Auction co-chairs (from left) Luca Giacobbe ’22, Jakob Fox ’22 and Megan Monzo ’22 pose with Otto the Orange at the 2021 Auction.. 

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

By Blake Taub, S.P.M. ’23, S.P.M. Club President.

Another year of Sport Management Club is in the books, and a successful and exciting year it was! Through a hybrid format and with guidance from professors and club co-advisors Michael Veley and Dr. Jeremy Losak, our Executive Board planned engaging guest speaker panels, created interactive activities and continued to use sport as a vehicle to provide support to the Central New York community. 

Our club prides itself on our philanthropic work and serving those in need in the Central New York Community. The 2021 Charity Sports Auction presented new challenges, as it was the first auction that simultaneously included both in-person and online components. Co-chairs Luca Giacobbe, Jakob Fox and Megan Monzo led the way, making the new Club members feel welcome and helping to raise $45,000 for the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation. 

Highlights from the 2021-22 academic year included a Sport for Change NHL panel, a Sport for Change boxing dialogue, a conversation with employees and retired players from the NFL, and a case study with ESPN’s College Football Marketing Division. The Club hosted Jerrell Price, Director of Partnerships at the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, and Matt Teague, Content Coordinator for the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Foundation, via Zoom in November 2021 for “A Conversation on the Social Impact of Sports.” The virtual event focused on the social impact of sports, as well as career opportunities in the non-profit space. 

During the year, we hosted trivia and Jeopardy nights and organized club outings to Syracuse Mets baseball games. These activities are a perfect way for members to meet one another and to bond as a team.

Several members who served on the Executive Board in Fall 2021 were on Capstone or Abroad for the Spring 2022 semester. The Club thanks Megan Monzo, Max Schobel, Alex Guo, Megan Sheehan and Drew Schiffer for their hard work and commitment during their terms. 

I am looking forward to my final semester as President of the SPM Club in Fall 2022. It has been a privilege to lead this Club, and along with Executive Board members Kyla Pearlman, Doug Camp, Philip Tepper, Alessandro Ferrari and Sydney Orszulak, we are excited to continue the momentum and to grow upon the club’s past accomplishments. We are honored to connect with students in our program and beyond, to collaborate in making a positive impact on the Syracuse University community. 

Sport Professionals of Color Club ramps up programming.

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.

Over the course of the 2021-22 academic year, the club held workshops for their members on resumes, cover letters and job searching. They also welcomed several guest speakers, including Nico Ali Walsh, a professional wrestler and the grandson of the late Muhammad Ali; and Lou Alexander, a former Syracuse and professional football player who is now a motivational speaker. Also, in collaboration with the National Association of Black Journalists at Syracuse (NABJ), the Sport Professionals of Color Club welcomed A. Sherrod Blakely and Chris Williamson for Black History Month to speak about the black experience working in sport media. Both men are SU alumni.

In the Fall 2021 semester, the Club co-hosted “A Conversation on Mental Health and Sports” that featured a panel discussion on the impact of mental health on athletes of color. 

Falk College benefactor David Falk virtually joined the Club in Fall 2021 to discuss his career in the sport industry, working with NBA players, and specifically how he guided young Black athletes to make positive decisions to elevate their careers. Club members created a 10-team fantasy basketball league to participate in and debate current NBA news.

The club is always looking for new members to take part in its activities and meetings. Past events include an NFL Draft watch party, co-hosting a panel discussion on women in sports titled “Competing to Win” as well as hosting a Madison Square Garden internship panel. Committees are working to help the club grow its membership and campus presence.

Photos with captions in this section include: Sport Professionals of Color members Rachel Duke, Courtland Dawson, Elena Randolph, Tynan Weathers, Christian Buonadonna and Andres Mendoza (from left) are shown during the Fall 2021 semester after a club meeting in Falk College.

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

Eighteen Syracuse University Department of Sport Management student-athletes were named to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Honor Roll for the 2021-22 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:

Colby Barker, football; Kambel Beacom, ice hockey; Jackson Boeheim, basketball; Megan Carney, lacrosse; Joseph Eovaldi, track and field; Makena Fidler, softball; Joseph Girard III, basketball; Nicholas Hapney, lacrosse; Frank Anselem Ibe, basketball; Evan Johnston, lacrosse; Naje Murray, basketball; Oluwaseun Oyegunle, soccer; Kirstyn Schechter, track and field; Marie Sommer, field hockey; Samantha Swart, lacrosse; Sarah Thompson, ice hockey; Jenna Tivnan, soccer ; Connor Toomey, rowing; Haley Uliasz, rowing; Elizabeth Vogt, rowing.

Falk College Peer Ambassadors.

The following Sport Management and Sport Analytics students served as Falk College Peer Ambassadors in 2021-22: Max Alvir, Alessandro Ferrari Carrubba, Justy Curruthers, Tracey Edson, Alison Gilmore, Colin Hardy, Alyssa Helland, Connor Howard, Preston Klaus, Aidan Levin, Mackenzie Mangos, Alex Mendel, Chris Onorato, Danielle Parr, Zach Paskal, Brianne Quinlan, Eli Samuels, Zach Siegel, Anna Theodosopoulos, Sydney Topper and Seth Warner. 

Falk Ambassadors assist the Admissions Office staff with recruitment activities during the year. Ambassadors provide assistance at Falk College open houses, give tours and provide the student perspective at special events throughout the year.

Support the Department of Sport Management.

We continually strive to offer a variety of opportunities to support our students. From scholarships and financial assistance to immersion programs and experiential field trips, along with inviting distinguished guest speakers to campus and hosting relevant symposiums, Falk College’s sport management/sport analytics education goes beyond the textbooks and the walls of our classrooms. David Salanger, Falk College assistant dean for advancement and external affairs, welcomes the opportunity to talk and/or meet with you to discuss program support and student learning opportunities. Please contact Salanger at 315-443-8989 or dasalang@syr.edu.

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 2021-22 academic year, five students were honored with this award: Aaron Hackett, who interned with Vance Performance in Spring 2022; Connor Howard, who interned with NASCAR in Spring 2022; Andrew Licciardi, who interned with NASCAR in Spring 2022; Chase Vassel, who interned with California State University Athletic Department in Spring 2022; and Cade Williams, who interned with Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation in Spring 2022. Each received $500. 

Jennifer Corn Carter is a graduate of Syracuse University, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work. She was honored with the 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:

Fifteen Sport Management seniors were awarded scholarships from the Sport Management Student Learning Fund during the 2021-22 academic year. Each received $500 to $1000.

In Summer 2022, four students earned the scholarship: Joey Eovaldi, Peri Lamkin, Zhishan Ni and Warren Yermack.

In Spring 2022, six students earned the scholarships: Rachel Duke, Luca Giacobbe, Margaret Monzo, Danielle Parr, Daniel Sterns and Gordon Taubenfeld.

In Fall 2021, five students earned the scholarships: Devan Dachisen, Caitlin Donoghue, Ava Eckhoff, Jack Lovalvo and Lucas Prestamo. 

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. 

Fifteen students were awarded scholarships for their 2022 summer internships: Mitch Bereznay, Harrison Bieber, Yihui Chen, Robert Craig III, Stephanie DeAngelis, Tracey Edson, Nolan Hammond, Jason Horne, Peter Kucharczuk, Jared LaVigueur, Sydney Orszulak, Brenden Slomka, Matthew Tan, Aidan Wahlert and Liana Wong-Wright. 

For more information about the funds, contact Sport Management internship coordinator Kailyn Jennings at kmjennin@syr.edu or 315-443-0594. 

Department of Sport Management Statement of Commitment.

The Department of Sport Management at Syracuse University stands in solidarity with our communities who are voicing their anguish, anger, and deep frustration with acts of violence and hatred, and with systems that oppress and devalue Black lives. We unequivocally condemn these and all acts targeting any group, whether on our campus or in our society. 

Systemic and institutionalized racism such as the callous killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbrey, Elijah McClain and countless others must end. Enough is enough. We reject racism, bigotry and hate. We have watched the division across the country with sadness and pain as we work to process the disrespect, abuse, and murder of Black and Brown people by police. We pledge our sincere commitment and responsibility to help impact positive change through the Black Lives Matter movement. 

Systemic racism exists in our society. We acknowledge that collectively we have much work to do in this regard, in our academic programs. The #NotAgainSU movement has raised public consciousness and exposed shortcomings of our overall campus culture. We invite creative and open-minded people to help us be agents of positive change. 

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion continues with focus on important areas of awareness, training, and education. We are actively engaged with Falk College and Syracuse University in these efforts to ensure that human rights are secure for Black people, persons of color, and other underrepresented populations. This embodies the Falk College mantra of teaching social responsibility and social justice and our department mission of using sports as a platform for social change. 

We will encourage open, honest dialog both inside the classroom and one-on-one, including those related to racism, privilege and allyship. We are committed to working toward the substantive changes that embody social justice, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to working toward creating a campus community where we all feel welcomed and valued.

By intently listening, we believe open dialog and critical thinking will help to re-shape our department, college, and University culture.

We know other marginalized groups also experience racism, discrimination, and exclusion. Please be assured the Department of Sport Management will continue its commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion for all marginalized and underrepresented groups.

We hope to ensure everyone sees themselves represented and included within the Department of Sport Management. This is a journey and we are committed to listening, learning, and implementing the work needed to move forward together. 

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 department events. 

Highlights from the Spring 2022 semester include meeting Michelle Kajiwara, senior vice president of premium seating sales at AEG’s Crypto.com Arena; Suzanne Abair, co-owner and chief executive officer of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream; and Morgan Shaw Parker, president and chief operating officer of the Atlanta Dream. WISE members also met with SU’s WiST (Women in Sport Tech) chapter to discuss WiST’s fellowship program, and held a networking dinner with Syracuse University Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director Sue Edson and the Syracuse Athletics staff. 

During the Fall 2021 semester, the Club welcomed numerous guest speakers, who shared their industry experience and expertise, including Melissa Duhaime (PepsiCo), Tracy DeForge (The Players Impact), and Jillian Barry (Rookie Road). WISE members also held a networking workshop, volunteered at the annual Ms. Orange Fan Luncheon and took a yoga class at SU’s Barnes Center to foster team building. 

Past WISE events include pairing with the University of Pittsburgh’s WISE Chapter to host a webinar titled “The Women Behind Pro and Collegiate Basketball,” and partnering with Syracuse University women’s basketball for a “Professional Women of Syracuse” event on campus 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 future networking trips and events; and welcomes numerous guest speakers to campus or virtually. 

Keep up with SU’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 Spring 2022 were Sydney Topper, president; Paula Ostrowska, vice president; Emma Isaacson, treasurer; Sarah Pivawer, secretary; Allyssa Helland, communications chair; and Sydney Orszulak, fundraising and community outreach chair. These students will continue in these roles in Fall 2022. 

The WISE Club includes women from all majors on campus interested in pursuing careers in sports and events. They meet weekly during the academic year. 

2022 National Collegiate Sport Sales Conference and Competition.

Three Syracuse University Sport Management students were selected to attend the 2022 National Collegiate Sport Sales Conference and Competition in Atlanta in February 2022. Jacob Erman ’22, Warren Yermack ’23 and Ian Benepe ’22 earned their spots through virtual qualifying in Fall 2021. More than 180 students began the qualifying. Sixty-four students qualified to attend the Atlanta event in person. Benepe finished 13th, while Erman’s and Benepe’s combined scores put SU in the Sweet 16. Yermack finished second in the speed-selling round. Benepe received five job offers from the event and accepted a sales job with the New York Mets. Erman was also offered a job, from his Capstone (AtScale) when the company saw he attended the conference. Yermack was able to network and interview for placements for his senior Capstone. The students were accompanied on the trip by Sport Management assistant teaching professor David Meluni. 

Ready for the Majors.

Sport analytics senior leads the way for women in the field and catches dream job with the New York Yankees.

When it came to making the most of her Syracuse University education, Mackenzie Mangos ’22 knocked it out of the ballpark. Mangos, a sport analytics major in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, took full advantage of the program’s opportunities, focused on her goal of working in Major League Baseball and scored her dream job. 

After graduation, she joined the New York Yankees as a quantitative analysis associate in the baseball operations department. What more could a devout Yankees fan ask for—especially one from a Bronx Bombers-loving family with a dog named Jeter? “I figured I’d work for some business or consultant before even getting a job in baseball—let alone in player analytics with the Yankees,” she says. “It worked out great!”

When Mangos reported to Yankee Stadium, she was ready for action. She fulfilled her graduation requirements in three years, completed minors in economics and information management and technology to complement her major, participated in baseball case competitions and prominent internships and published research. She was also named a 2022 Falk College class marshal, a role in which she delivered a speech at the college’s Convocation and led Falk graduates at Commencement. In bringing together her passions for sports and statistics, Mangos carved out a path that can serve as a model for other young women in the male-dominated, multibillion-dollar industry. 

One of three female sport analytics majors when she joined the program, she founded the student organization Sport Analytics Women (SAW) in fall 2020 to bring together female students with shared interests and increase opportunities for research projects and professional development. 

“Mackenzie’s impact on our program and the University will be felt for years after she graduates,” says Jeremy Losak ’16, assistant professor of sport management. “She has been a champion for women in sports and sport analytics.”

As SAW president, Mangos grew the club’s membership from five to about 20 members and says the role was influential in her personal development. “The Sport Analytics Women club helped me grow tremendously in terms of communicating with different audiences and being confident in front of a big group of people,” she says. “It’s been very rewarding to see the club really take off.”

“I knew that the combination of my passion for sports and math would make for a really cool career. When I came across the sport analytics program at Syracuse, there was no doubt that’s what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be.”

Among her accolades, Mangos was selected as a Berlin Scholar, an honor that awards a stipend, research experience with a faculty mentor, and other benefits to outstanding seniors in sport analytics. She served as a teaching assistant for Falk’s Berlin Sport Analytics Academy in Summer 2021, leading activities for high school students interested in sport analytics. She also worked as a research assistant for Losak and valued his mentoring and collaborating with him on projects, including one that examines the impact of college conference TV networks on fan attendance at football and basketball games. The first part of their research, which focused on football, was published in the Journal of Economics and Finance. 

“Mackenzie has been an integral part of my research team, leading data collection efforts and preparing presentation-quality visualizations,” he says. “She is a trailblazer in the sport analytics space and a future professional superstar. Her upcoming role with the New York Yankees is just the beginning.”

Becoming Orange 

Mangos was a three-sport athlete in high school in Williamson, New York, captaining the varsity soccer, basketball and softball teams. Softball was her favorite and, as a catcher, she worked with a pitcher who threw 10 different pitches, a challenging assignment that led her to think about pitching patterns and batters’ history. “I knew that the combination of my passion for sports and math would make for a really cool career,” she says. “When I came across the sport analytics program at Syracuse, there was no doubt that’s what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be.”

Good call. Once on campus, Mangos followed her game plan. She joined the Baseball Statistics and Sabermetrics Club and participated with fellow Syracuse students in Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Diamond Dollars Case Competitions, which challenge college teams to evaluate baseball operations’ issues, dive into data and offer solutions in a week’s time. 

Along with mastering the intricacies of statistical computing, data visualization and managing databases, Mangos benefited from notable internship experiences. She was selected for the NBA’s Future Analytics Stars Program, which featured mentoring, networking and professional development, a group project and a workshop focused on the league’s player and business analytics. She also received a Women in Sports Tech Inc. fellowship that placed her as a business intelligence intern with KORE Software last summer. 

Mangos held a work-study job in the Falk admissions office, and served as a Falk Ambassador providing prospective students with information and as a peer advisor who helps incoming students adjust to college life. 

As graduation approached, Mangos wrapped up her year-long senior thesis project. The topic has taken her back to her catcher days: She crunched data on whether home-plate umpires from one season to the next develop a bias against catchers who’ve previously influenced them with their mastery of pitch framing—positioning their mitts in certain spots to deceptively earn strike calls. 

Then by the end of May, it was on to Yankee Stadium, where Mangos will put her love of the game and analytics skills to work. “It still feels pretty surreal,” she says. 

(Written by Jay Cox, Syracuse University Magazine) 

Pictures with captions in this section include: Mackenzie Mangos ’22 is founder of the Sport Analytics Women club at Syracuse University. She joined the New York Yankees as a quantitative analysis associate after graduation.. 

Club cherishes practical sales experience.

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

In the Spring 2022 semester, the club held a resume workshop with Matthew Kilduff from Paycom and a sales workshop with Abby Higgins of the New York Mets. Also, an in-person Sales Combine was held for students in partnership with the New York Mets and the Syracuse Mets, who each provided the students with sales tips, and gave an outlook on the Mets organization as a whole. Club members also heard from executives of the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch and Learfield Amplify, who talked about their companies and shared their experiences.

Among the guest speakers for 2021-22 were Mark Hayes (Syracuse Crunch), Lamar Phillips (Boston Bruins), Justin Brown (Boston Celtics), Scott Hebert (Minnesota Timberwolves), Jordan Rabinowitz (New York Red Bulls), Brandon Evans (University of Houston), Courtney Perzan (St. Johns University), Laura Dama (Learfield Amplify), Barbara Jones (StayBillety), Jeremy Steinman (Ortho Marketing), SPM alum Ben Norowski (New York RedBulls), Max Weisenbach (AHL), SPM alum Connor Monzo (New York Yankees) and Zach Younker (Milwaukee Bucks).

Highlights from the Fall 2021 semester included welcoming numerous guest speakers, hosting a sales training exercise with New York Mets sales managers and presenting a resume workshop.

The Sales Club meets weekly during the academic year. For more information, contact club advisor David Meluni at dmmeluni@syr.edu. All Syracuse University students are welcome to attend.

Pictures with captions in this section include: Matt Kahan (center) won the Sales Combine in Spring 2022, put on in conjunction with the New York Mets and the Syracuse Mets. He is shown with New York Mets executives Tyler DeFranco (left) and Abby Higgins.

Sport Media and Marketing Club

The Department of Sport Management formed a Sport Media and Marketing Club in Fall 2020 to provide 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.

The Club hosts guest speakers, helps to market Falk College’s student organizations and events via social media, and participates in marketing case study competitions. Club members provide training on MailChimp, Canva and other commonly used programs in the industry. They also offer podcasting and newsletter projects for students interested on the media side of sports.

Club officers for 2021-22 were president Alex Guo, executive vice president Maeva Collatos, vice president of programming Matthew Penn and vice president of administration Faith Porter. Philip Tepper will serve as president for the 2022-23 academic year.

The Sport Media and Marketing Club meets weekly during the academic year in Falk College. Students from all majors are welcome. Follow the Club’s Instagram page at SU.SMMCLUB.

High schoolers test drive analytics at summer academy.

More than 50 high school students enrolled in Syracuse University’s Summer 2022 Berlin Sport Analytics Academy. The program, which returned to in-person in 2022, was offered in two sessions (July 5-15 and July 18-29) and provided students the opportunity to explore data’s role in understanding and prioritizing information to maintain a competitive advantage in the sports industry. 

Students were shown how analytics are used in a variety of sports, discussed major sport economic and analytics concepts such as the Moneyball revolution and four-factor models, and learned skills in various applications that are used in Sport Analytics courses and in the sport industry. 

The groups visited the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Syracuse Crunch, and the Syracuse Mets. 

Sport Analytics professors Dr. Shane Sanders, Dr. Justin Ehrlich, Dr. Jason Maddox and Dr. Jeremy Losak led the sessions, and were assisted by Sport Analytics graduates Seth Warner ’22 and Connor Meissner ’22.

Experiencing Olympic history in Lake Placid.

In February 2022, students in the Department of Sport Management (as part of their SPM 356 Olympic Sport Management class) traveled to Lake Placid, accompanied by SPM assistant professor Dr. Jamie Kim, professor emeritus Patrick Ryan and internship placement coordinator Lisa Liparulo. It was the department’s 11th annual Winter Olympic Odyssey trip to Lake Placid. 

The group visited the United States Olympic Training Center, where Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls were training. They heard from Mary Catherine Spinelli, of the Olympic Research Development Authority (ORDA), and Jon Lundin, of World University Games. 

The group also visited the Olympic Center hockey arena, where the 1980 “miracle on ice” took place, and visited the 1932/1980 Winter Olympic Museum. They toured the Olympic Jumping Complex, where they took an elevator to the top of the 120-meter ski-jumping tower. Also, the students visited the Olympic Sports Complex, home to the bobsled, skeleton and luge tracks, and the biathlon range. 

“The class trip to Lake Placid was one of the coolest experiences I have had at Syracuse University,” said Sport Management major Colby Murphy ’23. “There is so much Olympic history that is only three hours away from us. Being able to visit this historic site and go on my first bobsledding ride was an unreal experience.” 

A highlight of the trip was taking a Bobsled ride at the Olympic Sports Complex, and visiting Mt. Van Hoevenberg. 

“Witnessing the Olympic legacy in person and learning from Olympic experts is truly a valuable experience for the students outside of the classroom,” Kim said.

NIL sure to be a game-changing course.

In Fall 2021, Sports Illustrated wrote: “The first thing to understand about NIL is that nobody fully understands NIL.” 

Syracuse University’s Department of Sport Management is trying to change that by offering a course titled “Name, Image and Likeness.” 

The course was first taught in Fall 2021, and offered again in Spring 2022, taught both semesters by David Meluni, an assistant teaching professor in Falk College. It is believed to be the first undergraduate course of its kind in the country. 

Meluni has more than 20 years of experience in collegiate athletics, first as a baseball player at Ithaca College and then by working in ticketing, marketing, sponsorship and digital roles at the collegiate level at Ithaca, Cornell, Florida State and Syracuse. 

In 2021, a patchwork of states started passing laws mandating that college athletes were allowed to profit off their images. After asking Congress to pass a uniform set of rules (it didn’t), the NCAA threw up its hands and said that starting July 1, 2021, all athletes could benefit financially from their name, image and likeness. 

Falk’s course includes the model of NIL. Students are collaborating with professionals in the industry while learning how to build a brand and ultimately monetize opportunities. The students are involved in proposal writing, infographic design and the development of marketing and social media plans. 

“Our department prides itself on creating courses that connect our students to contemporary issues in the sport industry,” says Michael Veley, Rhonda S. Falk Endowed Professor and Department of Sport Management director and chair. “The NIL legislation will change the business model of Division I college athletics going forward. When you match the teaching skills of Professor Meluni with the expertise and collaborative partnership of (the sponsorship sales company) SponsorUnited, this course will be a game-changer.” 

Students learn how to prospect for a potential partner by using industry leading sales software provided by SponsorUnited. They evaluate the social media and Instagram accounts of collegiate athletes to predict pricing and trends and then use Canva to create graphics for themselves as if they were a student-athlete or consulting for a student-athlete. 

“We are the only university in the country right now with this kind of relationship,” Meluni said. “We have been working with SponsorUnited in different capacities for two years and its software is the industry leading prospecting tool for organizations to vet brands. The software updates daily and allows you to track sponsorship prospects and industry trends.” 

Students learn how LA sports Mecca operates.

Los Angeles is quickly becoming the sports capital of the world. Home to 11 major professional sports teams, having recently hosted the 2020 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Super Bowl LVI, and winning bids to host the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship Game and 2028 Summer Olympics, Los Angeles offers a mecca of opportunities for students eager to learn about the sport industry. 

Eighteen Syracuse University Sport Management students did just that over their March 2022 spring break, spending eight days immersing themselves in LA’s sport industry. 

The intensive trip to Southern California is part of a course (SPM 358) that allows students to interact with industry executives and practitioners from nearly every sector of the industry. The course compares and contrasts business practices, marketing strategies, branding initiatives, social media outreach and the organizational culture of competing sports franchises and entities in the greater Los Angeles market. 

“We met with more than 20 organizations and 70 executives across different aspects of the sport industry over the course of our trip. It was both exhausting and energizing at the same time,” said Sport Management major Allison Rosen ’24. “As someone who dreams of working in soccer, visiting the Los Angeles Football Club and the LA Galaxy were once-in-a-lifetime moments for me.” 

A highlight of this year’s trip was meeting Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton for an informal Q&A session. The students also visited the Hoag Classic Country Club, Los Angeles Dodgers, UCLA Athletics, Los Angeles Football Club, NFL Network, Los Angeles Rams, So-Fi Stadium, Anheuser-Busch, Los Angeles Kings, Anschutz Entertainment Group, LA Sports & Entertainment Commission, Los Angeles Clippers, Auto Club Speedway, Rose Bowl, Dignity Health Sports Park, Westwood One Radio, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles Marathon, Crypto.com Arena and Legends. 

“This course exposes students to the many differences of managing sports entities on the West Coast compared to the East,” said Michael Veley, director and chair of Sport Management and Rhonda S. Falk Endowed Professor who teaches the SPM 358 course. “Los Angeles has become the sports capital of the world and markets to an extremely diverse population of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. More than a dozen students who have taken this course have obtained jobs based on professional networking connections made on the LA Immersion trip.” 

Students also attended a Clippers NBA game and a Kings NHL game. 

The students were accompanied on the trip by Veley and Sport Management internship placement coordinator Lisa Liparulo. 

Portions of the experience are made possible by a gift from Jeff and Andrea Lomasky. 

Students bask in Australia’s sport, history and culture. 

Falk College Endowed Professor of Sport Management Rick Burton took 10 Syracuse University students to Australia from June 1-19 as part of a three-credit course titled SPM 300 – Australia: Sport, History and Culture. It was the eighth time the course was offered. 

This trip was the first time students returned to the country since before the COVID-19 pandemic, and they were excited to be there. 

“For some of us, this was years in the making. COVID-19 hit the world hard in 2020, when the last trip was scheduled but then canceled,” said Sport Analytics major Preston Klaus ’22, who blogged about the trip with his classmates. 

The students stayed in each city approximately five days and, along with classroom work, enjoyed cultural studies with trips to the rainforest and in-depth study of indigenous communities. They visited the Queen Victoria Markets, Australia’s Sporting Hall of Fame, Sydney Harbour and Cape Tribulation, where British explorer James Cook ran aground in 1770. 

Most days were filled with planned activities, meetings and sightseeing. As part of their journey, students met with the chief executive officers of top sports marketing firms, including Twenty3 Sport and Entertainment. 

They also met with SU alum Ruffy Geminder ’82, founder and chairman of Pact Group Holdings, the largest packaging company in Australia. 

Side trips included an in-person tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, attending an Australian Rules Football match, visiting Australia’s famed coasts and the Sydney Opera House, and sampling local delicacies. 

Burton, who previously worked in Australia as the commissioner of the Australian National Basketball League, said the purpose of the trip is to expose American students to a different country’s sport, history and culture. 

Photos with captions in this section include: Students enrolled in SPM 300 – Australia: Sport, History and Culture spent time near the Sydney Harbor Bridge and famed Sydney Opera House in June 2022 as part of a three-week trip Down Under.

Graduate students host charity event.

Graduate students in Falk College’s Sport Venue and Event Management (SVEM) master’s program at Syracuse University held a charity event at SU’s Stadium on April 9, 2022. 

The graduate class hosted more than 100 female youth lacrosse players from local clubs, who took part in activities on the turf before the SU women’s lacrosse team took on the University of North Carolina. 

The Future’s Lax Bash featured a raffle and a silent auction. All proceeds benefitted Tackle ALS, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a progressive neuromuscular disease. This charity was chosen by the graduate students due to their relationship with local businessman Jimmer Szatkowski, who owns two Chick-fil-A restaurants in the Syracuse area, and has served as a dedicated philanthropist and supporter of SU women’s lacrosse. His dedication has not waivered since his 2021 ALS diagnosis. 

“Working with Jimmer was an amazing experience, as his positivity and willingness to support us despite his struggle was inspiring,” said SVEM student Julian Santiago ’22. 

In addition to raising money for charity, the Lax Bash aimed to inspire the youth attendees with stories from SU athletes as well as by offering an opportunity to see a different side of the iconic Stadium. Extraordinary efforts from SU student-athletes Sam Swart, Naje Murray, Colby Barker, Julianna Walker, Alaina Rice, Ava Irvin and others made this a special day for the participants as they learned and played alongside the student-athletes. A tour of the locker room and games were followed by lunch catered by Jimmer’s Chick-fil-A restaurants. As game time approached, attendees decorated signs and wrote letters to their favorite players. 

The Lax Bash raised $5,000 to support Team Jimmer’s fight to Tackle ALS, as well as provided a fun and inspiring opportunity for aspiring young athletes. 

“I am very proud of our graduate students, who worked hard for months planning this event,” said Sport Management associate professor Dr. Gina Pauline, who served as the faculty advisor for the event. “They gained real-world experience, interacted with community members, and assisted a charity, all while completing their studies and dealing with the unexpected. Events like these prepare them for careers in the sport industry.” 

Photos with captions in this section include: Graduate students (from left) Julian Santiago, Tobi Joshuasville, Camryn Delucie, Hannah Gigliotti, Taylor Tsatsis and Naje Murray are shown with associate professor Dr. Gina Pauline (far right), and local businessman Jimmer Szatkowski (front), who has Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

SU Athletics, Falk Sport Management enter multiyear partnership with Legends.

In early 2022, Syracuse University Athletics and Legends announced the launch of a 10-year partnership to integrate data analytics, marketing, ’Cuse Athletics Fund annual giving, premium seating, and general ticket sales initiatives into a single fan-focused approach. The partnership will also ensure that the Orange build upon their legacy of supporting student-athletes in the classroom and on the playing fields. 

“We are committed to delivering a world class fan and student-athlete experience and Legends has proven to deliver world class ticket sales and philanthropic services among their notable partners within professional and collegiate athletics,” said Syracuse Director of Athletics John Wildhack 

A unique aspect of the partnership is the collaboration with Syracuse University’s Falk College. The alliance between the school’s Department of Sport Management and Legends is committed to advocating for the inclusion of students in the sports entertainment industry. Current students will benefit from project-based and experiential learning, mentorship, and visibility into job openings through unprecedented opportunities for Falk Sports Management and Sport Analytics students to intern with Legends and prepare them for full-time positions upon graduation. 

“The Department of Sport Management is extremely excited to be part of this ground-breaking initiative with Legends and Syracuse Athletics,” said Falk College Sport Management founding director and chair Michael Veley. “I have immense respect for what Legends has achieved in the sport industry as an innovative leader and cutting-edge company. Our students will benefit greatly from this partnership and its real-world applications, and in turn will be able to provide valuable support in multiple sectors to enhance Syracuse Athletics’ mission to its stakeholders.” 

A central part of the relationship will be the integration of Legends’ robust technologies. 

“We are incredibly excited to use these innovative platforms,” said Syracuse Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Marketing Officer Andrew T. Goodrich. “They will allow Syracuse Athletics to better understand the needs of Orange fans.” 

Legends, through its U.S. research arm CSL, will also conduct ongoing market research to assist the department with making informed decisions on potential new seating experiences, fan enhancements, and optimal pricing strategies to maximize attendance. 

Student’s mission brings street hockey to Argentina.

In May 2022, when most of her classmates departed Syracuse University for their summer jobs or internships, Sport Management sophomore Sarah Thompson was literally on a mission. 

Thompson, who is a forward on the Syracuse University women’s ice hockey team, traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to teach children from a low-income neighborhood how to play street hockey. Thompson’s “Sticks Together” project is part of a sport development humanitarian program organized by International Volunteer HQ. 

Thompson was joined in Argentina by Tracey Edson ’24, a Sport Management major who chronicled the trip by filming Thompson tutoring the children. The program ran for three weeks. The duo arranged to have nets, hockey sticks, plastic pucks and T-shirts shipped to Argentina in advance of the trip. 

“I think of all the opportunities that I had to play so many different sports, and there’s kids in these underprivileged communities that all they have is a soccer ball and that’s all they get to play,” Thompson said. “I was lucky enough to play everything, and I think that’s what’s special about teaching another sport. I’ve always loved the idea of teaching kids sports and what better way than going to a place where they often don’t get to have those experiences where someone can teach them something new.” 

Edson, who played basketball and golf growing up, also taught the children in Argentina when she wasn’t filming. “Sarah and I both have a passion for sports and a passion for teaching so to be able to share that with those kids and be a role model for them is very special,” Edson said. 

Thompson worked extensively with International Volunteer HQ on the logistics of the after-school program, which involved children from Recoleta, a neighborhood in the northern part of Buenos Aires near the Rio de la Plata (River Plate). Thompson and Edson spent two weeks instructing about 15 children and teachers. 

Thompson and Edson had interpreters provided by International Volunteer HQ to help bridge the language barrier with the Spanish-speaking children. All the equipment they transported to Argentina stayed with the school. 

“We had no idea what we were walking into, and the exciting part is that as much as we planned this project in advance, you’re not going to really know until you’re there,” Thompson said. 

Even so, that hasn’t stopped Thompson and Edson from contemplating a similar trip to South Africa in Summer 2023. 

Photos with captions in this section include: Sport Management majors Sarah Thompson (left) and Tracey Edson spent three weeks in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in May 2022 teaching children from a low-income neighborhood how to play street hockey.

Female students in ‘A New York State of Mind’.

The New York metropolitan area is home to some of the country’s top professional teams and leagues, including two Major League Baseball teams, two NBA teams, one WNBA team, two NFL teams, three NHL teams and two Major League Soccer teams, among other major sporting events and venues like Madison Square Garden.

Over the course of four days in May 2022, 11 female Sport Management majors from Syracuse University’s Falk College immersed themselves in New York’s sport industry and culture. They met with executives from numerous sectors of the industry, including CBS, New York Liberty, New York Knicks, United States Tennis Association, NFL, New York Yankees, Legends, NHL, and Disney/ESPN. The group also attended a WNBA game as well as the launch event of SU’s new Sports Network. The students were accompanied by Sport Management associate professor Dr. Gina Pauline and internship placement coordinators Nicole Cost and Kailyn Jennings.

Students on the trip included Dara Doft, Alyssa Helland, Xinyue Huang, Sydney Kossoy, Peri Lamkin, Sydney Orszulak, Paula Ostrowska, Kyla Pearlman, Allison Rosen, Alexa Schlitt and Sydney Topper.

We asked Topper ’24 to share her experiences and thoughts about the New York City Immersion Trip, and this is what she said:

“If I was asked to describe our New York City immersion trip in one word, I would say phenomenal!

This amazing opportunity would not have been possible without the generous donation from Mr. and Mrs. Jake and Suzanne Doft and their family, who supported this trip. 

We met with 10 organizations and more than 30 industry professionals in four days. It was quite the itinerary! We were honored to meet and network with female executives and Syracuse alumni. As a people person with a lot of energy, I love to network and learn from professionals. I have dreamed of visiting the NFL Headquarters since I was 6 years old, and to make that dream a reality was a memory I will never forget.

Every day was very busy! One particular day began at the famed Madison Square Garden, where we met with Senior Vice President and General Manager Bobby Castronovo. We learned about the technology implemented throughout the venue to make the fan experience as easy and memorable as possible. As a sport technology fan, I was fascinated with the technology and data that The Garden uses to enhance the game-day experience. 

We were thrilled that our trip coincided with the launch of the new SU Sports Network for students, alumni, faculty and everyone Orange! We met with so many SU and Falk alumni at LAVO on May 18. It was so great to be in a room of all Syracuse alumni working in the sport industry. I networked with alumni working for MKTG, The New York Post, Sponsor United, and the NFL, among others. 

As we approached our last day in the city, we went to Syracuse University’s Fisher Center to meet with executives from Disney, ESPN, NBA, and College Game Day. Deidra Maddock, of Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution, facilitated the panel discussions and taught us about the ad pitch cycle and how each team does their part behind the scenes.

As I look back on this New York City immersion experience, I feel honored to have spent that time with other female students who share the same passion as me for the sport industry. We are all thankful to the executives who welcomed our group and took time out of their busy schedules to meet with us. It was an honor to learn from them. 

Sydney Topper ’24 is a Sport Management major and Data Analytics minor who also serves as the president for the Women In Sports and Events (WISE) Club at Syracuse University. She’s a member of Falk College’s Sport Management Club, interns for Syracuse University Athletic Communications, serves as a Falk College peer mentor, a Falk College ambassador and works as a Syracuse University U100 tour guide. Photos with captions in this section include: Over the course of four days in May, 11 female Sport Management majors from Syracuse University’s Falk College immersed themselves in New York’s sport industry and culture. Front row from left: Allie Rosen, Dara Doft, Kyla Pearlman, Sydney Topper, Paula Ostrowska and Peri Lamkin. Back row from left: Sydney Orszulak, Elvis Huang, Alyssa Helland, Sydney Kossoy and Alexa Schlitt.

Analytics.

Students making their pitch as summer interns in Pioneer Baseball League.

Syracuse University’s Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and Newhouse School of Public Communications partnered with the Pioneer Baseball League (PBL) presented by TicketSmarter to provide internships for students with the PBL’s 10 teams and league office in Summer 2022.

The PBL is a partner league of Major League Baseball with teams in Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Utah. It serves as a developmental league with no player having more than three years of prior professional baseball experience.

For their internships, Syracuse students learned first-hand how a professional sports team operates and assisted in developing league-wide initiatives in research and analytics, business planning, media/marketing, and content production.

“All of us at Falk College are thrilled about this partnership with the Pioneer League,” says Rodney Paul, director of the sport analytics program at Falk and a professor in the Department of Sport Management. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to enhance their educational and career goals by gaining first-hand experience with a professional sports league.”

Corey Goldman ’23, who’s majoring in sport analytics and economics, interned with the league office in Windsor, CO., in Summer and Fall 2021. He continued to post content on the league’s website after he returned to campus in August.

One of his primary jobs was creating statistical reports to determine how PBL teams compared to each other and how the league compared to other minor leagues. He also updated the website’s content by writing and posting stories and content that the league created, such as press releases.

While some Falk students were on location in Summer 2022, others worked remotely. The Newhouse students worked remotely on content creation for the PBL’s weekly Roundup Show, website, social media and other platforms.

“This is an incredibly exciting program for the Pioneer League to access and promote the next generation of sports industry executives through hands-on programs immediately impacting the operations and future growth of the league,” PBL President Mike Shapiro says. “We see this partnership as an opportunity for the students to impact and integrate the exciting and challenging issues a professional sports league encounters on a daily basis.” 

Senior thesis culminates academic careers.

As part of their degree requirements, Syracuse University Sport Analytics students complete a senior thesis to apply their skills, undertake a research project, and have a completed project to display to potential employers. 

The thesis encompasses a two-semester research project into the sport (or sports) of the student’s choice. Topics focus on athletes, teams, businesses or a combination as it relates to the sports industry. The thesis centers on an original idea of which the students conduct background research, gather data, create models, run statistical relationships, visualize the relationships, and explain the results across a variety of formats. 

Students work one-on-one with a professor in the program to perform analytical research and analysis. 

“The senior thesis gives the students the opportunity to show off all they have learned in the program,” said Dr. Rodney Paul, sport analytics program director. “Their research will serve as a calling card of their skills and capabilities to the industry.”

Here are the Syracuse University Class of 2022 Sport Analytics graduates and their thesis research topics: 

Matthew Adams: The Impact of Sport Tournament Design

Benjamin Allen: Strokes Gained Analysis of Professional Golfers

Samual Ayers: Season Ticket Retention in SU Athletics

Evan Baum: NHL Overtime Strategy: How Players have Responded to the Change to 3v3

Joe Chen: Identifying Factors Impacting NBA Player Movement

Joshua Danzig: Can Vegas Lines Give Us a Competitive Edge in Fantasy Football?

Brian Drew: Modeling and Predicting College Basketball Conference Tournaments

Dante Giugliano: Load Management of Players in the NHL

Colin Hardy: What Variables do NBA Teams Look to Draft in the Stephen Curry Era?

Justin Harrington: Is Play Calling in the NFL Bigger than Offense

Gabriel Herz: Lineup Optimization in Major League Baseball

Liam Hogan: Analyzing Play Styles of English Soccer Teams

Kevin Ivers: Investigating the Contract Year Phenomenon

Andrew Kelly: What is the True Value of NFL Draft Picks

Preston Klaus: Financial Optimization of the NBA Salary Cap

Jared Lavigueur: The Effects of Scheduling on Teams and Players in the NBA

Mackenzie Mangos: The Effectiveness of Catcher Framing in MLB from Year-to-Year

Brendan McKeown: Creating Advantages with the Strategic Sitting of Players: Insight for Optimal Times to Rest NBA Players

Connor Meissner: Assessing Public NCAA Football Projection Systems

Drake Mills: The Effects of Leverage on Major League Baseball Umpires’ Decision Making

Jacob Murrer: Superstar externalities in the NBA: The Golden State Warriors

Daniel Nagle: Racing Your Rival: Cluster Analysis of Formula 1 Drivers

Michael O’Connor: Evaluating Quarterback Decision-Making in the National Football League

Benjamin Phillips: The Impact of the Shift in Major League Baseball

Hughston Preston: Migration and Social Factors That Determine Baseball Participation In America

Dominic Samangy: NCAA Basketball Transfer Portal Predictor: Conference and Experience Adjusted Box Plus/Minus

Chase Seibold: The Impact of Pitcher Familiarity in Hitter PA’s

Cooper Shawver: Valuing MLB Players Using Cluster Analysis

Ryan Song: Clustering NHL Goaltenders based on Skillsets

Quinn Spangler: Estimating Marginal Revenue Product of North American Junior Hockey Players

Christopher Thomas: NBA Draft Trends: What Factors do Front Offices Value and Which Players Get Drafted Early

Andrew Todd: NFL Quarterback’s Performance in Relation to Rest

Ward Walton: What Makes a Successful College Lacrosse Team?

Seth Warner: Optimizing MLB Rosters: How General Managers Can Detect Market Inefficiencies

Eli Wood: The Strokes-Gained Guide to Success in PGA Tour Events

David Zukowski: The Effect of Launch Angle and Exit Velocity

Sport Analytics students put 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, XFL, 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 SABR Diamond Dollars, MIT Sloan Sports Analytics, ACC 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, 24 in 2021 and 37 in 2022.

Here are sport analytics program highlights from 2021-2022:

Sixteen Sport Analytics seniors were named Berlin Scholars for the class of 2022: Samual (Ben) Ayers, Evan Baum, Kevin Ivers, Preston Klaus, Jared Lavigueur, Mackenzie Mangos, Connor Meissner, Daniel Nagle, Michael O’Connor, Dominic Samangy, Chase Seibold, Cooper Shawver, Quinn Spangler, Christopher Thomas, Ward Walton and Seth Warner.

Women in Sports Tech, Inc. (WIST) awarded Alison Gilmore (Sport Analytics major) and Sarah Thompson (Sport Management major) fellowships for Summer 2022. Each received a $5,000 grant to pursue summer projects in their chosen area of sports technology. Gilmore interned with Zoomph and Thompson interned with GameChanger.

Senior Connor Meissner took part in the “Orange Talks” portion of SU’s SOURCE Spring Symposium. The event showcased undergraduate presentations of in-depth research, and facilitated engaging conversations. The title of Meissner’s research is “Overview of NEPSIHA’s JSPR Ranking System: Identifying Biases and an Alternate Ranking Method.” Meissner also presented his ranking system proposal to more than 60 coaches at the NEPSIHA Spring Hockey meetings.

Senior Mackenzie Mangos attended the 2021 Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Women in Baseball (virtual) Conference as a recipient of the Yoseloff Scholarship. Alison Gilmore attended the Summer 2022 Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Women in Baseball Conference in Baltimore as a Yoseloff Scholarship recipient.

Senior Quinn Spangler’s research paper titled “The Current State of Salary Discrimination in the National Hockey League” placed third in the 2021 New York State Economics Association Annual Conference Undergraduate Student Paper Contest.

Sport Analytics assistant professor Dr. Justin Ehrlich and Sport Analytics senior Dominic Samangy traveled to Reading (London) UK, to attend and present their research at the 8th Western Conference on Football and Finance.

Two teams of Sport Analytics students won their respective tracks at the Milwaukee Bucks’ inaugural hackathon in Spring 2022. Dominic Samangy, Chris Thomas, Brian Drew and Samual (Ben) Ayers competed in the basketball track of the competition. Seth Quinn, Jared LaVigueur, Jackson Hett and RJ Frahm competed in the business analytics track. The event provided teams with an analytical prompt and an accompanying dataset to be further analyzed. After completing their research efforts, they presented their work to the Bucks’ staff. The groups competed against teams from Amherst, Chicago, Fordham, Harvard, Marquette, Michigan, Wake Forest, Wheaton, and Wisconsin-Milwaukee, among others. “It was a great experience for us to dig into data used by NBA organizations and to present our findings as if we were on the Bucks staff,” LaVigueur said. “We enjoyed putting to use the analytical methods and techniques that we learned in our SU classes, such as R and Tableau, and applying them to a very specific situation.”

Senior Daniel Nagle was selected to represent Syracuse University at the ACC Meeting of the Minds conference hosted by the University of Virginia in April 2022. He gave an oral presentation on his research titled “Optimization of Formula 1 Driver Pairs.”

Quinn Robnett, Chase Seibold and Quinn Spangler competed in the NHL Hack-A-Thon at the MIT/Sloan Sport Analytics Conference in Boston in March 2022.

Eighteen Sport Analytics students attended the 2022 MIT/Sloan Sport Analytics Conference in Boston. Fifteen Sport Analytics students competed in the virtual National Sabermetrics and Baseball Statistics Competition March 18.

Preston Klaus, Jackson Hett, Robert Frahm, Jared Lavigueur, Ari Glazier, Adam Goodman, Garrett Naylor and Seth Quinn participated in UMass Amherst’s Mock Trade Deadline Basketball Case Competition on Feb. 19, 2022.

The Sport Analytics Learning Community for first-year students kept busy in 2021-22, meeting their fellow classmates as well as learning how to code, organizing various sports tournaments, participating in workshops focusing on Tableau and RStudio, meeting with faculty advisors, taking part in 3-on-3 basketball tournaments and bonding over flag football. They also attended a Syracuse Mets game.

Sport Analytics students worked with Statsbomb’s in-game event data for soccer, and with Wyscout and Genius Sports as well.

Falk’s Certificate of Advanced (CAS) Study in Sport Analytics began in Spring 2022 with courses being offered online.

The Second Annual Syracuse University Football Analytics Blitz Powered by PFF was held in Spring 2022. More than 10 teams from colleges and universities across the country participated in the event that featured judges from Pro Football Focus. The teams received their prompt the week before the competition and were given one week to solve the prompt and put together a presentation on their findings.

Class of 2021 Sport Analytics graduate Nick Ricciardi taught Sport Economics (SPM 365) for the department in Fall 2021 and Spring 2022.

Sport Analytics graduates CB Garrett ’19 and James Hyman ’21 worked as graduate assistants for the program in 2021-22. The two spent the 2021-22 academic year enrolled in SU’s School of Information Studies’ Applied Data Science master’s program.

Here’s a sampling of where Syracuse University Sport Analytics students interned in Summer 2022: Pioneer Baseball League, NBA, MLB, NHL, SBRnet, SponsorUnited, BSE Global, Zoomph, Cleveland Cavaliers, DC United, Chicago Blackhawks, Orlando City SC, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Rays, Washington Nationals, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sony/MLB The Show, Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League, Verse Gaming, Luker on Trends/SRSS, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, DKC Analytics, Great Falls Voyagers, Northern Colorado Owlz, The Basketball Tournament (TBT), among others.

As of May 2022, 48 students at Syracuse University are minoring in sport analytics.

Falk College will welcome 67 sport analytics freshmen to campus in Fall 2022.

Photos with captions in this section include: Sport Analytics graduates from the Class of 2022. Celebrating during Syracuse University’s Commencement Weekend are Sport Analytics seniors Kevin Ivers, Preston Klaus, Seth Warner, Mackenzie Mangos and Michael O’Connor (from left), along with Sport Analytics Director Dr. Rodney Paul (center). Sport Analytics seniors who served as Berlin Scholars for the Class of 2022 include (front from left) Connor Meissner, Dominic Samangy, Jared Lavigueur, Mackenzie Mangos, Kevin Ivers, Daniel Nagle, Michael O’Connor, (back from left) Quinn Spangler, Seth Warner, Preston Klaus, Ben Ayers, Cooper Shawver, Christopher Thomas, Ward Walton and Chase Seibold. Not pictured above is Evan Baum. Members of the Sport Analytics Learning Community took part in various activities during the 2021-22 academic year, including a flag football game in Fall 2021.

Analytics Clubs abound for all interests.

In the classroom, Falk College Sport Analytics students take a deep dive into analyzing data in sport, while incorporating studies in arts and sciences with professional electives and liberal arts requirements. Outside of the classroom, students are encouraged to join organizations that fit their interests, educational goals and career aspirations. All student organizations meet weekly during the academic year. Visit the sport organizations page or more information.

Baseball Sabermetrics and Statistics Club:

Sabermetrics is the study of advanced baseball statistics. This club conducts in-depth discussions about everything related to baseball, with members taking part in a fantasy baseball league and guest speakers brought in on a variety of topics throughout the year.

In Spring 2022, for the eighth straight year, Club members participated in the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) Analytics’ Spring Diamond Dollars Case Competition. Due to COVID-19, the students did not travel in March 2022 to Phoenix, Arizona, but instead presented virtually from SU’s campus. Undergraduate teams were separated into virtual competition rooms, where they presented to judges via Zoom.

“We are very proud of the way our students compete at these events,” Paul said. “It’s a terrific way for them to showcase their research in front of industry professionals as well as gain experience outside the classroom.”

With the help of gifts from Falk College donors Jeff and Andrea Lomasky as well as Andrew Berlin, Syracuse University sport analytics students are able to compete at numerous prestigious events and competitions throughout the year.

Over the course of the 2021-22 academic year, Sabermetrics Club members analyzed the Major League Baseball offseason and compared it to their mock offseason analyzation conducted last semester. They also worked on various group projects on a variety of topics, including optimal lineup, which stats correlate to winning, re-ranking ESPN’s top 100 players of all time and analyzing the beginning of the 2022 MLB season.

Club officers for 2021-22 were Seth Warner, Shane Halpin, Hughston Preston, Bri Quinlan, Mackenzie Mangos, Quinn Spangler, Daniel Beim and Alex Oppel.

Basketball Analytics Club:

The Syracuse University Basketball Analytics Club concluded its sixth year in 2021-2022 with more than 40 members who strive to uncover fascinating statistical trends in basketball through research as well as maintaining a fun environment to discuss and debate all things basketball.

The organization was assembled to conduct analysis on NBA, NCAA, and high school basketball and has expedited the process of recording large sums of data at an efficient pace. Club members are working on research on a variety of topics focusing on professional and college basketball organizations, teams, players and business strategies.

Fall 2021 semester highlights include hosting guest speakers, including Syracuse University alumni, as well as Calvin Floyd, a senior data scientist for the Sacramento Kings. Club leaders also designed and ran a mock case competition, hosted a watch party for primetime NCAA games, created an RStudio tutorial, and taught its members how to use TeamworkOnline.

In Spring 2022, members took part in case competitions, attended a Brooklyn Nets game, hosted guest speakers and worked on basketball research projects. Nick Fleder (Data Science Manager, New York Knicks) and Kevin Belbey (Agent, CAA) are among the sport industry executives who assisted the club with these ventures.

Officers for the 2021-2022 academic year were Preston Klaus, Jared LaVigueur, Jackson Hett, Ian Archer, Kevin Ivers and Mark Nash.

Football Analytics Club:

The Football Analytics Club was established during the 2017-18 academic year and became an officially recognized Syracuse University student organization in Fall 2019. The club started with four members, grew to 40 the next year, and now features more than 100 members. The club meets weekly discussing all things related to football, conducting research, competing in trivia contests, and welcoming guest speakers, among other activities.

During the 2021-22 academic year, club members used modeling techniques from class to compare the NFL’s Most Valuable Players across several seasons to determine the overall MVP over the last decade. Students also analyzed data from Pro Football Focus and assisted with projects. The club held a mock offseason after the Super Bowl. Students were given full control over the NFL team of their choosing as the club president acted as Commissioner of the league. Students could make agreed-upon trades, sign or release players, and even restructure contracts. The exercise gave students a glimpse of how difficult it is to stay under the salary cap while simulating an offseason. The simulation ended with a three-round mock draft just before the official NFL Draft.

Also, club members formed teams for the NFL’s Big Data Bowl, working in groups to answer the prompt, while gaining valuable experience competing in the intense football analytics competition.

The Football Analytics Club routinely welcomes sport industry guest speakers, who give students insight into the use of analytics in both professional and college football.

Club officers for 2021-21 were Michael O’Connor, Mitch Bereznay, Kevin Ivers, Warren Yermack and Preston Klaus.

Hockey Analytics Club:

The Hockey Analytics Club is a student-run organization that meets weekly during the academic year to discuss trends and events in the world of hockey. The Club also conducts analytical research and has worked with the Syracuse University women’s ice hockey team, the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, and the Tennity Adult League.

In Spring 2022, the club started a research project seeking to find trends in team payroll composition that lead to playoff success in the NHL. In Fall 2021, club members discussed and analyzed the 2021-22 NHL season. In addition, the club annually hosts guest speakers, the most notable being NHL agent Allan Walsh. The club uses analytics in its research, discussions, and projects and features students from numerous majors on campus.

Club officers for 2021-22 were Josh Freson, Aidan Pavlick, David Gold and Carter Lewis.

Soccer Analytics Club:

The Soccer Analytics Club, which was founded in 2018, conducts analysis and research on the various soccer leagues around the world. Club members strive to improve the scope of analytics in the world of soccer, putting it on par with professional basketball and baseball. Students are busy with research projects, meeting with executives and analytics professionals from the soccer industry, attending conferences to present their research, and participating in competitions. Find examples of their work on Twitter @CuseAnalytics.

Over the past two academic years, the club mainly focused on its research element, creating a model to predict outcomes of soccer games in the top five European leagues and measured the success of the model against betting market odds. The club also continued its project of creating Real Plus Minus statistics for English Premier League players. 

Meetings feature guest speakers and industry executives. Students also used various statistical methods, including logistic regression, to understand which factors aid the LeMoyne College men’s soccer team in scoring more goals and allowing less goals.

The club provides a platform for students with a passion for soccer to discuss the sport and work together, conducting research using a variety of statistical methods and analytical tools. The club meets weekly during the academic year, and meetings are open to all Syracuse University students.

Kevin Ivers served as club president in 2021-22.

Sport Analytics Women (SAW) Club:

Formed in Fall 2020, the Sport Analytics Women (SAW) Club strives to create a group of like-minded women to build relationships, assemble a support system and study sport analytics during their time at Syracuse University and into their post-graduate careers. The club’s mission is to collaborate and serve as a positive advocate for women in sport analytics by connecting with each other as well as with professionals in the industry.

The goal of creating relevant opportunities for club members is achieved through tutorials on programs such as R, SQL, Python and Tableau, group research projects and hosting guest speakers. In Fall 2020, club members learned more about interactive pitch charts in tableau. They brainstormed ideas for research projects and decided to project how female college basketball players will fare in the WNBA.

In the 2021-2022 academic year, the club welcomed several guest speakers to campus as well as virtually, including Nola Agha, University of San Francisco quantitative analytics professor; Emily Curtis, Seattle Mariners coordinator of baseball projects; Carly Shaefer, HookIt implementation support specialist; Jordan Wetherbee, Miami Dolphins Director of Business Analytics; Kelsey Roberts, New York Knicks Basketball Data Analyst; and Gabby Wells, Senior Manager of Business Strategy and Analytics for DC United. They also toured the Syracuse Crunch’s facilities at the Onondaga County War Memorial and the Syracuse Mets stadium.

In Spring 2022, SAW members began a project with HookIt, which focuses on social media analytics, examining college athletes from different sports and their social media performances, to determine if they would be a good partner for brands in conjunction with new Name, Image and Likeness legislation.

Club officers for 2021-22 were Mackenzie Mangos, Kylie Dedrick, Jenna Elique, Marissa Schneider and Alison Gilmore.

Sportsbook Analytics Club:

The Falk College Sportsbook Analytics Club was founded in 2019 in response to one of the fastest growing industries in the nation. The club and its members continue to explore, learn, and discuss the ever-changing landscape of sport prediction markets, such as legalized sports betting and daily fantasy sports.

The club has annually expanded both in membership and in programming. In addition to discussion about the industry’s news and latest trends, the club has introduced workshops, competitions, and a collaboration with a start-up platform called Playd, a platform in which users trade stock in players using “Playd Cash” to try to build a portfolio.

During the Spring 2022 semester, club members took part in a unique “Football Squares” competition involving Super Bowl LV. The club completed its first official research project in Spring 2022 by submitting a poster to the Falk Research Poster Competition titled, “Does Win Percentage Correlate to Point Production in the NFL?”

The club hosted Adam Israel (SPM ’19), Sportsbook Operations Coordinator at BetMGM, who gave valuable insight to members as to how BetMGM resolves client issues on their mobile app. The club also hosted Jak Jones, Director of Online and Sportsbook Analytics at Caesars Entertainment, who shared how to improve coding skills and how to better predict win probabilities in sport.

Hunter Kuchenbaur served as club president in 2021-22.

Photos with captions in this section included: Members of the Basketball Analytics Club attended a Brooklyn Nets game in Spring 2022. Adam Goodman, Ari Glazier, Seth Quinn, Jared LaVigueur, Jackson Hett, Preston Klaus, Robert Frahm and Garrett Naylor (from left) participated in UMass Amherst’s Mock Trade Deadline Basketball Case Competition on Feb. 19, 2022. The Hockey Analytics Club meets weekly during the academic year and welcomes students from all majors on campus. The Sport Analytics Women (SAW) Club met with executives from the Syracuse Crunch before attending a game.

Faculty and Staff.

The 2021-22 academic year was productive and busy for the Department of Sport Management’s faculty and staff. Faculty members presented their research on campus, domestically, and internationally both in person and virtually. Our faculty and staff continue to bring new and important perspectives impacting today’s most critical issues in sport. Listed below is a small sampling of select accomplishments. We invite you to visit the Falk College and Department of Sport Management website to stay current with all department news.

Rick Burton, David B. Falk endowed professor:

Burton concluded his eighth year serving as SU’s Faculty Athletic Representative to the NCAA and ACC. The former commissioner of the Australian National Basketball League is concurrently working on a number of new books and movie projects, and is a regular contributor of co-authored columns to Sports Business Journal. Burton teaches courses on managing the sport organization, esport management, and the history of baseball.

Dennis Deninger, Professor of practice:

The former ESPN production executive and three-time Emmy Award winner teaches Sport Communications, the Super Bowl and Society, and Sports, Media and Society courses. Deninger was the founding director of the Sports Communications graduate program at SU’s Newhouse School. His new book, “Live Sports Media: The How and Why of Sports Broadcasting,” was published in Spring 2022.

Dr. Justin Ehrlich, Assistant professor:

Dr. Ehrlich finished his third year at Syracuse University teaching sport analytics classes as well as mentoring students on research projects. He presented his research at the Midwest Analytics Conference, as well as had his research published in leading sport industry journals. Ehrlich is in his third year of a four-year grant titled “Virtual Reality Opportunities to Integrate Social Skills.”

Dr. Mary Graham, Professor:

Dr. Graham published a paper in the Seneca Falls Dialogues Journal with SPM student co-authors Melanie Kelly and Colby Murphy titled “#THEMTOO: Two NFL Team Options for Not Exploiting Women Cheerleaders.” Dr. Graham serves on the Steering Committee of the Syracuse University Senate. She was elected to the board of the Research Methods Division of the Academy of Management. Dr. Graham continues her research on decision making among sport team executives and strategic human resource management in supply chains.

Dr. Jeeyoon Kim, Assistant professor:

Dr. Kim was promoted to associate professor and granted tenure at the conclusion of the 2021-22 academic year. She has been awarded SU Seed Grants and ’Cuse Grants for her research. She presented her research at the 2021 Sport Marketing Association conference in Las Vegas. She has taken the lead on the department’s annual Lake Placid Olympic trip and the Olympic Odyssey trip to Europe.

Dr. Jeremy Losak, Assistant professor:

Dr. Losak finished his third year at Syracuse University teaching sport analytics classes as well as co-advising the Sport Management Club and Baseball Statistics and Sabermetrics Club. His research was published by the North American Association of Sport Economists. Losak is a 2016 Syracuse University Sport Management graduate, who completed his PhD in economics at Clemson.

Dr. Jason Maddox, Assistant professor:

Dr. Maddox joined the Sport Analytics faculty in January 2022. He defended his Ph.D at Baylor University in Summer 2022. Prior to joining Syracuse, Maddox spent the previous nine years at Baylor, earning both his B.S. and M.S. in Statistics. While a graduate student at Baylor, he taught introductory statistics courses and a business analytics course. Maddox also served as a manager/graduate assistant with the Baylor Men’s Basketball team from 2015-2021.

Kevin McNeill, Assistant teaching professor:

McNeill joined the department as an internship placement coordinator in 2019 after spending 12 years at Le Moyne College as associate athletics director for marketing. McNeill transitioned into the role of assistant teaching professor in Falk College in Fall 2021 to teach the department’s Sport Technology courses.

David Meluni, Assistant teaching professor:

Meluni was named Falk College Faculty of the Year for 2021-22. He spent four years as an adjunct professor in Sport Management before joining the faculty full time in 2018. Meluni, who has 20 years of experience in the sport industry, teaches sales, marketing, NIL, sponsorship and promotion courses at SU. He also serves as the faculty advisor for the Sports Sales Club.

Dr. Rodney Paul, Professor, Analytics program director:

Dr. Paul presented his research at the 2022 Association of Private Enterprise Education Conference, among others. He is a world-renowned sports economist who has been quoted by media outlets around the world. He also serves as co-advisor of SU’s Baseball Statistics and Sabermetrics Club, teaches Sport Analytics courses at SU and oversees Sport Analytics senior thesis projects.

Dr. Gina Pauline, Associate professor, undergraduate program director:

Dr. Pauline, who has taught at SU since 2006, works on curriculum, course development, academic affairs, assessment planning, and is involved with SU Project Advance in the offering of sport management classes to high school students. Dr. Pauline is an advocate for women in sport and has pioneered several initiatives. She also teaches in Falk College’s Sport Venue and Event Management graduate program.

Dr. Jeff Pauline, Associate professor:

Dr. Pauline will attend the 2022 Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) national conference. He serves on the AASP Continuing Education Committee and is also a member of AASP and the SU Appeals Board. He oversees minors in the department as well as ’Cuse Crew, and the SPM 270/470 experiential credit program. He served as director of the Sport Venue and Event Management graduate program for the past seven years.

Dr. Shane Sanders, Professor:

Dr. Sanders published sports economics and other empirical papers in leading journals such as Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Journal of Behavioral & Experimental Finance and Mathematics and Sports. Sanders was on sabbatical leave in Spring 2022, where he focused on research regarding labor and health issues in sport. He has served as an analytics consultant for a Euroleague basketball team for the past five years.

Michael Veley, Director and chair, Rhonda S. Falk endowed professor:

Veley, who has worked at Syracuse University since 1995, is the founding director of the Sport Management program at SU. He serves as vice president of the Syracuse Sports Corporation, is an advisory board member for Sportevo, is the public address announcer for SU football and basketball games, and the advisor of the Sport Management Club. Veley spent nearly two decades working as a Division I athletic administrator.

Dr. Patrick Walsh, Associate professor, graduate program director:

Dr. Walsh began leading the Sport Venue and Event Management graduate program in Summer 2022. He presented his research at the 2021 Sport Marketing Association conference in Las Vegas and had research articles published in Sport Marketing Quarterly and the International Journal of Sport Management.

Dr. John Wolohan, Professor:

Dr. Wolohan published a chapter in The Handbook on International Sports Law and wrote a monthly Sports Law Report in Athletic Business. Wolohan, who also teaches in SU’s College of Law, was invited to teach at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, Sheffield Hallam University in the UK and Bond University in Australia. He also attended the 2022 Sport and Recreation Law Association Conference.

Sport Management staff updates:

Margie Chetney finished her ninth year in Sport Management as an administrative assistant. She works closely with students and faculty, manages department events, serves as editor of the SPM Newsletter and websites, and handles social media and news for the department.

Kailyn Jennings joined the Department of Sport Management in Summer 2021. She works with seniors on Capstone guidance, and undergraduates on internships and advising. Prior to Syracuse University, Jennings worked at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville), Chapman University and Villanova University. She teaches SPM 201 and SPM 455.

Beth Parez started as an Internship Placement Coordinator in August 2022. She previously worked as an Academic Counselor in Student Support Services within the School of Education at Syracuse University. Prior to that, she worked as an Academic Advisor at Cornell University. Beth has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from SUNY New Paltz and a master’s degree in Higher Education from Syracuse University. Beth will work with seniors on Capstone guidance, and undergraduates on internships and advising.

Francesco Riverso finished his seventh year in the department, and third full year as the program manager for Sport Analytics. He advises more than 200 Sport Analytics majors, connecting them to industry internships and jobs, as well as working to develop partnerships to benefit the program. He assists Sport Analytics students with conference attendance as well as teaches SPM 201.

Kathryn Tunkel, who celebrated her 29th year at Syracuse University in 2022, is the administrative assistant to SPM director Michael Veley. She works closely with students and faculty, handles all course scheduling, classroom assignments, Intra-University Transfer and minor applications, and student enrollment. Tunkel will retire in December 2022.

Advisory Councils.

Sport Management Advisory Council.

The Sport Management Advisory Council is comprised of a “Who’s Who in Sports.” This esteemed group of sport industry professionals and practitioners provides an inner circle of advisors and supporters for the Department of Sport Management. The council provides input and guidance for short- and long-term goals, student internships, employment opportunities, curriculum development and classroom instruction. It champions the program to prospective supporters, students, business colleagues and the community. 

Mission: To be the preeminent student-centered experiential learning, scholarship and teaching institution, by forming a unique partnership among students, faculty, high-profile industry leaders and staff, all collaborating to maximize academic, professional and personal growth. 

Chair Members:

Brandon Steiner, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, The Steiner Agency/ Collectible Exchange.
David Falk, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, F.A.M.E.

Board Members:

Ronald Bernard, President, LWB Consulting.

Russ Brandon, President, XFL.

Nick Carparelli, Executive Director, Bowl Season.

Howard Deneroff, Executive Vice President, Executive Producer, Westwood One Sports.

Kelly Downing, Marketing Consultant.

Michael Duda, Co-Founder/Managing Partner, Bullish Inc.

Patti Kleinman-Fallick, Managing Director of Broadcast Operations, United States Tennis Association.

Shawn Garrity, Chief Executive Officer, Circle T.P.R.

Mark Geddis, President, Chief Executive Officer, Geddis Holdings, Inc.

Pamela Hollander, Vice President of Marketing Strategy and Client Success, T.S.M.G.I.

Cliff Kaplan, Chairman, Equity Sports Partners.

David Kleinhandler, Chairman, Blackridge Capital.

Rob Konrad, Chairman, Alterna Financial.

Christopher Lencheski, Chairman, Phoenicia Sport and Entertainment.

David Levy, Chairman, Alterna Financial.

Deidra Maddock, Vice President of Marketing, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution.

Sandy Montag, President, Chief Executive Officer, The Montag Group.

Laurie Orlando, Senior Vice President, C.B.S. News.

Michael J. Patent, Managing Director, Culture Group.

Kevin Rochlitz, Senior Vice President, Chief Sales Officer, Baltimore Ravens.

Jeffrey Rubin, Founder, C.E.O., SideArm Sports.

Mike Tirico, Play-By-Play Announcer, Anchor, N.B.C. Sports.

John Wildhack, Director of Athletics, Syracuse University.

Roland Williams, Founder and Chairman, Champion Academy. 

Emeriti Members:

Ben C. Sutton Jr., Founder and Chairman, Teall Investments.

Kathrine Switzer, President of Marathon Woman & AtAlanta Sports Promotions, Inc.

Michael Wohl, President, Coral Rock Development Group.

Find out more information on members of the Sport Management Advisory Council.

Emerging Leaders Council.

The Syracuse University Emerging Leaders Council (ELC) exists as a core group of the Sport Management Department’s most committed and influential young alumni who are focused on providing guidance in various ways to current Sport Management, Sport Analytics, and Sport Venue and Event Management students. This guidance includes staying in tune with the trends of the sport industry; assisting with Capstone, practicum and internship placements; and being strong advocates for the academic program in their community.

If you’re an alum of the Department of Sport Management and interested in joining the Emerging Leaders Council, please email Alyssa Wood at Alyssa.Wood@mktg.com.

Members:

Daniel Anyaegbunam, Vice President of Legal & Business Affairs, Signature Punch Promotions.

Harrison Avigdor, Integrated Partnerships, National Basketball Association.

Danielle Berman, Founder and CEO, Tackle What’s Next.

Elijah Biggins, Senior Integrated Marketing Strategist, MediaLab.

Nicole Cost, Proposal Writer, Carrot Fertility.

P.J. Davidson, Vice President of Sales, Queensboro F.C. 

Jim Geant, Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, New York Road Runners.

Jenna Harmer, Volunteer Director, Par 5 Group.

Charma Harris, Volunteer Director, Par 5 Group.

Harrison Laifer, Associate Manager, Global Partnerships, National Basketball Association.

Jeremy Losak, PhD, Assistant Professor, Sport Analytics, Syracuse University.

Hugo Marsans, Client Services Manager, DAZN.

Ian McFate, Director of Growth, Sports and Entertainment, Aramark.

Ari Moskowitz, Business Development Manager, WSC Sports.

 Jeff Petrino, Senior Director of Consulting, The Montag Group.

 Jeremy Philipson, Senior Software Engineer, FanDuel.

Kevin Reese, Account Manager, Subnation.

Lori Robinson, Ph.D., Player Engagement Manager, Baltimore Ravens

Kate Ruben, Manager of Sports Partnerships, CLEAR.

Benjamin R. Rubenstein, Business Development and Expansion Lead, Snackpass.

Carlos Ruiz II, Manager of Digital Production, Major League Baseball.

Hanna Sanford, Community Engagement Manager, Seattle Seahawks.

Steven Shur, Esq, Attorney, K&L Gates.

Jake Silverman, Deputy Athletic Director for Administration, Brown University.

Jonathan Stahler, Managing Attorney, President and Founder, Stahler Sports & Entertainment Law.

Bradley Trust,  Assistant Film Coordinator, Hofstra University Athletics Department.

Tiffer Valente, Chief Operating Officer, Beat the Bomb.

Tyler Wasserman, Director, Salary Cap Analyst, National Basketball Association.

Alex Wood, Senior Product Manager, Very Big Things.

Alyssa Wood, Director of Sponsorship Strategies and Activations, M.K.T.G.

Find out more information on members of the Emerging Leaders Council.

Alumni.

To our Sport Management, Sport Analytics, and Sport Venue and Event Management alumni…

We are so thankful for the commitment that our alumni make to be sure our students feel supported throughout their undergraduate career. Whether you participated in a mentorship team for our first-year students, offered to host a case-study workshop during S.P.M. Week, hired our students for Capstones, internships, or full-time positions, or even simply responded to an email or phone call from a student, you have helped to boost their SU experience.

Please continue to stay connected to us by following Sport Management on Twitter @SUSportMgmt, and “like” us on Facebook at Syracuse University Falk College Department of Sport Management.

To post a job or view job postings, join the Falk College Alumni Page on LinkedIn.

If the employment information on the following pages is inaccurate, please email your updates to records@syr.edu to be sure Syracuse University has your current information on file. 

If you want to get involved but aren’t sure how, call us at 315.443.9881. We love to hear from our esteemed alumni. 

Thank you for your unwavering support! 

Alumni Updates.

Sport Analytics:

Sport Management:

Sport Venue and Event Management:

Pictures with captions in this section include: Sam Marteka (SAL 2021) and Kaitlynn Miller (SPM 2021). Anna Vergara (SVEM 2018). Arek Olson (SVEM 2018). C’Ara McCrea (SPM 2016). Caroline Davis (SPM 2020). Chrissy Leach (SPM 2010). Elijah Biggins (SPM 2016). Ian McFate (SPM 2008). Jack Moriarty (SPM 2016), Alyssa Wood (SPM 2015), James DiDonato (SPM 2015). Connor Monzo (SPM 2020). Da’Sha Prescott-Moore (SPM 2019). Deidra Maddock (SU 1996), Alex Guo (SPM 2023), and Madeline Placey (SPM 2019). Joey Weinberg (SPM 2017), Jeremy Losak (SPM 2016) and Michael Veley, SPM director. Alumni gather in New York City. Sara Tumminia (SPM 2017). Meg Mankowski (SPM 2014). P.J. Davidson (SPM 2013). Peter Appel (SPM 2020). Jeremy Philipson (SPM 2014). Emily Campeas (SPM 2016). Jonah Wheeler (SPM 2021). Sport Management director Michael Veley (middle) met with Department of Sport Management alumni working in Las Vegas for the NFL’s Raiders and Allegiant Stadium, including Chris Sotiropulos (SPM 2010), Jack Wentzell (SPM 2014), Jessica LaRoussa (SVEM 2018) and Mike Kravec (SPM 2010) (from left).

Annual job-shadowing program goes virtual in 2022.

The department of Sport Management’s fourth annual Students and Professionals Meet (S.P.M.) Week was held virtually January 10–14, 2022. During winter break in both 2019 and 2020, students job shadowed alumni in their geographical location for a day, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, S.P.M. Week was held virtually in 2021 and 2022. Instead of hosting students on site, our alumni hosted topic-based online workshops. Alumni provided the parameters for their workshops. Students were then tasked with conducting research relative to each specific workshop, and then came prepared with their case study findings to the workshops.

“S.P.M. Week allows students the opportunity to network with alumni in different parts of the sport industry,” said Peri Lamkin ’22. “The meetings are really engaging with activities for us to participate in. I enjoyed going to this virtual event for two years because it gave me the tools to network for an internship with one of the alumni panelists.”

Twenty-two sport management, sport analytics and sport venue and event management students took part in the week-long series of online workshops.

Our hope is that 2023 will allow students to resume in-person job-shadowing. We are incredibly thankful for the alumni who participated in S.P.M. Week 2022. If you are interested in learning more about this program and how you can get involved next year, email mchetney@syr.edu.

The nine workshop topics were:

Social Responsibility/Justice: co-hosted by Eileen May-West (SPM ’10, Wasatch Adaptive Sports), Hanna Sanford (SPM ’16, Seattle Seahawks) and Max Levitt (SPM ’11, Leveling the Playing Field)

Agency: Marketing/Promotions/Advertising/NIL: co-hosted by Meghan Grassadonia (SPM ’17, Excel Sports) and Brett Polinsky (Whitman ’17, Rubicon Talent)

Agency: Corporate/Brand Partnerships and Sponsorship: co-hosted by Iain McWhirter (SPM ’13, CAA), Alyssa Wood (SPM ’15, MKTG) and Becky Bruce (SPM ’13, JPMorgan Chase Sports and Entertainment)

Sponsorship/Activation/Hospitality: co-hosted by Gordie Taylor (SPM ’10, Implus) and Ian McFate (SPM ’08, Aramark)

Behind the Book: Sports Gambling 101: co-hosted by Jack Van Erman (SPM ’17, Golden Nugget Online Gaming), Adam Israel (SPM ’19, BetMGM) and Will Dalton (SAL ’19, BetMGM)

Business Development and Operations: co-hosted by Jocelyn Nowak (SPM ’14, Perx Health) and Marc Orlin (SPM ’21, Superfan Fundraising)

Analytics Mock Case Competition: co-hosted by Josh Katz (SAL ’19, Baltimore Ravens), Justin Perline (SAL ’19, Pittsburgh Pirates) and C.B. Garrett (SAL ’19, New York Liberty)

Event Management/Facilities: co-hosted by Arek Olsen (SVEM ’18, University of Arkansas), Paige Hammond (SVEM ’18, Milwaukee Bucks) and Jessica LaRoussa (SVEM ’18, Allegiant Stadium)

Communications: Social Media/Content and Digital Marketing: co-hosted by Olivia Lavelle (SPM ’19, Cleveland Guardians), Carlos Ruiz II (SPM ’13, MLB) and Sam Knehans (SPM ’13, Sun Belt Conference)

Event features Sport Management alumnae in NFL.

Cady Langdon and Angela Marsh-Coan were involved in sports in high school, wanted to pursue a career in sports, and are now working in dream jobs for the most popular professional sports league in the world, the National Football League.

But for Langdon and Marsh-Coan, both graduates of the Sport Management program at Syracuse University’s Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, that’s not the best part of their journey. The best part, they say, is that through their NFL jobs–Langdon as health and safety senior coordinator and Marsh-Coan as social justice coordinator–they are making a positive impact on countless lives.

“Since I started working with player health and safety (in 2017), I feel my work is impacting the game and the players’ lives and making a safer game for fans who get to see the players they love on the field rather than on the sideline,” says Langdon ’16.

Marsh-Coan works for the NFL’s “Inspire Change” initiative that supports social justice programs and provides funding for organizations that assist communities that have been historically underrepresented and excluded.

“I enjoy what I’m doing, I’m getting to make an impact, and the fact that this role and opportunity even exist says a lot about the commitment that’s being made to this initiative,” says Marsh-Coan ’18.

Langdon and Marsh-Coan returned to Falk to discuss their prominent NFL positions during a “Sport Management Alumnae in the NFL” panel discussion in Fall 2021as part of the fifth annual Sport Management alumni event, “SPM Alumni in #SportsBiz: Now We’re the Pros.” The panel discussion highlighted several Falk female alums who are working for the NFL or with NFL teams.

Other members of the panel included Hannah Sanford ’16, community engagement manager for the Seattle Seahawks, and Jordyn White ’17, public relations specialist for the NFL (White majored in communication and rhetorical studies in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and minored in sport management).

Other Falk alumnae working in the NFL include Lori Robinson ’09, player engagement for the Baltimore Ravens; Kaitlynn Miller ’21, coordinator of strategic partnerships for the Washington Football Team; and Caroline Davis ’20, a marketing associate for the NFL based in Los Angeles who’s pursuing her master’s in communication and media studies from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.

“Since the inception of our program, we’ve cultivated opportunities for our female students to become change agents in sports. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, I could not be prouder of the accomplishments of these pioneering women working in the NFL,” says Michael Veley, founding director and chair of the Department of Sport Management”

The keynote speaker for the alumni event was Deidra Maddock ’97, vice president of sports brand solutions, Disney Advertising Sales for the Walt Disney Company and an advisory council member for the Department of Sport Management.

Helping to Create Change

While in high school in Washington, D.C., Marsh-Coan was a student manager for sports teams and that sparked her interest in sport management. She attended an open house at Falk and was sold on the idea that Falk offered the support of a small liberal arts college while providing the excitement of a larger university.

“I worked as a marketing intern for (Syracuse) basketball and football games, while also serving as the community service chair for the Student African American Society,” Marsh-Coan says. “When I graduated, I realized I could pursue both my interests in sports and my passion for community engagement.”

Marsh-Coan worked for the NBA’s Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks before joining the NFL in November 2020. The timing was right for Marsh-Coan as the “Inspire Change” initiative took on added importance in the wake of the social and cultural unrest that was occurring throughout the world.

Keeping Players Safe

Langdon, who’s from Westchester County, N.Y., in the Hudson Valley, wanted to transfer for her junior year of college and had Syracuse at the top of her list.

Langdon, who played soccer in high school, was accepted into the Sport Management program and jumped right in by joining the Sport Management Club and participating in fundraising events such as the Annual Charity Sports Auction. She spent the summer and fall of 2016 on her Capstone Project with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills as a graduate assistant member of the events and guest experience staff.

“I was able to meet great speakers at Falk from many professional sport leagues who I’m still connected to, and in my classes we covered ticket sales, marketing and all the areas you can get into in sports,” Langdon says. “My Capstone with the Bills came through the help of Syracuse internship coordinators and staff who have so many connections.”

Making a positive impact through their NFL positions isn’t the only thing that Langdon and Marsh-Coan have in common. Their messages to students during the Oct. 15 alumni event was similar: Find out what you want to do and go for it.

“It’s OK to get a job in one area and switch to another,” Langdon says. “I started in events with the Bills and then broadcasting and now health and safety, so you don’t have to feel you’re stuck in one position for the rest of your career. Sports provides you many opportunities to dive into different areas.”

Since this story was published in Fall 2021, Cady Langdon left her job with the NFL and now works as a Brand Manager at the SpringHill Company. 

Alum works on sustainability plan for SU Athletics and the Stadium.

Yuqi (Ruby) Liu G’21 decided to pursue an internship with Syracuse University’s Sustainability Management Office after attending a guest lecture on sustainability in the sport industry.

“Sports teams and stadiums play a vital role in educating and encouraging people to be more aware of sustainable lifestyles and protect the planet for future generations,” said Liu, who graduated with a master’s degree in Sport Venue and Event Management from the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics in 2021.

As a student intern in Spring 2021, Liu collaborated with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Sports sustainability team—sustainability and athletic staff and student-athletes across the 15 ACC schools—to help Syracuse Athletics and the stadium become more sustainable.

Meg Lowe G’18, SU Sustainability Coordinator, who has been working with the team since its inception in 2018, invited Liu to monthly meetings where she met her counterparts at the other universities and learned about the larger goals of the group.

“Working hands-on with the sustainability office and the stadium during my internship, I learned skills like communication and collaboration, which are essential to leadership and that I can apply to my career,” Liu said.

With the help of a fellow undergraduate intern, Liu created a sustainability strategic plan, which involved reaching out to other schools with active sports sustainability programs to determine the best approach for incorporating sustainability into Syracuse University Athletics.

Liu also collaborated with stadium management to expand the current sustainability program—which comprises composting food waste from the kitchen; recycling bottles, cans and cardboard; and donating leftover food to a local organization—to include composting waste from the concession stands.

“The composting program needed many departments to collaborate and change their current system to make it happen,” Liu said. She extended her internship with the stadium over the summer, working hard to begin the composting program in time for the first football game of the season. “We are trying to grow it as big as possible.”

Liu cites planning, execution and accountability as some of the many abilities she honed during her student-internship experience.

“Working hands-on with the sustainability office and the stadium during my internship, I learned skills like communication and collaboration, which are essential to leadership and that I can apply to my career.”

Lowe is impressed with Liu’s progress.

“The work Ruby completed has become the groundwork for creating a sports sustainability program here at Syracuse. This plan is a roadmap that other Falk sport management students can continue to develop. This will serve as a guide for Syracuse and other ACC schools,” Lowe said, adding that she plans to build upon that foundation and create more integration between the Department of Athletics and Sustainability Management. “Our students have very diverse backgrounds and bring unique perspectives on solving problems and elevating our sustainability programs on campus.”

This story was originally published on December 7, 2021. Photos with captions in this section include: Sport Venue and Event Management graduate Yuqi (Ruby) Liu ’21 collaborated with Syracuse University Stadium management to expand the current sustainability program.

Meet Cody Barbuto ’19, Chief Operating Officer, United Auto Supply of Syracuse.

Transferring to Syracuse University in 2017 will always be the best decision I have ever made. As soon as I heard about S.U.’s new Sport Analytics program, I knew that was what I wanted to do. Over the course of my two and a half years at Syracuse, I made lifelong friends and met lifelong mentors.

While at Syracuse, I conducted analytics for the men’s basketball team, traveled to nationally known conferences, and ultimately grow into a better version of myself. 

My fondest memory was presenting my research to the Sport Management Advisory Council during my sophomore year. College benefactor David Falk challenged me throughout my presentation, asking different types of questions. When I finished presenting, one of the Advisory Council members stated, “You just went toe-to-toe with David Falk for 20 minutes, I think you are prepared for anything now.” Mr. Falk and I proceeded to have a 30-minute conversation after the presentation about basketball. That relationship carried throughout the rest of my time at Syracuse and still stands today. 

Four students were part of the inaugural Sport Analytics Class of 2019, each accepting a position in the sports industry right out of college. I was fortunate to be offered a position with Kraft Analytics Group, where I quickly found success because of my SU Sport Analytics degree. I then moved on from the sports industry to work at United Auto Supply as a Business Intelligence Analyst and now as the Chief Operating Officer. My role has grown within the company largely due to my experiences at the University and thanks to Professor Rodney Paul, Professor Michael Veley and Sport Analytics advisor Francesco Riverso. I’m thankful to so many people at the University for preparing me for the opportunities I have today. Go Orange!

Connect.

Connect with Syracuse University Department of Sport Management:

Department of Sport Management 
David B. Falk College College of Sport and Human Dynamics
Syracuse University
402 MacNaughton Hall
Syracuse, New York 13244 
315.443.9881 or 315.443.2630.

Michael Veley
Director and Chair
mdveley@syr.edu.

Gina Pauline
Undergraduate Program Director
gapaulin@syr.edu.

Patrick Walsh
Graduate Program Director
ptwalsh@syr.edu.

Rodney Paul
Analytics Program Director
rpaul01@syr.edu.

David Salanger
Assistant Dean, Advancement, Falk College
dasalang@syr.edu.

Kathryn Tunkel
Administrative Assistant to Michael Veley
kmtunkel@syr.edu.

Margie Chetney
Administrative Assistant
mchetney@syr.edu.

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Photo with caption on the back cover includes: Students in the Sport Analytics Learning Community attended a Syracuse Mets game in Spring 2022. Recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a top 20 learning community program, first-year students in Syracuse University Living Learning Communities have a signature living experience shaped by connection and community with students who share a common major or interest, faculty support, and engagement in academic and social experiences on and off campus. SU’s Living Learning Community program began in 1998. Along with attending the Syracuse Mets game, the Sport Analytics Learning Community also organized various sports tournaments, participated in workshops focusing on Tableau and RStudio and met with faculty advisors.