The Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management, housed in the Isenberg School of Management at
the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is the second-oldest of its kind in the world. Widely respected for the
breadth and quality of its curriculum, research, and faculty, the UMass program has been hailed by The Chronicle of
Higher Education, SportsBusiness Journal, The Wall Street Journal and other publications as a leader in its field.
The UMass program, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2012, offers two on-ground, full-time options:
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MBA/MS, including an 6-credit MBA Consulting Project and a three-credit, three-month summer internship
MS, Sport Management, which includes a three-credit, three-month internship
How can the UMass Sport Management Program provide a good fit for you?
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We boast one of the few programs housed in a reputable business school.
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We utilize a cutting-edge, experiential-based curriculum to best prepare our graduate students to become
leaders in a broad range of sport industry segments.
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We have a large Sport Management industry-focused faculty teaching challenging and engaging classes.
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We have a 3,500+ member alumni directory, providing a tremendous network that our graduates use to make
connections throughout the sport industry.
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We frequently host industry professionals, highly regarded in their field, as guest speakers.
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We actively assist every graduate student in the internship and full time job seeking process, including a required
Professional Development Seminar on career development and job-seeking skills, and a mentor program
connecting students with industry professionals.
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We offer the broadest selection of experiential learning classes in the country. You will acquire "real-world"
experience from elective classes including sport marketing, market research, sport communications, and event
management. You will work with organizations in the industry that will enhance your knowledge, experience and
networking.
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We encourage collaboration. All second year MBA/MS students work in teams directly with sport organizations
on a strategic management project. All students are required to take an Applied Sport Marketing Research course
that includes direct involvement with a sport organization.
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Our proprietary McCormack Center for Sport Research and Education, managed by one of the industry's
foremost researchers, Tracy Schoenadel, directly connects you to innovative industry research initiatives and
also serves as an important source of graduate funding.
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Each semester we host an Executive-in-Residence program featuring the industry’s top sport innovators.
“Whenever we were getting into a new sport or a
new area, it was always, ‘Who is the best in this
business right now?’”
Todd McCormack deciding on UMass for the McCormack files.
The MLB Players Association
was one of the stops during the
graduate students' Fall
Professional Development trip to
New York City.
Members of the Sport
Management program
celebrate an intramural
football championship.
Ian McCaw, Athletic Director
at Baylor University, receives
his Vandy’s Award at the
most recent NACDA
Convention, attended by over
30 UMass sport
management alums.
2013 “Octagon
Bowl” champs!
Peter Carlisle, Octagon’s
Managing Director of
Olympic and Action Sports,
and a 2012 Executive in
Residence speaks with
MBA/MS students.
For more information, please visit
www.isenberg.umass.edu/sportmgt or contact:
Steve McKelvey, Graduate Program Director,
Phone: (413) 545-5066,
mckelvey@isenberg.umass.edu
SoccerFest
Event Management
SoccerFest is a grassroots, community building, non-profit soccer tournament run entirely by the students of the
UMass Sport Management Department. The tournament features more than 100 teams and 500 participants and
spectators. The class works with a $50,000 budget.
“This event, which attracts more than 500 participants and spectators and over 35 community
partners, serves as a showcase for the entire campus and Western Mass. Community as to
what the Sport Management Department at UMass accomplishes year in and year out. As a grad
student and TA for the class, I have been awarded the opportunity to work with and lead the best
Sport Management Undergraduates in the world. Truly a priceless experience.”
Evan Olesh, MBA/MS ‘10
The Octagon Project
Sport Marketing
At the conclusion of the Sport Marketing course, graduate students are assigned a real-life project with Octagon, one of
the premiere sport marketing agencies in the world. Groups prepare a full marketing plan and present their proposal to
representatives from Octagon, as well as the client. Past projects have included creating a campaign to increase
awareness and sales of a new line of trading cards and a plan to leverage the sponsorship of a prominent sport
apparel manufacturer.
“The Octagon Project is the perfect example of the sort of real-life, real-time scenario that
experiential learning should provide. As a student, you gain invaluable access to the inner
workings of an agency’s new business. Octagon gains fresh thinking from some of the
best industry minds, as well as the opportunity to scout talent. Hopefully the Octagon-UMass
relationship continues to grow and experiential learning remains a core element of the sport
management curriculum.”
Rebecca Fagan, Account Manager, Octagon, MBA/MS ’08
Guest Speakers
The value of a UMass education is that it does not begin and end with the textbook. Real-world examples are
brought into the classroom through an impressive lineup of guest speakers, who share expertise and candid
advice in conversations with graduate students. Recent speakers have included:
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Ben Cherington, MS ‘97, GM, Boston Red Sox
Neal Huntington, MS ‘92, GM, Pittsburgh Pirates
Chris Antonetti, MS ‘97, GM, Cleveland Indians
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Bobby Newman, MS ‘87, COO, AEG Facilities
John Martin, MS ‘91, Director, NASCAR
Rich Ensor, MS ‘84,Commissioner, MAAC Conference
Barry Frank, Executive VP, IMG Media Sports Programming
Peter Carlisle, Managing Director, Olympic and Action Sports, OCTAGON
Greg Bouris, BS ‘83 Director of Communications, Major League Baseball Players Association
Dennis Curran, Vice President, General Counsel, National Football League
David Grant, Founder, Velocity Sports & Entertainment (Team Epic)
Barry Kessler, Manager of Service & Retention, Atlanta Hawks/Thrashers
Noreen Morris, MS ‘91,Commissioner, Northeast Conference
Dr. Bernie Mullin, Former President and CEO of Atlanta Spirit LLC
Troy Ewanchyna, MS ’02, VP Business Development & Digital Strategies, NBC Sports Group
Internships
A dedicated Director of Internships, coupled with a database of over 300 internship opportunities, provides our
graduate students with tremendous resources for landing the ideal internships. Below is a sampling of summer
internships:
Octagon
The Citadel
University of Rhode Island
New York Knicks
Nashville Predators
Lead Dog Marketing
Boston Celtics
New York Jets
Kroenke Sports
Special Olympics
Mass Mutual
Northwestern University
NY Red Bulls
Kansas City Chiefs
Harvard Athletics
Pittsburgh Pirates
U.S. Equestrian Fed.
Colorado Rapids
Springfield Armor
PGA Tour
Toronto Maple Leafs
Major League Soccer
Boston University Athletics
University of Kansas
Strategic Agency
Big East Conference
Major League Baseball
Madison Square Garden
Minnesota Timberwolves
Applied Sport Marketing Research
The Applied Sport Marketing Research class presents a managerial as well as technical perspective to sports and
sponsorship research. Quantitative and qualitative tools, techniques and methods of applied research are explored in
the framework of general guidelines for empirical work. Topics include sampling techniques, research design, data
collection, and problems of measurement. Statistical methods such as frequency, variability, sampling, and
observation form the basis for performing applied industry research. Recent Clients include: Boston Red Sox (Red
Sox Nation), SportsBusiness Journal (Web Site Usage), US Soccer (Demographic Study), UMass Athletics (Season
Ticket Study), Major League Lacrosse (MLL) (Demographic Study), Springfield Armor (NBDL)( Consumer Research
Study)
Graduate Mentoring Program
Each of our graduate students is paired with an industry mentor upon entering the program. Recent Grad Mentors
include:
Sean Ford, USA Basketball, Men's National Team Director
Chris Zamzow, IMG College, Partnership Marketing
Dave Wright, MLS, Vice President, Global Sponsorships
Carolanne McAuliffe, NBA, Vice President, Marketing
George VanderZwaag, University of Rochester, Director of
Athletics and Recreation
Steve Novak, Boston College, Associate AD for Development
Travis Hyland, NBA, Advance Pro Scout
Brenna Dytka, Strategic Agency, Senior Account Manager
Ryan Nadeau, Boston Bruins, Director of Hockey Administration &
Scout
Mike Unger, USA Swimming, Assistant Executive Director
Wallis Romzek, USA Figure Skating, Manager, Giving Programs
Mark Wilson, Tennessee Tech University, Athletic Director
Manny Rohan, Minnesota Timberwolves, Basketball Operations
Assistant
Jen Adams, USA Water Polo, Women’s Nat'l Team Manager
Noreen Morris, Northeast Conference Commissioner
Mark Scialabba, Washington Nationals, Director, Minor League
Operations
Ricardo Tancredi, Octagon, Insights & Strategies Manager
Michelle Duff, Wasserman, Senior Director, Golf Division
Brian Mayglothling, Octagon, Vice President, Events &
Hospitality
John Halas, Orlando Magic, Special Assistant to the GM
Rob Metzler, Tampa Bay Rays, Assistant Director/Amateur
Scouting
Dave Littlefield, Chicago Cubs, Special Assistant to the GM
Lou DePaoli, New York Mets, Executive VP & Chief Revenue
Officer
Adam Cromie, Washington Nationals, Director of Baseball
Operations
Ethan Wilson, NY Mets, Assistant Media Relations Manager
Michelle Doti-Taylor, NY Road Runners, Sponsorship
Business Development and Strategic Partnerships
Sarah Narracci, Boston Red Sox, Assistant Director,
Community/Player Relations
Zaileen Janmohamed, Visa, Global Sponsorship Manager
John Schlieman, Washington Redskins, Senior Director,
Corporate Hospitality
Evan Olesh, PUMA North America Senior Sports Marketing
Manager
Mark Gallego, NY Rangers/Knicks, Director of Marketing
Tomoya Suzuki, Trans Insight Corporation, President
Lili Leung, Helios Partners, Managing Director
Declan Bolger, MLS, Club Services/ Account Manager
Joe Smith, Bank of America, Vice President, Enterprise
Marketing