Our comprehensive curriculum is designed to give you a 360-degree view of the sports industry allowing you to dive deep into areas such as sports marketing, analytics, sponsorship and strategy. The program also covers the intricacies of college sports business, fan engagement techniques and revenue generation in sports. The program culminates with a capstone class featuring a real-world sports business consulting project for a major sports property. This unique experience includes a trip with your classmates to present your work on-site. Past destinations have included the Nike world headquarters, professional soccer teams in England, and NBA headquarters. This well-rounded educational experience ensures you're prepared to tackle real-world challenges from day one of your sports industry career.

Plan of Study

The cornerstone of our program is the groundbreaking 18-month sports residency that can be completed at any sports property in the world, offering unparalleled flexibility and global exposure. Residency partnerships span across a diverse spectrum of the sports industry, including professional soccer teams in Europe, sports research agencies on the West Coast, Division I college athletic departments, motorsports organizations, and professional basketball, hockey, baseball and football teams.

Unlike traditional internships that often last just a few months and offer limited responsibilities, our residency program provides an immersive, long-term professional experience. For three semesters, you'll work full time with a sports organization while simultaneously completing your MBA. You will be entrusted with substantial projects, make meaningful contributions and gain insights into the day-to-day operations of a major sports entity.

Whether you're developing marketing strategies for a Premier League club, analyzing data for a sports tech company in Silicon Valley or managing events for a top-tier collegiate athletic program, you'll be building real-world skills and a professional network that will jumpstart your career. The extended duration will allow you to see projects through from conception to completion, understand the cyclical nature of the sports industry, and potentially experience multiple departments within an organization.

This unparalleled opportunity for experiential, hands-on learning bridges the gap between classroom theory and industry practice, giving you a significant competitive edge as you launch your sports business career on a global stage.

As part of Samford's Fast Track in Sports Business, you'll benefit from our vast network of relationships across the global sports landscape. We've cultivated partnerships with hundreds of teams, leagues and brands, opening doors to exceptional opportunities for our students.  The powerful combination of industry partnerships and a dedicated alumni network translates into outstanding internships, engaging class projects and invaluable networking opportunities for our students. From major league franchises to global sports brands, our connections span the entire spectrum of the sports business world, ensuring that you'll have access to real-world experiences that align with your career aspirations.

Sports Marketing & Analytics Advisory Board

The Fast Track in Sports Business provides a holistic educational experience that extends far beyond the classroom. Our students have access to an impressive array of extracurricular opportunities that enrich their learning, build their networks and provide hands-on experience in the sports industry.

National Sports Forum Challenge Cup Case Competition

The National Sports Forum is the largest annual cross-gathering of the top sports marketing, sales, promotions and event entertainment executives from throughout the broad spectrum of sports organizations. Participation in this competition allows students to showcase their skills, network with industry leaders and gain invaluable real-world experience in developing and presenting strategic solutions to current challenges in the sports business landscape.

Samford Sports Business & Analytics Club

This student-led organization provides a platform for underclassmen to engage with upperclassmen and MBA students, fostering mentorship and collaboration across all levels of our program. The club is overseen by Nathan Kirkpatrick, assistant professor of sports business, whose extensive experience in sport management and marketing brings invaluable insights to club activities. 

The club offers students the opportunity to serve in various leadership roles, significantly enhancing their resumes and providing practical experience in organization event planning and team management. Through guest speakers, networking events and hands-on projects, the club serves as a vital bridge between classroom learning and real-world application in the sports business field.

Sports Industry Speaker Series

This speaker series brings more than a dozen senior-level sports executives to campus, providing students with invaluable insights into industry trends, career paths and networking opportunities. The diverse nature of the speakers allows students to gain real-world perspectives, helps them make informed decisions about their future in sports business, and helps foster a comprehensive understanding of the field.

Atlanta Braves Mentorship Partnership

This rare opportunity offers upperclassmen the opportunity to engage in one-on-one, weekly mentorship conversations with Atlanta Braves executives. Students are matched with their mentors based on the P.L.A.C.E. personality assessment, ensuring compatibility in communication styles and strengths, maximizing the mentorship experience. Students shadow their mentors during games, host executives on campus and participate in community service alongside them. 

Magic City Sports Ambassador Program

Samford students are highly sought after to assist at numerous sports properties and events in Birmingham and beyond, opening doors for continual work in the industry across a wide variety of contexts. Students gain hands-on experience in sports business and event operations at prestigious events such as the SEC Baseball Tournament, SEC Football Championship Game in Atlanta, NCAA Basketball Regionals, Regions Tradition (PGA TOUR Champions event), the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, and the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Local Professional Team Engagement

In a unique initiative, we host annual on-campus interview days where presidents and top executives from local professional sports teams personally conduct sports residency interviews with our students. Teams such as the Birmingham Barons (MiLB), Birmingham Bulls (SPHL), Birmingham Legion FC (USL Championship), and Birmingham Squadron (NBA G League) participate regularly. This exclusive opportunity provides direct access to key decision-makers in the sports industry, provides our students with invaluable networking opportunities and a significant advantage in securing internships and jobs. 

National Collegiate Sports Sales Competition

Our students compete in this prestigious event at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, engaging in mock sales calls with sports industry professionals. Samford students have consistently excelled, winning top awards and securing jobs that stem from the event with organizations like the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia Flyers. This competition provides invaluable real-world experience, networking opportunities, and a platform to showcase our students' exceptional skills on a national stage.

Students receive expert guidance and mentorship from Dr. Clif Eason, a distinguished marketing scholar and associate professor at Samford's Brock School of Business. Dr. Eason brings over 15 years of executive experience in banking and financial services to his role, including serving as regional chief financial officer for a Fortune 500 company, and has been recognized for his expertise in marketing analytics, customer experience, and professional sales training

Game, Set, Match Program

This unique partnership with Samford Athletics offers freshmen an unparalleled opportunity to work within a Division I athletic department for an entire year. Students gain hands-on experience across various areas, including:

• Gameday operations
• Sports marketing and promotions
• Athletic administration
• Ticketing and revenue generation
• Donor development and fundraising
• Compliance and NCAA regulations
• Media relations and communications
• Facilities management

Working directly with Samford Athletics personnel, students interact with executives who have vast experience across the sports industry. This includes our athletic director, Martin Newton, a former top executive with Nike and current member of the NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Selection Committee. This experience provides:

• Early exposure to the inner workings of collegiate athletics
• A comprehensive understanding of various career paths in sports
• Networking opportunities with industry professionals
• Practical skills that enhance classroom learning
• Significant advantage in securing future internships and jobs

By offering this opportunity in the freshman year, we give our students a head start in building their resumes, developing professional skills and exploring different aspects of sports management. This early immersion sets our students apart and provides a strong foundation for their future success in the sports industry.

Sports and Faith Cadre

At Samford, spiritual formation is an integral part of education. Students are required to complete 60 convocation credits prior to graduation. The Sports and Faith 8-week cadre goes beyond mere credit fulfillment; it explores the intersection of faith, work and sports, helping students develop a robust Christian worldview of their future careers. Students learn to view their future careers not just as jobs, but as a means to participate in God's redemptive work in the world through the vehicle of sports, equipping them to become faithful witnesses in the sports industry.

Daniel Summit Involvement

Our students play a crucial role in executing the annual Daniel Summit, a premier gathering of Christian sports professionals. This involvement provides unparalleled networking and learning opportunities in the intersection of faith and sports.

Students contribute by:

• Managing social media for the event
• Serving attendees and assisting with various conference needs
• Running the college student program

The Daniel Summit brings together leaders from professional and college sports to explore how to honor God through sports. Darin White, head of Samford sports industry program, serves on the leadership team of the Daniel Summit, further connecting our program to this impactful event. Notably, several members of our Advisory Board, including program alumni, are involved with the Summit. This engagement not only enhances our students' experience but also demonstrates the strong industry connections and faith-based focus of our program.

Building Relationships that Last a Lifetime

At Samford University, we believe that education is about more than just imparting knowledge; it's about building relationships that foster growth, inspire excellence and last a lifetime. Our commitment to student-faculty engagement is a cornerstone of the Samford experience. Our faculty members bring a wealth of industry experience, academic expertise and a deep commitment to integrating faith into every aspect of learning.

• Darin White
• Nathan Kirkpatrick
• Stephen Hill
• Matt Mazzei
• Clif Eason
• Marshal Smith

The Sports Industry Program offers a rigorous curriculum paired with real-world sports business experiences, preparing you for a successful career in the highly competitive sports industry. Current Samford students can apply to join this exclusive program at any time after completing one semester at Samford if spots are available. However, with enrollment capped at 20 students per class, early application is strongly encouraged.

Eligibility and Application Timeline

• While there's no strict deadline, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all spots are filled.
• Early application is highly recommended to secure your place in this limited-enrollment program.

Application Requirements

1. Academic Excellence: Maintain an overall Samford GPA of 3.0 or above.
2. Character References: Provide references that speak to your personal character and potential.
3. Statement of Purpose: Clearly articulate your educational and career goals in sports business.
4. Extracurricular Activities: Highlight experiences in the sports industry that demonstrate your potential for success.

Applicants should demonstrate high standards of scholarship, outstanding personal character, and serious educational aims. Your application will be carefully analyzed based on your academic records, character references, clarity of educational purpose and relevant extracurricular activities.

Ready to Apply?

To request an application and begin your journey in the Brock School of Business Sports Industry Program, please email Marshal Smith, Assistant Director for the Sports Industry Program, at msmith60@samford.edu.

Entering freshmen and transfers are invited to apply for early assurance into the Sports Industry Program in Samford University’s Brock School of Business. In order to apply for early assurance, students must apply to Samford University through the Office of Admission and have declared a major within Brock School of Business. Follow these steps and timeline to ensure that you submit the required materials and meet appropriate deadlines:

1. Submit The Common Application or Samford University Application declaring a major within the Brock School of Business. Any major within the Brock School of Business is sufficient.
2. Submit the Sports Industry Program application which will appear on your Application Status Page checklist once you have been accepted to Samford University and have declared a major in the Brock School of Business.

Application Timeline and Rolling Admissions

• Application Opens: November 1, 2023
• Priority Deadline: February 15, 2024
• Final Deadline: April 1, 2024 (if spots remain available)

We strongly encourage students to apply as early as possible after November 1st. This is a rolling admissions process, which means we will review and decide on applications as they are completed. The sooner you apply, the better your chances of securing a spot in your preferred program.

Important: While applications will be accepted through April 1st, once the programs are filled, the application will close. Given our rolling admissions process and limited spots, we strongly recommend not waiting until the priority deadline to apply. Many qualified candidates are turned away each year simply because they applied after the program was full.

For students who either do not apply during their senior year of high school or are not accepted, the next opportunity to apply will be during the second semester of their freshman year at Samford

Students that do not apply for early assurance or that are not accepted into the early assurance program during their senior year in high school must wait until their sophomore year at Samford to apply.