Program prepares students for sports industry

In a sea of applicants vying for internships or post-graduate positions, it can often be a challenge to stand out. But Sports Management students, who build their resumes through work opportunities at professional sports venues, gain the skills needed to help them rise above the crowd.

“Our students learn from experiences both inside the classroom and on the field,” said Associate Sports Management Professor Dr. Clay Bolton. “They do this in operating food and beverage at games, planning in-game entertainment, building and executing marketing plans and forming relationships with mentors already working in the sports industry.”

Undergraduates can learn from industry professionals through the newly formed LaGrange College Sports Management Advisory Team. Members of the group come from professional sports organizations and sports management firms in Atlanta.

Men’s Basketball student-athlete Parker Lovett ’26, who currently serves as president of the Sports Management Club, said his business professors have made a significant impact on his life.

“Dr. Linda McMullen gave me confidence that this was the right field for me,” he said. “Dr. Cindi Bearden taught me what it takes to give effort and apply classroom situations to the real world. Lastly, Dr. Bolton has helped me adjust to college and provided me with opportunities right off the bat in the Sports Management field.”

Baseball student-athlete Slade James ’24, who earned an internship this summer with the Atlanta Braves, said his coursework has been helpful to his work role.

“My Sports Management classes have given me a better understanding of all the other viewpoints of sports outside

of just the game being played,” he said. “It has opened my eyes to what happens behind the scenes and that everybody from the janitors to the athletes is just as important to the success of the organization.”

Soccer student-athlete Kendyl Anderson ’24 said the program has helped her expand her job options.

“It is teaching me how many different careers there are and leading me into wanting to become an athletic trainer,” she said.

Faculty Accomplishments

Dr. John Cook, Professor of Religion, had his articles “In Defense of Polyvalence in 1 Cor 12,13c” and "The Spectacle of the Patibulum: A Response to Ruben van Wingerden” published in Biblica and New Testament Studies, respectively. He was also featured in the Washington Post article "How did crucifixion really work? A British discovery offers new clues."

Dr. John Tures, Professor of Political Science, was interviewed by WABE about hate crimes for the article "Georgia Hate Crimes Spike in 2021; Underreporting Remains an Issue."