The end of an era

Chair of the Department of Sport Management and Recreation, Kevin McAllister, is retiring after nine years at the position.

velopment of students, but also the mission of creating impact on others. McAllister is the embodiment of everything that the college stands for – and has been since the minute he stepped on campus. But as he entered year one as a professor, he didn’t want to focus on one thing.

but now it’s Recreation Industries and Therapeutic Recreation,” McAllister said, referring to his increased workload. “So now you have to quickly adapt and figure out what’s going to allow [the students] to be most successful.”

‘Make sure you have great people around you,’ and I’d say we have some pretty great people around us.”

__ By Luke Whitehouse @Lwhitehouse12

Kevin McAllister sits in his office surrounded by pictures of former students, credentials to several Hoophall Classics and Springfield College memorabilia – taking in the joy that the school has given him.

Coming into his final year at Springfield College, the longtime Sport Management professor and department chair didn’t feel downhearted, but rather relished the fact that his career had been filled with success. The people he mentored, the programs he created, the evolution of the department of Sport Management – it all has brought him to this point.

McAllister arrived in Springfield during the 2003-2004 academic year – serving as a professor in Sport Management – a relatively new program at the time. McAllister prefaced his time on Alden Street by finishing up his doctoral degree at Boston University the year prior.

Being a professor at Springfield College is a job that not only requires teaching, inspiring and assisting in de-

“You know, I didn’t come in with any specific goal other than making the program better,” McAllister said. “I wanted to be a part of a [program] where students would say, ‘I want to come to Springfield College for Sport Management.’”

Over the first 11 years of his tenure, McAllister taught a variety of event planning and management classes – which fit right along with his previous experiences. He worked in event management with the Marriott Corporation before his time in Springfield.

In 2014, McAllister assumed the role as the chair of the Sport Management and Recreation program, also known as SMRT.

“When I transitioned into the chair it wasn’t just Sport Management,

McAllister also had to adjust to the ever-growing changes in the industry, especially with other colleges and universities always trying to evolve above the rest.

“It takes a lot of forward thinking, and a lot of being comfortable with being uncomfortable,” McAllister said. “I never wanted to be one to rest on my laurels because times change. Higher education is going through a huge shift and we never want to be [behind]. I don’t mind keeping a tradition of excellence, but with that, you have to constantly reinvest in your program and show that commitment to your students.”

But one thing stayed constant: the help of others.

“No leader, no manager does things on their own,” McAllister said. “ I always say,

During his early years, McAllister helped organize the partnership between the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Birthplace of Basketball – Springfield College. The Hall, as it is commonly referred to, hosts an annual basketball tournament here on campus during the winter called the Hoophall Classic –which showcases the top high school talent from around the country.

McAllister was looking to find opportunities for students to gain experience in the field that translated to jobs – something many students lacked at the time.

And he found it right in his backyard with the Hoophall Classic.

McAllister, along with some of his constituents, decided to enter the partnership – something McAllister cherishes to this day.

“I always saw it as a great opportunity because our students need experiences, one of the

McAllister continued on Page 7