McCormack Department of Sport Management

Driven Alumni: Li Li Leung, MBA/MS '03

February 20, 2019

U.S.A. Gymnastics announced in February 2019 that Li Li Leung would be its new president and CEO. Leung, a former gymnast (she competed in the Junior Pan-Am Games and for the University of Michigan in the N.C.A.A. Championships) and alumna of Isenberg's Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management has spent the past 4 years as VP of Global Partnerships for the NBA.

Major League Baseball Talks Diversity

February 12, 2019

Executives from Major League Baseball and the Boston Red Sox participated in the inaugural Isenberg Conversation on Diversity and Inclusion. Tyrone Brooks and Pam Kenn '01 discussed how and why their organizations are working to ensure that players, staffers, and fans all feel welcome.

Isenberg Names Associate Dean for an Inclusive Organization

February 05, 2019

Nefertiti Walker's strategic vision for diversity and inclusion will inform every corner of Isenberg's operations.

Dual-degree (MBA/MS) Students Tackle Exciting “Real World” Consulting Projects

January 02, 2019

The Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management has secured three high profile sport industry clients to participate in its 2019 MBA Practicum, the capstone experience to the grad-level dual-degree (MBA/MS) curriculum. Strategic management briefs have been crafted with The Oak View Group, Farmers Insurance, and Major League Rugby.

Building a Younger Fan Base: Sport Management Executive in Residence Offers Marketing Advice

November 02, 2018

“Sports fans are getting older,” observed 2018 Mark H. McCormack Executive in Residence Bernie Mullin in a campus-wide lecture in October. “In that trend, baseball does worst, with fan age growing by half a year each year,” Mullin remarked. Last year’s NCAA football attendance, he added, was the lowest in 30 years. And three years ago, season ticket sales to collegiate football continued their decline, dropping by 10%.

Alumnus William Hubbard, Tokio-Marine HCC Endow Sport Management Internship Awards Fund

July 31, 2018

Sport management Alumnus Bill Hubbard, in conjunction with Tokio-Marine HCC, has established an endowed fund with a $1 million gift that will provide financial support to McCormack Department of Sport Management students who participate in internships within the sport and entertainment industry.

Using Data to Win: Sport Analytics Panel Explores a Changing Industry Landscape

May 04, 2018

The McCormack Department of Sport Management’ hosted a three-member panel discussion called "Every Yard Counts; A Conversation on Football Analytics" The panel, organized by the student group, the Association of Diversity in Sport, and moderated by Sydney Robinson '19, featured Dean Oliver, Diane Bloodworth, and McCormack alumnus Dan Hatman ’11 who discussed the transformative power of data analytics in sports.

Sport Management Graduate Drives Minority Mentorship Program at Isenberg

April 24, 2018

McCormack Sport Management has launched the Initiative for Underrepresented Students which pairs Sport Management graduates mentors with the department’s current McCormack students—all from minority backgrounds. Melcolm Ruffin '13 partnered with Nefertiti Walker, Sport Management Professor/ Director of Diversity & Inclusion; Nicole Melton, Sport Management professor; and Molly McGuigan, Communications, Events/Alumni Relations Coordinator in this first-step toward a longer-term initiative, which will take on recruitment, scholarships, and career development dimensions.

McCormack Annual Awards Banquet

April 19, 2018

Eight alumni and 26 students received honors and scholarships at the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management’s Annual Awards Banquet in the Campus Center on April 10th, 2018. Award recipients were able to share their experiences, wisdom, and advice with current students during small breakout sessions and when addressing the banquet attendees. Despite their varied career paths they all shared one common piece of advice – build strong relationships.

2018 Harold VanderZwaag Distinguished Alumni Award

March 22, 2018

The Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at the Isenberg School of Management, UMass Amherst is proud to announce the winners of the Harold VanderZwaag Distinguished Alumni Award as Colleen Duffy Brace (BS ‘95), Jeff Goering (MS ‘97), David Hixon (MS ‘79), and Bob Schwartz (BS ‘84).

McCormack Announces 2018 Alumni on the Rise Winners

March 22, 2018

The Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at the Isenberg School of Management, UMass Amherst is proud to name Elissa Hollander (Dolacky) (BS ’11), Melissa Marchionna (MS ’09), Preetam Sen (BS ’10), and Kairon Serrette (MS ‘08), as recipients of its 2018 Alumni on the Rise Award.

MBA/MS Sport Students Tackle Exciting “Real World” Consulting Projects

January 26, 2018

The Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management has secured two high profile sport industry clients to participate in our 2018 MBA Practicum consulting projects, the capstone experience to our dual-degree (MBA/MS) curriculum. Strategic management briefs have been crafted with Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls, and The Madison Square Garden Company.

McCormack Department Renews with J. League

January 26, 2018

The Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management and the J. League, Asia’s premier professional soccer league, have renewed their agreement to offer an innovative on-line sport management program with Sports Human Capital.

A Decade with Octagon

January 26, 2018

For the 10th year in a row, students in the Sport Marketing Class competed against each other in presenting marketing recommendations to a team of Octagon executives. The Octagon Bowl, is a semester long project in which teams of students are given a real-life brief and are tasked with providing in-depth and strategic marketing solutions for a different company each year. This year’s client, DOOSAN, challenged students to help increase brand awareness and sales by partnering with Major League Baseball. This photo shows the winning team with Octagon executives.

McCormack Student Leaders co-host Annual Basketball Showcase

December 05, 2017

The Pioneer Valley Tip-Off is an annual High-School Basketball Showcase that takes place here at UMass in the historic Curry Hicks Cage. Started back in 2011, the PVTO aims to bring in the best high school basketball teams in and around Western MA. The event strives to bring together the Western MA community for a fun and exciting weekend at the Commonwealth's Flagship Campus. The event is run by the McCormack Student Leaders Club, with the help of Amherst-Pelham Regional High School.

McCormack Student Wins State Essay Contest

November 13, 2017

On October 22nd, 2017 the Amherst Irish Association presented Senior Monica Caggiano of Peabody, MA with the Inaugural Margaret Maher Award. The essay contest honors the memory of Margaret Maher, an Irish maid who worked in the Emily Dickinson household. The subject for this year’s competition, which was open to all undergraduate students in Western MA, was Considering Ireland: What Interests Me and Why?

McCormack Executive in Residence Shares Insights on Marketing and Innovation

November 02, 2017

Can this marketing miracle worker really get Inuits (a.k.a. Eskimo) to swap their hard-earned pelts for ice? You be the judge. For sports marketing legend Jon Spoelstra, “borderline outrageous” and nonstop innovation are road-tested enablers of business success. On October 23 and 24, Spoelstra, this fall’s Mark H. McCormack Executive in Residence, shared insights in classes, met one-on-one with students and faculty, and lectured to a packed auditorium of mostly sport management faculty and students.

Former NBA Marketer and Best-selling Author Jon Spoelstra Named Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management Executive-In-Residence for Fall 2017

October 06, 2017

“We’re thrilled to be able to give our students, faculty, and alumni the opportunity to learn from and engage with one of the most innovative and influential sport marketers of our time,” stated Dr. Janet Fink, Chair of the McCormack Department of Sport Management. “Jon Spoelstra’s literature and experience has had an undeniable impact on our curriculum, and it will be especially meaningful for our students to hear and learn from him.” Jon Spoelstra will be on campus Oct. 23rd-25th for a host of classroom presentations and roundtable meetings with McCormack students and faculty. In addition, Spoelstra, as part of the McCormack Innovators Lecture Series, will deliver a lecture titled Marketing Outrageously in Sports and Having Fun Every Step of the Way on Oct. 23rd at 6:30p.m. in Mahar Auditorium. This lecture is open to the public.

Alumni Night at the Mets Game

August 28, 2017

The Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management hosted an alumni night at the New York Mets vs. LA Dodgers game at Citi Field on August 4th, 2017. Over 40 alumni, students, faculty and staff joined us in a private suite to network, catch up, and enjoy a great afternoon of baseball!

Sport Management Graduate is New Cleveland Cavaliers GM

August 07, 2017

McCormack graduate Koby Altman ’09 MS recently took the reins as General Manager of NBA team the Cleveland Cavaliers - a first for a graduate of Isenberg's MS in Sport program.

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