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THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS
The University of Washington Tacoma Sports Enterprise Management program is all about the business of sports
“Our students will benefit from the great work of Professors Best and Howard,” said Stan Emert, Executive Director of the Sports Enterprise Management program at UW Tacoma, Milgard School of Business. “Not only is the Sports Industry integral in our global culture, but it is now recognized as one of the largest financial engines in the world.”
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
FALL 2024 SPEAKERS
Jon and Ashleigh Guidoux, University Place Crossfit
Megan Mead, Tacoma Rainiers
Talisha Rhea, Seattle Storm GM
Matt Chelap, Octagon Media
Abel Hernandez, Soccer Program Administrator
Stephanie Cox, US Soccer Olympic Gold Medalist
PREVIOUS SPEAKERS
Aaron Artman, president, Tacoma Rainiers, SEM Advisory Board member
Alex Caravan, VP, business operations, Driveline Baseball
Alisha Alavanis, president, Seattle Storm
Ashley Schutt, Director of Baseball Operations and Merchandise, Tacoma Rainiers
Becca Stout, Community Relations, Seattle Seahawks
Ben Oliver, Starfire
Bob Whitsitt, former Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trailblazer president, SEM Executive in Residence
Brian Coombe, CFO, Tacoma Rainiers
Brian Jones, president, Seattle Seawolves
Brock Huard, former NFL player, football national broadcaster
Buffy Filippell, CEO, Teamwork Online
Caitlan Calnan, Director of Group Sales and Event Markering, Tacoma Rainiers
Casey Catherwood, former Creative Director, Tacoma Rainiers
Chris Kennedy, Seattle Mariners
Dean Burke, Tacoma Travel and Tourism/Sports Commission
Devon Schuler, Seattle Sea Dragons, UWT SEM graduate
Eric Grubman, former Executive VP, NFL
Frank Colarusso, former sports executive
Gary Jones, Anth3M, Talent Management Reinvented
Gee Scott, KIRO radio personality, College sports recruiting expert
Holden Markoff, Sports Agent/Representative
James Neill, Director of Athletics, Tacoma Public Schools
Jen Cohen, UW Athletic Director
Jen Mueller, Sportscaster, businessperson, SEM Advisory Board member
Jon Guidoux, Owner, University Place CrossFit
Jon Spoelstra, retired NBA executive
Josip Radic, Professor, Aspira University, Split, Croatia
Kate Yeager, Esports game designer
Kelli Masters, NFL Agent
Kevin Bryant, Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame
Marcus Trufant, Trufant Foundation, former NFL star
Matt Chelap, Octagon Media
Megan Mead, VP of Marketing, Tacoma Rainiers
Mike Shields and Aaron Hill, authors, We Are GU (Gonzaga University Kennel Club founder)
Norris Frederick, Olympic medalist, Pro Sports Negotiations
Patrick Barthe, Director of Esports Partnerships, Atomic
Phil Haywood, Director of Stadium Operations, Tacoma Rainiers
Shaina Wiel, Minority Women in Sports Management
Shane Santman, VP of Sales, Tacoma Rainiers
Shannon Drayer, sports reporter
Sydney Shub, Seattle Kraken
Talisa Rhea, General Manager, Seattle Storm
Tim O’Hollaren, Senior Director of Ticket Sales, Tacoma Rainiers
Tom Butler, ProBattle League, Esports
Tommy Farris, Olympic Hiking Company
Tony Horton, Fitness guru, founder P-90X
Val Ackerman, Basketball Hall of Fame, Commissioner of Big East Conference
Fall Quarter 2024
TBGEN 370 Essentials of Sports Enterprise Management Comprehensive introduction to sports management. Sports Evolution, Fan Engagement, Sports Products, Personal Participation - all from a Global Perspective. Taught by Stan Emert.
Hybrid MW 1100 – 1220 GWP 216
F Online
WINTER QUARTER COURSES
TMKTG 470 Sports Marketing
Taught by Megan Mead
Examines the essentials of effective sports marketing activities. Topics include sports consumption, branding, sport segmentation, delivering the sports experience, developing and communicating the brand story, and leveraging the brand through sponsorship-linked marketing. Emphasizes communication, teamwork, and strategic thinking. Prerequisite: a minimum grade of 2.0 in T BUS 320.
Electives for all majors in this interdisciplinary minor.
There are 40 classes that qualify as electives for the Sports Enterprise Management minor. The qualifying electives include classes in nearly every major at UW Tacoma. This reflects the nature of sports and recreation as a part of most cultures in the world. Connect with your advisor to find what classes fit for you or contact semert@uw.edu for more Sports Enterprise Management information.
SPRING QUARTER COURSES
There are 40 classes that qualify as electives for the Sports Enterprise Management minor. Here's info about two classes being taught this Spring:
TBGEN 485 Seminar in Sports Enterprise Management
Details TBD
Be ready to tackle the most significant issues in the business of sports. This class offers in-depth studies of one of the fastest growing global industries: SPORTS. Field trips to Cheney Stadium, Starfire and T-Mobile Park are planned where students will learn how to apply theory to practice. Students will find that the isciplines of the business of sports are applicable in most other business fields.
TBANLT485 Business Intelligence
Details TBD
Focuses on foundations of data and analytics. Explains concepts by examining innovative uses of information systems, data, and analytics to support managerial decision-making. Explores how to collect, store, manage and convert data into information, knowledge and actionable insights.
MORE ABOUT THE SEM MINOR
Minor in Sports Enterprise Management
The minor in Sports Enterprise Management requires 25 credits and is designed for undergraduate students in any major at UW Tacoma to provide a foundational understanding and set of tools necessary to navigate the evolving environment of Sports Enterprise Management.
Video Archives
Top professionals in the sports business visited The Sports Enterprise Management program to discuss issues of the day. Listen from experts on present and future of Esports, how sports marketers succeed, business of youth sports, sports management and many more.
Our Executive in Residence
Bob Whitsitt - Executive in Residence
Bob Whitsitt has been called the “most influential figure in Northwest professional sports” by Washington CEO Magazine and “one of professional sports’ sharpest executives” by the Seattle Times. Now, Bob has become the Executive in Residence for Sports Enterprise Management at the Milgard School of Business, University of Washington Tacoma.
Sports Enterprise Management Capstone Class Addresses Sports Biggest Issues
Student teams spend each Spring quarter in TBGEN 485 researching and writing. The quarter ended with oral presentations on their topics with the goal of persuading decision-makers of their positions. Throughout the quarter students honed their skills by presenting on individual articles they used in their supportive white paper.
Student teams, including the group pictured below, give convincing presentations at Cheney Stadium explaining and advocating on many issues:
- Wearable technologies: Athletes and privacy
- Blood doping in amateur athletics
- Should the NCAA be abolished?
- Reversing the decline in youth sports participation
- NBA’s G League – its future
- Sports gambling: On Becoming Legal
The issues proved to be not limited to sports, but instead relate to culture. From electronics to the playground, Sports Enterprise Management students went beyond the field, pitch, course and court, and into the fabric of society. Such is the nature of sports. . . and culture.
The size of sports has topped $2.3 Trillion, making it the 9th largest industry in the world.
Of the top 50 Sport Cities in the world, Seattle/Tacoma is #40
At least one Sports Enterprise Management(SEM) course is offered each quarter at the Milgard School of Business.
Bob Whitsitt, Our Executive in Residence for Sports Enterprise Management Game Changer Event
Sports Enterprise Management Newsletters
Keep up with the latest happenings from the Sports Enterprise Management program of the Milgard School of Business.
WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING
Isabela Vercillo
B.A. Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, 2022
Sports Enterprise Management classes helped me in many ways. I highly recommend everyone get the minor.
James Sweeney
B.A. in History, 2023
If you're a student at UWT and aren't taking advantage of the Sports Enterprise Management program, you're missing out.
Whether you're looking to get your foot in the door in or around professional sports or are just looking to become more well-rounded in whatever career you're pursuing, this program will help you do that. The opportunities and networking possibilities in SEM are second to none. I believe the SEM minor is the best our school has to offer, regardless of your major. Enroll and see for yourself, you won't be sorry.
Salese Clark
B.A. focusing Marketing Management, 2023
The Sports Enterprise Management class enhanced who I am now.
Armando Alvarez
BA in Communications and minor in SEM, 2023
The SEM minor exposed me to different people in the sports industry that a first generation student like myself would have never have gotten to meet.
