Sports Business Association looks to add members
Charlie Radgowski | Contributing Writer
UD’s Sports Business Association wants to expand membership and opportunities, its leaders say.
The Sports Business Association at the University of Dayton, which officially began with an idea in fall 2024, is looking to add members of any academic major.
SBA, which offers exposure to professionals in the sports industry, provides an opportunity to students who feel like their skills and studies don’t necessarily align with one of the university’s numerous professional organizations. A link to SBA’s application can be found in their Instagram bio @ud_sba.
SBA has its beginnings in spring 2024 when Brendan Knight, who would become the founder and president, was interviewing a University of Iowa alum for an assignment in a sports management class. During the conversation he became aware of a student-run professional organization at Iowa focused on the sports industry. Knights knew that no such organization existed at UD. He wanted to change that.
Knight contacted sports management professor Shaun Hamilton, who expressed interested in the idea.
“We want to provide students with a network of people who they can contact and develop professionally outside the classroom,” said Hamilton. “We needed an opportunity to make the major have more real-life experience.”
Knight felt that guest speakers who were established in the industry was one of the best ways to build SBA.
“I felt like I was getting exposure, but there was more I could do,” said Knight. “There are so many alumni who are willing to come back and help, we just had to reach out. We are looking for people who are leaders and have new ideas.”
Knight also emphasized the importance of having members from a diverse background of majors. He looked to the Davis Center for inspiration in the decision to allow all majors into SBA.
“There’s so many kids that are interested in sports that aren’t sports majors,” said Knight. “By joining, they can learn about opportunities where their skills can be applied in the sports world.”
Marisa Musso, now on SBA’s Social Media team and soon to become organization president, said her interest in social media, and the opportunity provided by a new organization, helped her obtain an executive position within SBA.
“When I was looking for colleges, sports management wasn’t even on my radar; we want to change that,” said Musso.
One of the most informative events for SBA was a visit from Mike Penner, executive associate athletic director at Ohio State University. Penner also is a UD alum.
“It was really cool to see how his experience at [UD] shaped his career, and hear about what he actually learned from us,” said Musso. “We don’t have our own alumni, but the UD community looks out for us.”
Another engaging event for SBA was the Flyin’ to the Hoop basketball tournament, Knight said. SBA members volunteered at the tournament, a national event that draws high schools from across the nation as well as throughout Ohio. The tourney normally is held in Kettering during Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday weekend. The event put SBA members in contact with high school sports programs across the state. It also inspired Knight to look at sports from a more local level.
Musso will carry that same sentiment into the next administration, as she is focused on increasing professional services and establishing SBA’s presence at local events.
“We have the foundation, but we can structure ourselves to be stronger,” Musso said. “Dayton Dragons, Dayton Dutch Lions, university sports, and the numerous high school events are all local opportunities.”
Musso said she believes once this foundation is built, SBA can expand its horizons to events hosted by the likes of professional teams such as the Columbus Crew or Cincinnati Reds.
As a professional organization, Musso also stressed the importance of preparation.
“People want help with resumes, and prep for interviews. We want to provide that for them,” she said. In line with that professional focus, Musso plans to streamline the resumes, cover letters, and online interview practices.
Her executive board will also be installing a dues-paying system to create funds for SBA, which would allow the scope of SBA to expand beyond Southwest Ohio.
Our goal is to become more like a business fraternity. Any major, and any experience is welcome,” said Musso. “We care more about curiosity and investment in the organization.”
SBA offers a unique opportunity to apply classroom skills in the sports world. Knight, Musso, and Hamilton said they want creative people itching for the opportunity to be a part of something.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Charles Radgowski produced this article as part of CMM 338: Reporting, a course offered through the Department of Communication at the University of Dayton. In this class, students develop writing skills for journalism and public relations across media platforms, emphasizing clarity, accuracy, and effective information gathering.