What People Are Saying About the Program

Here's what Sport Business leaders are saying about the DeVos Sport Business Management Program. For more information, contact Philomena Pirolo via email, or call 407-823-4887.

"For those who labor (or would labor) in the ever-expanding field of 'sports business,' the launch of a university graduate studies program in the business of sports is a cause for celebration. A curriculum that combines the charitable and community-service record and aspirations of Rich and Helen DeVos, on the one hand, with Richard Lapchick's understanding of the power of sports to propel social change on the other, is a cause for jubilation. The University of Central Florida has a winner on its hands!"

-David Stern - Commissioner, National Basketball Association

"Having the program based in a business college is critical because of the need for strong business skills in the sports industry. I am absolutely in agreement that a key component of your program will be the extensive business college curriculum offered. We would look forward to having your graduates... as candidates for professional positions at Disney. We need programs like yours nationally as there are no other sport management programs with critical social values underlining the sport business curriculum."

-Reggie Williams - Former Vice President, Disney Sports Attractions

"Master's degrees in Sport Business Management are all too rare. Sports is not just big business, it is vastly more complex than many other mainstream enterprises_I would expect that a candidate with a Master's in Business Management be steeped not only in the business of sports, but also in its moral imperatives."

-Mark Shapiro - Chief Executive Officer for Red Zone; Former Sr. VP for Programming and Acquisitions, ESPN

"A leader without a sound philosophical base, a moral conscience and understanding of ethical decision-making is no leader at all... the examination of case studies on critical issues is an absolute must and the core strength of any sport management curriculum."

-Donna Lopiano - Director, Women's Sports Foundation

"I also believe strongly that sports ARE uniquely qualified in our culture to unify people from all walks of life and to transmit important values, and that sports leagues and other sports organizations have both an opportunity and a responsibility to support causes that have a positive effect on communities (nationally and locally). A sports management degree program that emphasizes the role of sports in our culture and the types of social programs that can be positively impacted by sports... would clearly be of enhanced value."

-Val Ackerman -President, USA Basketball and Former President, WNBA

"Although many candidates love the idea of being involved in 'sports,' the reality is that we are running a 'business' whose goods and services simply happen to be sports-related. All of the fundamental principles which apply in the business world... also apply to our industry... Course work in the area of diversity training, and its social, moral and legal implications, would be viewed as a plus in evaluating a candidate's background."

-Arnold Fielkow - Vice President Councilmember at Large; Former Executive Vice President Administration, New Orleans Saints

 "Candidates who have graduated from a Sport Business Management graduate program that combines a strong business curriculum with sport specific courses while emphasizing diversity issues, community service, philanthropy and an understanding of how social issues impact sport are valuable to the NHL."

-Bernadette Mansur - Group Vice President, Communications, NHL