USM Sport Management Students to Compete in National Tournament

Thu, 02/03/2022 - 09:47am | By: Van Arnold

Four students in the Sport Management program at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) will represent the University at the National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship & Conference set for Feb. 7-8 in Atlanta, Ga.

The USM squad is one of 64 teams competing for the national title at State Farm Arena. The teams comprise four tournament brackets: East, West, Midwest and South.

Hundreds of students from schools around the country participate in the championship to make the jump from college to the pros. The NCSSC is an opportunity to showcase sports sales skills in a competitive format. Recruiters (typically inside sales managers) serve as buyers in a role-play competition. Students pitch a product to the buyer. The applicable background information on the product is available in the Study Guide distributed to students in advance.

A judge scores their performance based on a rubric in the Study Guide. Students advance in the bracket and turn the heads of more recruiters. Since the purpose of the competition is for students to land jobs, there is time throughout the event to interview and interact with recruiters.

USM students scheduled to participate include:

• Chipper Baudry, a senior majoring in Sport Management, from New Orleans, La.
• Jerica Galloway, a senior majoring in Sport Management, from Vancleave, Miss.
• Enzo F. Ferreira, a senior majoring in Sport Coaching Education, from Blumenau, Brazil
• Sam Stiglmair, a senior majoring in Sport Management, from Karlshuld, Germany

Chris Croft, assistant professor of Sport Management at USM, points out that the sports sales conference allows schools to have four students representing a team. The four USM students advanced through the process to qualify for first-round competition that was held virtually and the upcoming championship round in Atlanta.

“This is our first time competing in this sports sales conference, and I am extremely proud of our students’ efforts,” said Croft. “They have been committed to learning from sales professionals and being involved in training sessions that include role-playing simulations and speed-selling techniques. The sports sales conference has allowed them to connect with sport industry professionals for upcoming job opportunities.”

Recruiters (typically inside sales managers) serve as buyers in a role-play competition. Students pitch a product to the buyer. The applicable background information on the product is available in the Study Guide distributed to students in advance.

A judge scores their performance based on a rubric in the Study Guide. Students advance in the bracket and turn the heads of more recruiters. Since the purpose of the competition is for students to land jobs, there is time throughout the event to interview and interact with recruiters.

Croft notes that Galloway, Stiglmair, and Baudry were named top-100 sports sales candidates after the virtual first round. Additionally, Galloway and Stiglmair have been named qualifiers in the role-playing championship bracket (64 total slots).

In addition to the national competition, students will have an opportunity to network with professional sports organizations and will attend an Atlanta Hawks game.

The Sport Management program is housed within the College of Business and Economic Development at USM. To learn more, call 601.266.4627 or visit: https://www.usm.edu/undergraduate-programs/sport-management.php