University of South Florida & Tampa Bay Buccaneers Visits (Part I - USF)

With the Tampa Bay Rays and the Tampa Bay Lightning checked off the list, the Baldwin Wallace University Sport Management program continued to knock off the major Tampa Bay area sports organizations off their list with visits to the University of South Florida Athletic Department and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, January 5^th.

When arriving at the Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center, the students were greeted by Dr. Jodie Libadisos, Associate Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Enhancement, Kristen Harris, Director of Selmon Mentoring Institute, and Jennica Mullins, Student-Athlete Enhancement Graduate Assistant. The Selmon Athletics Center was the perfect starting place for the day, as he was the Athletic Director for USF and the first draft pick in team history and a Hall of Fame player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before his passing in 2011. Thus, he spanned both of the organizations the students would visit on the day.

After being greeted by Libadisos, Harris, and Mullins, the group split into three and toured the various buildings and facilities associated with USF Athletics. The tour began with a viewing of the new team meeting room for football and continued with stops at the Student-athlete Enrichment Center, the locker room, the equipment room, the training room, and the weight room. Following the tour of the internal components of the Selmon Athletics Center, the tour visited the Sun Dome, which houses USF men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball. In the Sun Dome, the students visited the Hardwood Club, the Student Club, the Media Center, the basketball practice courts, the team meeting rooms, and the team lounges. The tour concluded with a visit to Corbett Soccer Stadium and a viewing of the football and soccer practice fields.

While the tour had ended, the day at USF wasn’t over for the students, as a panel discussion with Libadisos; Abby Ritter, Assistant Director of Development / Bulls Varsity Club Director; Rosemary Piedmont, Academic Coordinator; Mike Radomski, Assistant Director of Communications - Baseball, Volleyball, Sailing; Andrew Kappers, Assistant Director of Compliance; Steve Guarino, Director of Events, and; Megan MacLeod, Director of Marketing.

During about a 60-minute Q&A, the students peppered the USF Athletic Department staff with questions and inquires about all facets of sport management, graduate school, the career paths each of the staff had taken, internships, and the intricate details of the speakers’ jobs and departments. It was an intense 60-minutes followed by each of the speakers remaining in the conference room to engage with students one-on-one for an additional 20-minutes.

“For the students who want to work in intercollegiate athletics, you can’t beat this experience,” said Asst. Professor of Sport Management James Mattern. “They saw the inner workings of a major NCAA Division I athletic department and we’re able to engage with elite level personnel in a group and one-on-one setting.”

Several of the students echoed Prof. Mattern’s statement, including senior Sport Management major Cade Mickley. “This was a great opportunity for us," said Mickley, "and I was excited to ask Steve [Guarino] about the events he helps run at USF and what it’s like managing all the various sports. Having worked with the Indians and BW Athletic Department I have a good grasp on what’s required, but it was interesting to hear how different organizations manage their events. Plus, it’s a great way for us to make new contacts.”

With the USF portion of the day complete, the students refocused their attention on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (See Part II)

For more information on the Baldwin Wallace University Sport Management program, please contact Asst. Professor Dr. Charles Campisi at ccampisi@bw.edu or visit https://www.bw.edu/academics/undergraduate/sport-management/.

Baldwin Wallace University Sport Management: Experiential Learning from Day One!