Center for Sport Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University

On March 17, 2012 Cedarville University Men's Basketball, with CSL alum Ryan Neises (Class of 2010) on staff, won its first ever NCCAA Division 1 National Championship. Neises serves as Assistant Men's Basketball Coach for the Ohio school which is completing its transition year from NAIA to NCAA Division 2 athletics.

Because 2011-2012 was a transition year for the Yellow Jackets, the team was ineligible to compete in the NCAA Division 2 national tournament. Instead, they were privileged with competing in the National Christian College Athletic Association tournament. Cedarville was the #1 seed in their region, and eventually became the #1 seed in the national tournament which was played in Lake Winona, Indiana the week of March 12. NCAA and NAIA teams from all over the nation came to Indiana to try and take home the title, but Cedarville won their three games during the week by an average of 18.7 ppg, dominating their way to the national championship.

The team completed the season with a 23-9 record in their first season competing at the NCAA Division 2 level. CU's toughest schedule in the history of their program led them to play 11 consecutive road games at the beginning of the season. The challenging stretch included games at three Top 10 Division 2 teams in the nation, as well as a game at Division 1 Nevada in which Cedarville took the Wolfpack to the limit and had the game within one possession with 2 minutes to go.

The gritty Cedarville team learned from their adversity and got better on their way to a national championship season. The Yellow Jackets lose only one Senior and is well prepared for their first year eligible for Division 2 postseason, and they will join the newly formed GMAC Conference with teams stretching from Ohio to Tennessee.

Cedarville is under the direction of Head Coach Pat Estepp and in addition to Neises, is also assisted by Brent Newman. As Neises adds "national champion" to his resume he looks forward to continuing his coaching career carrying the VCU Center for Sport Leadership name with him.

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Lobs & Lessons was announced as one of the National Junior Tennis & Learning Chapters of the Year for 2011. Read the official press release -> USTA Announces 2011 NJTLs of the Year

The program was presented the award January 13, 2012 at the Community Tennis Development Workshop in New Orleans, LA. A mini-documentary about Lobs & Lessons (shown above), filmed by the United States Tennis Association, was also unveiled at the awards banquet. This is an exciting time for the program! Read more about the USTA's grassroots tennis national award winners here.

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On October 15, 2011, Washington D.C. was the site for a NBA Lockout exhibition game between professional players from the nation's capital and Philadelphia, PA. The CSL's own Clifton Mitchell (Class of 2012) interned with the organization who put on the event, and catalogued his experiences below:

Dubbed as Chocolate City vs. the City of Brotherly Love, this game was one for bragging rights filled with pre-game trash talk between players and fans from both cities. The D.C. Team was led by Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), John Wall (Washington Wizards), DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings), Sam Young (Memphis Grizzlies), Jeff Green (Boston Celtics), Nolan Smith (Portland Trailblazers), and Jarrett Jack (New Orleans Hornets). The Philly Team featured Lou Williams (Philadelphia 76ers), Hakim Warrick (Phoenix Suns), Kyle Lowry (Houston Rockets), Jason Thompson (Sacramento Kings), Ronald "Flip" Murray (Turkey), and Dionte Christmas (Greece). Held at Calvin Coolidge High School in the northwest section of the city, the gym was packed with over 2,000 people in attendance. There was a large group of fans from the Philadelphia area as well as hundreds of young basketball players from local high schools and colleges. It was evident that both the public and media were starving for real basketball action as TNT's David Aldridge and the Washington Post's Ivan Carter were spotted in the crowd. Even the Grizzlies' Tony Allen and former Cleveland Cavalier, Delonte West stopped by to check out the game.

The game began with a long jump shot from Kevin Durant that sent the D.C. fans into frenzy; Durant has definitely become a local legend amongst the city's historic basketball scene. As the first quarter moved along it was plain to see that the Philadelphia team were focused and wasn't taking this game lightly; all week there had been discussion on which city produced the best ball players. With 4 minutes left in the first quarter Team Philly was up by 10 after a 3 pointer by Christmas; by this point they were in full control. The D.C. Team seemed to lack enthusiasm, but out of nowhere came John Wall rushing out of the locker room to check in. Wall flew in straight from Kentucky; the night before he participated in his former school's Midnight Madness activities. As soon as Wall entered the game he went to work scoring on a couple of lay-ups, however, Williams, Lowry, and Thompson continued to score in a variety of ways for Philadelphia. At the 9:36 mark of the second quarter Jeff Green converted on a lay-up and was fouled; He hit the free throw which made the score 55-34. Sam Young chipped in and nailed a three pointer, and Durant followed up with a dunk to cut the lead to 57-39. Later, in the second quarter Team Philly was up by nine with 1 minute to go in the half 80-71, but Durant, Cousins, and Wall started to take charge. At half time the score was 85-75 Team Philly.

The second half pace really picked up in the third quarter and the game became really competitive. The stars of the game were Lou Williams, Kevin Durant, and John Wall. The local team got a lift from former Duke standout Nolan Smith as he hit a three pointer to make it a five point ball game. Then Team Philly hits the back end of two free throws to make it 92-86. Mardy Collins came along and hit a two point field goal and put Philly up 98-90. With 6:16 left in the 3rd Smith started a fast break and Durant finished the play, he was fouled and he hit the free throw at this point the score was 101-96; everyone was standing in their seats as the action heated up! Lou Williams and Hakim Warrick both had some exciting two-handed dunks that made the Philly faithful stand up and cheer. Team Philly still had the lead in the game but it was slipping they were up at one point in the 3rd 108-99. Kevin Durant brought life back to the DC crowd by hitting a three and then by scoring three free throws after getting fouled in a three point attempt. Lou Williams would not let DC take the lead; his dunk made it 110-108.

The fourth quarter was like an old NBA playoff duel between Durant and Williams. Durant would finish the night with 56 points and Williams finished with 55 points. John Wall had 38 points and DeMarcus Cousins had 20 rebounds. In the 4th DC took the lead at 123-121 behind Durant's hot hand, Cousins' rebounding, and Wall's fast break layups. Lou Williams connected on several jump shots and three pointers in the quarter that eventually sealed the victory for his team and he wrapped up game MVP honors. Team Philly outlasted Team D.C. 172-169.

Speaking of his experiences organizing the game, Clifton Mitchell commented, "This was a wonderful internship experience. I was able to implement many of the principles I've learned during my studies within the Sport Leadership Program. I assisted the event staff with game setup, event promotions, and the social media campaign. Unlike many professional basketball summer league games or exhibitions I've attended, this particular game felt like an actual NBA affair because of the pre-game build-up, advertisement, intensity of the crowd, and exceptional play by of the players."

Written by: Clifton Mitchell, CSL Class of 2012

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Congratulations to the VCU MBA program, which was recently ranked #51 by Bloomberg Buisnessweek. For more information, please see the following related stories:

http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/rankings/

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/nov/18/tdbiz01-virginia-business-briefs-for-nov-18-ar-1467404/

http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/rankings/part_time_mba_profiles/vacommonwealth.html

http://www.news.vcu.edu/news/VCU_School_of_Business_PartTime_MBA_is_Nationally_Ranked

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RICHMOND, Va.--While most VCU students were catching ZZZ's on the first day of fall break, CSL students and staff were catching a 6 a.m. bus to Charlotte, N.C., ready to experience many of the sporting opportunities the Queen City has to offer.

The first stop on the tour was Charlotte Motor Speedway where the group met with Michael Burch, Vice President of National Sales and Marketing for Speedway Motorsports, Inc (SMI). Burch, an adjunct professor for the distance learning CSL program, spoke to the importance of being a salesperson for your product and building strong relationships with sponsors and partners. After the discussion session with Burch, students and staff took a driving tour of the speedway grounds. They had the opportunity to see the zMax Dragway, dirt track, and the winner's circle before taking to the track to experience the turns for themselves.

After experiencing the exhilaration of Charlotte Motor Speedway, the CSL was on its way to the US National Whitewater Center to meet with Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Shelton. The US National Whitewater Center is an outdoor recreation and environmental education center that boasts man-made rapids, rock-climbing, zip lines, a canopy tour and numerous trails. Mr. Shelton gave the group a behind-the-scenes look at operating and marketing efforts, highlighting pricing strategies and specialty promotions that work well for the Whitewater Center. The group capitalized on their visit as many students and staff chose to experience whitewater rafting, many for the first time. David Theby, a dual-degree student in the CSL/MBA program, said "it was a great experience to share the adrenaline rush of being on the rapids with your classmates and use it as a teambuilding experience going forward." Day one of the trip ended on a high (yet incredibly wet) note, prepping the group for an exciting second day of travel.

Day two dawned early, kicking off with a trip to Bank of America Stadium, the home of the Carolina Panthers. Students and staff were greeted by Danny Morrison, President of the Panthers, Henry Thomas, Director of Broadcasting & New Media, and Dan LaTorraca, New Media Manager. The Panthers staff advised that gaining experience, building relationships, and gaining marketable skills are all key components to being successful in the sports industry. As a part of the day, the CSL also consulted on the Panthers' new mobile application, giving insightful feedback on how to improve the app before it fully launches to the public.

Next stop was just across town at Time Warner Cable Arena, where students and staff met with CSL alumni to tour the facility and discuss the operations of the Charlotte Bobcats. Trista Langdon ('04), Director of Arena & Event Operations, and Alan Wheeling ('09), Account Manager for Premium Services of Bobcats Sports & Entertainment, took turns discussing their day-to-day roles for the Bobcats as well as some of the difficulties currently facing the industry. Ben Snyder, a first year dual-degree student, thought it was a great chance "to get insight into ticket sales at a professional level, knowing that he [Alan] was in our seats two years ago."

After a quick break for lunch, the group boarded the bus for their final destination in the Queen City--the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. First on the agenda was a meeting with Judy Rose, Director of Athletics for the Charlotte 49ers, who, at the time she was named AD at Charlotte (1990), was just the third female athletic director at the Division I level. Rose gave valuable insight into her experiences as a female in the sports industry, emphasizing that a title does not automatically impart respect. Respect must be earned, particularly as a woman, and can be done by being honest, having integrity, and getting involved.

Bringing a close to the trip was the Alumni Panel, where seven former CSL students gathered to answer questions and provide guidance to the current cohort. The panel fielded several questions about the industry and their journeys since graduate school, proving to be a great source of information for the students. At the close of the panel, all of the alumni were happy to meet with students one-on-one to answer questions and connect on a professional level.

The trip as a whole was a vast learning experience for the Center for Sport Leadership. Charlotte provided opportunities to tour top sporting facilities, speak with key sports professionals and connect classroom concepts with real world applications.

By: Devon Howard, CSL Class of 2012

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September 19, 2011

RICHMOND, Va.--The Center for Sport Leadership was treated to an international perspective on the power of sports when Gill Taylor, National Manager for the Macsteel Maestros at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SA), came to visit and share her experiences with the students. Taylor works with South African youth athletes and SA national sports teams on both practical and intangible life skills training.

Taylor was a school teacher and field hockey coach before finding her niche in life skills training after working as the African Hockey Coaching Ambassador. She created and implemented the life skills training program as a missing component to the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, emphasizing the importance of life skills to athletes who will be playing internationally. These lessons include practical lessons, such as restaurant etiquette and computer technology, as well as intangible life skills including team work and conflict resolution. As a result, she has been able to help many South African athletes have successful sport experiences.

Taylor was a fascinating woman who has accomplished many things including adjusting to a changing sport environment post-apartheid. Though it is difficult for most CSL students to relate to that experience, she offered many concrete examples of the stark differences that she faces on a daily basis when working with athletes. She additionally shared her struggles and successes in working with Olympic athletes and conducing life skills training for over 840 premier level soccer players in South Africa as the country prepared to host the 2010 World Cup.

When asked what her advice to future sport managers would be, Taylor emphasized the importance of getting outside of one's comfort zone and using one's passion to create a niche in the world. She also wanted the students to remember "We are what we choose to be, not what made us to be," something she reminds her athletes of constantly.

For more information about the life skills program, please visit www.macsteelmaestros.co.za. To read more about the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, please visit www.ssisa.com.

By: Devon Howard, CSL Class of 2012

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