Sports Administration & Management – COMM 4507
Professor: Hayden Coombs, Sharwan Smith 176
haydencoombs@suu.edu

Your Instructor:
My name is Hayden Coombs and I have been a professor in the communication department at SUU since 2016. Upon completing my bachelor’s degree, I spent about six years working as a sports writer, with the majority of my career spent at BleacherReport.com covering the NBA Draft. After I left Bleacher Report, I came to SUU as an assistant director of athletics. I have done marketing, sports information, and fundraising in the administration realm. Over the course of my career I have also worked with organizations such as the Portland Trailblazers, the Phoenix Suns, the NBA G-League, BYU, Snow College, and more. I have also successfully placed students in internships with the following professional franchises: the Sacramento Kings, the Los Angeles Chargers, the Portland Trailblazers, the Utah Jazz, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Colorado Rapids, the Salt Lake Grizzlies, the Las Vegas Golden Knights, and more.

Course Overview:
This course will examine the historical development, current trends, best practices, and future trends of sport administration and management. Foundational principles will be taught within the framework of professional, collegiate, interscholastic, non-traditional, and youth and community sport in select subject areas including: the history of sport management and administration, careers in sport administration and management, marketing, and ethics. Current administrators and managers in a wide variety of sport categories will regularly supplement class materials as guest lecturers to add practical experience to theory and practices offered by the course text.

Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, students will:

• Have thought critically about their career and gained perspective on what skills are necessary to succeed in sport management.
• Understand the different options that exist to obtain a career in the sport management field.
• Grow in their knowledge of foundational principles in sport management on which to build.
• Acquire a baseline understanding of the structure and purpose of the sport industry.
• Be able to discuss the current status and various challenges of sport at the recreational, youth, interscholastic, intercollegiate, and professional levels.

Assignments and Grading:

Attendance and Make up Policy: You will be responsible for all material covered in class. Quizzes, exams, and assignments will be derived from all notes, lectures, case studies, and class discussions

Reading Schedule and Response Papers: Readings and responses will be due at the beginning of class. The readings will come from the book entitled, “The System,” or from other readings, which can be found under the “Readings” tab of our course files in Canvas. Specifics for reading assignments can be found in each individual assignment.

Exams: There will two exams throughout the semester; one during midterms and the other during finals. They will consist of true/false, multiple choice, fill in the blank, and essay questions. Topics will include our readings and in-class discussions.

Grading Guidelines:
I use a standard grading scale (90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, etc.). Occasionally, students are unsatisfied with some dimension of the course. If you have a concern at any time during the course, please come speak with me directly. I enforce a “24/7 rule” when it comes to grade appeals. There is a 24-hour rule in effect for all papers and tests: you may not contact me regarding the grade you earned until at least 24 hours after the assignment is returned. Additionally, you must contact me within seven days of the assignment being returned to you. After a week has passed I will not be willing to discuss past assignments. If you want to appeal a grade, you must make the grade appeal in writing to me. It is my policy that I will not discuss grade appeals via email or in class. Prepare and submit a typed argument indicating what your specific appeal is, what grade you believe you deserved, and a justification for that grade. You must have a legitimate argument for the grade change. Turn in the appeal before or after class, or at a scheduled appointment within one week of the grade being returned.

Required Materials:

The System: The Glory and Scandal of Big-Time College Football
Benedict & Keteyian ISBN: 978-0-345-80303-0

Class Policies:
1. Academic Dishonesty– Cheating on exams and plagiarism of papers constitutes grounds for failure of that assignment, and potential failure of this course.
2. Late Work– Unless we have made previous arrangements, late work will not be accepted. Please don’t even ask.
3. Out of Class Contact– The best way to get in contact with me outside of class is with a simple text message. Feel free to text, call, Facebook message, or email me at any time. I will respond at my earliest convenience, but will most likely to give you a quick response if you text me.
4. Respect & Flexibility- This semester will be unlike any other that you’ve taken and I’ve taught. As long as you remain patient with me and your classmates, I promise to always do the same. Give each other the benefit of the doubt and I promise we will get through this together.