Samford University's Brock School of Business is adding a sports marketing concentration and course offerings to its curriculum in the fall of 2013.   This concentration will offer students a chance to develop their skills for a career in the multibillion dollar global sports industry.  Darin White, professor of marketing, has been named the coordinator of the newly-formed sports marketing program. 

"Under Darin's direction, the Brock School of Business students have been working on a number of sports marketing projects over the past three years," said Howard Finch, dean of the Brock School of Business.  "We have come to recognize that there is strong demand from students to take classes and to have internships in the business side of the sports industry, therefore, we thought the timing was right to launch this program." 

The Brock School of Business will be one of only 10 AACSB accredited business schools in the country to offer an undergraduate program in sports marketing.  The program will combine classroom training as well as internships and client projects.  Brock students recently completed projects for clients such as Manchester United's major sponsor AON, PGA, Talladega Superspeedway, Regions Tradition Golf Tournament, and the Honda Indy Grand Prix. 

Other key parts of the program include the opportunity for sports marketing students to work and travel abroad to gain industry experience in foreign countries. 

"I have been teaching sports marketing at Brock for a number of years," said White. "I am happy we are now able to offer a wide-range of course work in sports business here at Samford." 

Full-time regular classes in sports marketing will be offered fall semester, which begins in August.

Audio: Learn More About Samford University's Sports Marketing Program