SFA Rusche College of Business students place eighth nationally in training competition

Stephen F. Austin State University students studying sports business recently ranked eighth among more than 50 nationwide organizations and universities during the January competition of The Training Game powered by The Sales Huddle Group. Dr. Jason Reese, SFA assistant professor in the Rusche College of Business, said he is using the interactive teaching method to help educate students pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in sports business.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University students studying sports business recently ranked eighth among more than 50 nationwide organizations and universities during the January competition of The Training Game powered by The Sales Huddle Group.

The Training Game is a mobile app designed to train employees using a game format instead of trainers, manuals or webinars. The game uses various modes such as three-minute games, challenges, 20-minute training sessions and more to educate participants. Users can customize the content to reflect their company's needs and policies.

Dr. Jason Reese, SFA assistant professor in the Rusche College of Business, said he is using the interactive teaching method to help educate students pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in sports business.

"The experience provides students opportunities to learn more about various aspects of sport sales and sales in general. This includes the process they go through when making a sale," Reese said.

The competition quizzed students on sales-related topics such as principles of sales, asking clients questions, presenting sales material, how to deal with objecting clients and closing the sale. Students competed with employees of professional sports organizations, including the Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins, Washington Capitals, Houston Dynamo, Red Bull Arena and others.

"Because our sports business degree program is new, this ranking is a huge accomplishment for our students because it helps them stand out from other programs across the nation," Reese said.

SFA's sports business degree program focuses on courses that prepare students for careers in the sports industry, such as sports promotion and sales, sports analytics, sports marketing, sports economics and more. Faculty members create and revise courses by receiving input from industry professionals.

For more information about SFA's sports business degree program, contact Reese at reesejd1@sfasu.edu.