Sports are at the center of the entire world around us. From media, to marketing, to medicine, the sports world encapsulates so many of the industries our world revolves around, all while providing entertainment for billions.
Ursinus has invested heavily in their own athletics program, as showcased by venues like Patterson Field and Helfferich Hall. But as far as students looking to pursue careers in athletics, the school’s history of interest is less involved. Just six classes are listed on the Ursinus coursebook as “sports”-related, out of hundreds offered.
This is the reason why the sports industry has become one of Ursinus’ first “APEX Hubs,” as a part of the school’s new focus on providing students with direct career preparation. APEX stands for “Applied, Professional, Experimental,” a new program at the college looking to provide career-focused training for students. The Sports Hub, led by Professor Doron Taussig (who also advises The Grizzly), will look to provide its students with hands-on experience in the sports world, setting them up for career success.
“With so many students who want to have sports in their lives, that’s something we can look to cultivate,” Taussig said. “We can open their eyes and help them find ways to make sports a part of their lives, even after they’re done playing.”
Opening Up Career Opportunities
The largest purpose for the “APEX” labs is to supply Ursinus students with the resources to obtain a career out of college. It’s a serious challenge, especially when it comes to the sports industry. Jobs in the industry are highly competitive, especially for professional teams, and generally require a large amount of experience. It’s why, through this program, Taussig looks to aid students in establishing the connections necessary for these jobs.
The professor explained that the Hub will create panels allowing students to directly interact with Ursinus alumni who have succeeded in the field. This will create opportunities for direct connections. Taussig has plans to potentially bring alumni who work for UBS Arena (home of the New York Islanders), as well as ESPN into the fold.
“We want to give these students the opportunity to meet people [in sports], and hear from them, get ideas from them, and learn from them,” Taussig said.
Beyond connections, hands-on experience might be the most essential piece to jobs in sports. The unemployment rate for recent college graduates continues to skyrocket, reaching near 5% this year per the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. Because of the increasing lack of jobs available right out of college, and competitiveness within the market, the best candidates in all professions often have experience in their field before entering it.
Through the connections made within the sports industry, Taussig hopes to create additional sports internship and externship opportunities for students.
“We’re still in the process of figuring this out, but the Hub could be a place that creates more opportunities in the world of sports, ” Taussig said. “Maybe the Hub will have a clearinghouse of local internship opportunities related to sports, for you to do through CPD (Career and Professional Development), or your department.”
Whether it’s through creating lasting relationships, or job opportunities themselves, the Hub will attempt to give students more paths to success than ever before.
Providing Pathways
The Hub will be a great resource for those who have decided on their future role in the world of sports. But what about those still in the process of deciding? A large portion of underclassmen, due to no requirement to commit to a major until the end of their freshman year, come into the school undecided on their future career. However, per Taussig, the Hub can still be a resource for these students, through providing a look into different career options.
“The speakers and internships we’re bringing in, they’re gonna come from an array of different connected sports paths,” Taussig said. “It’s going to appeal to people with all different skill sets, interests, and expertise.”
Taussig has looked to connect students to these areas through giving the Hub a focus on youth sports. The professor believes the complex world of amateur athletics provides valuable information on the sports world, informing them of the sports world before they venture on their career paths.
“It’s important to think about how you want to affect the world you’re entering,” Taussig said. “Obviously everyone won’t go into youth sports, but it’s important to think about the culture of sports, while simultaneously being ambitious and thoughtful.”
As knowledge of how the world of sports works continues to change, students will be better-informed with their career decisions. “We want them to know about the direction which sports is going as a whole, rather than establishing some kind of set path towards some kind of work,” Taussig said.
For Ursinus, APEX is a serious risk. It’s a strictly career-focused investment by a liberal arts college, a place with a reputation more for “discovery” than developing clear-cut career paths. For Taussig though, it’s an opportunity to connect students to their passions.
“I bring with me an awareness of what it is to love sports and want them in your life,” said Taussig. “And I have a desire to help these students make it happen.”