UA’s Sport Management Lecture Series Kicks Off Friday

Note to Editors/Producers: Each speaker will be available either before or after the lecture for interviews. Reporters should contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, prior to the lecture if they would like to interview any of the speakers.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The 2014 University of Alabama Distinguished Lectures in Sport Management series offers the University and West Alabama communities talks ranging from marketing the Harlem Globetrotters to career opportunities in the sporting goods industry.

Presented by the College of Human Environmental Sciences’ sport management program, each lecture is designed to discuss various aspects of sports administration and management. The lectures are free and open to the public. All fall lectures will be held at 1 p.m. in 247 Bryant Hall.

The schedule includes:

Aug. 29: “Mental Health Considerations for Sports Professionals,” presented by Tim Neal, who retired from Syracuse University this summer as assistant director of athletics for sports medicine.

Neal authored the “Catastrophic Incident in Athletics” guideline, and authored revisions in the “Mental Health: Interventions for Intercollegiate Athletics” guideline in the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook. He served on the panel for the NCAA Concussion in Sport Medical Management Summit.

Neal served as the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Liaison to the NCAA Football Rules Committee from 2004-2009, writing language for the helmet contact penalty, defenseless opponent penalty, and the Horse Collar Tackle penalty in college football. He also wrote passages in the Points of Emphasis section of the NCAA Football Rules Book on concussions, hydration, and MRSA. In 2013, Tim served on the NCAA Student-Athlete Mental Health Task Force.

Sept. 5: “Harlem Globetrotters — Partnership Marketing & Sales,” presented by David Vinturella, the Harlem Globetrotter’s vice president of marketing

The Harlem Globetrotters began in 1926 as the Savoy Big Five. Now, more than 85 years and 20,000 games later, the team has become one of the most recognizable franchises in sports.

Sept. 12: “Career Opportunities in the Sporting Goods Industry,” presented by Cathy Pryor, with the National Sporting Goods Association

Pryor serves on the National Sporting Goods Association’s board of directors and is the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame committee chairman. She has worked at Hibbett Sports since 1988, previously holding positions as district manager and director of store operations and vice president of operations. She now serves as the company’s senior vice president of operations.

Sept. 19: “Evolution of Radio and Television Rights in College Athletics,” presented by Butch Henry, the former direct of Crimson Tide Sports Marketing and 40-year veteran of college athletics.

Oct. 17: “Leadership Skills for Sport Professionals,” presented by Ann Marie Wagoner, director of meetings and events with Learfield Sports

Learfield Sports empowers businesses and universities by connecting big brands to the excitement, passion, tradition, fans and fun of college sports, through customized marketing solutions and experiences. The company’s marketing experts create customized campaigns, utilizing the multimedia assets of collegiate partners to meet its client’s marketing objectives.

Nov. 14: “Leadership & Marketing in the Sport Industry,” presented by Michael K. Lawson, lecturer of managerial studies at Vanderbilt University

Lawson is the founder & CEO of 4A Management, which is a marketing and management firm that specializes in corporate consulting, sports and entertainment.