Center for Sports Media Caps off Banner Year

As we conclude the 2023-24 academic year, the Center for Sports Media has been very busy and we have accomplished a lot. Thanks to the guidance and support of a several individuals, we have made significant strides in redefining how students who are trained in media are helping the industry evolve.

Thank you, Bob Ley '76, for your unwavering dedication to Seton Hall, sports media and the education of the younger generation. Jane McManus, your tenure as executive director was instrumental in our success, and we are grateful for your contributions. B.J. Schecter, your leadership is guiding us toward even greater heights. Dean Bryan Crable, your ongoing support has been invaluable to the Center.

Our journey of success would be incomplete without the contributions of our student body. Your enthusiasm, engagement and thirst for knowledge have not only been the driving force behind our achievements but have also enriched the fabric of our Center. We are deeply grateful for your unwavering support and commitment to learning, which has been a cornerstone of our success.

We are looking forward to the fall semester and are already planning some exciting things that we will be able to announce soon. We are just getting started. Stay tuned!

Founded by Seton Hall alum Bob Ley '76 in the fall of 2021, the Center for Sports Media was established to educate students in every facet of a rapidly changing industry while evolving as an institutional thought leader and innovator in the field.

The Center continued to push the envelope during the 2023-24 academic year, hosting nine events in our industry-shaping "Speaker Series." Among the names we welcomed to campus were Stephen A. Smith, Peter King and Doris Burke. Read below for more on our milestone year.

On September 7, ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith spoke to an invitation-only audience in the Student Center. The sports television personality and commentator/producer of ESPN's First Take graced the campus for a candid discussion. The event, attended by a select group of 75 students, offered an invaluable opportunity to gain insights from one of the most influential voices in sports media.

On September 12, play-by-play veteran Kenny Albert spoke before a packed group in the Beck Rooms and gave copies of his new book, A Mic for All Seasons. The FOX sportscaster and New York Rangers radio play-by-play man discussed his childhood and journey into broadcasting before opening the floor for a Q&A session.

On September 28, legendary NFL writer Peter King of NBC Sports spoke to a journalism class and entertained a large group with a Q&A in the UC Theatre. Among the topics discussed were King's introduction to the industry, his transition to Sports Illustrated, and the inception of his nationally renowned "Monday Morning Quarterback" column.

On February 23, Bob Picozzi ’72 and ESPN’s Doris Burke joined us for a candid conversation about basketball and broadcasting. The former colleagues have shared dozens of games in the booth and have over 65 years of combined broadcasting experience. The hour-long event touched on everything about Burke’s career, from growing up in Manasquan, NJ, to her playing days at Providence and subsequent broadcasting career that has seen her become a trailblazer in the field.

On March 26, we welcomed Jeff Benedict to campus. The author of 17 nonfiction books joined the Seton Hall community for a screening of his bestselling book-turned-docuseries, The Dynasty, detailing the inner workings of the New England Patriots' six Super Bowls. Following the screening, B.J. Schecter led a Q&A with Benedict, who touched on topics surrounding his extensive career in sports and how The Dynasty came to be.

On April 22, the Center for Sports Media and Center for Sport Management hosted an event to examine the issues facing college sports with five esteemed experts. The discussion, "Sports and Mental Health: Examining How a Once Taboo Subject is Becoming Accepted," covered everything from NIL to unionization to the transfer portal to the myriad of lawsuits against the NCAA, allowing students to connect and learn with some of the most influential thought leaders in athletics. The panel was led by Center founder Bob Ley and featured former NBA player, Congressman, Olympian and Rhodes Scholar Tom McMillen; Center for Sports Management Director Charles Grantham; The Athletic college sports writer Dana O’Neil; former New York Giants player and Seton Hall alum Leonard Marshall; and journalist/author Joe Nocera.

Later that day, Seth Davis joined a graduate course in the Psychology of Sport and Exercise for a special virtual talk regarding the intersection of sports and mental health. Davis co-wrote a book with former basketball star Rex Chapman: It’s Hard for Me to Live with Me: A Memoir (Simon & Schuster, 2024), which deals with anxiety, depression, addiction and many of Chapman’s mental health struggles during his career. This discussion was moderated by CSM executive director B.J. Schecter.

A special thank you to all our guests who helped make this a landmark year for the Center for Sports Media. Another thank you to our students, who were incredibly enthusiastic and engaging throughout all of our events.

We look forward to continuing to redefine how students are trained in media, communications, sports business, engaging with the sports community, and producing groundbreaking content through University channels and partnerships with major media outlets.

Categories: Athletics