Interview with Professor Dexter Davis

Interview

Professor Davis, in looking at your academic and research interests, you are very focused on experiential learning for students studying sport management. Can you talk a bit about the work you have done in this area, and what some of your takeaways are?

 

Dr. Dexter Davis: I think one of the first takeaways is that students gain a better understanding of the complex nature of any sporting event, whether it’s a local charity golf tournament or a major event like the Super Bowl, there are multiple activities all taking place at the same time and they are all interdependent for event success.

Another key component is the importance of your network knowing your abilities. I can’t remember where I first heard “it’s not who you know, it’s who knows you,” but understanding that idea is vital for long term success in the sport industry.

Therefore, I “preach” the need to not only make contacts and get business cards, but also the importance of – regardless of the event or activity – doing your absolute best at all times.

Finally, some students are only going to be in the sport industry for a short period of time, for multiple reasons, so I stress the importance of developing other skills, not just technical, sport related skills. Developing time management skills, interpersonal skills, and other soft skills are just as important (if not more important) than those technical skills.

It is widely accepted that internships are an important part of any education related to the sports industry. Can you talk a bit about how students should approach these types of experiences, and how they can be sure to get the most out of them?

 

Dr. Dexter Davis: Simply this: Your internship should be a long term interview. Every day you should find a means of impressing your internship mentor, just as you try to impress the person interviewing you for a specific job.

I think it is also important to understand what you like to do and are good at, but it is also important to understand what you need to work on and what you don’t want to do.

I share a story with my interns during our first meeting about my undergraduate experience. My undergraduate degree is in Physical Education and I can remember the buzzer going off in my head when I had to teach a 4 week tumbling and gymnastics unit to elementary students…I knew at that moment my life/career needed to go in a different direction because I wasn’t going to teach 8, 9, and 10 year olds forward rolls for the rest of my career.

As for getting the most out of your [internship] experience: 1) Ask questions, 2) Volunteer for different opportunities, and 3) Never say “no”, and finally 4) Every day learn something new!

Part of our goal at Sports Degrees Online is to highlight and promote areas of growth within the sports industry where some of the best opportunities exist today. Can you take a moment to name a couple of areas that students might not think of in the sports industry where there is good career potential?

 

Dr. Dexter Davis: It’s pretty common knowledge that most entry level positions are in sales, with the next area of positions being in operations. I am of the mind that if you can “sell” you will never be unemployed, however, I also know that there are other emerging areas of growth.

Understanding the changing landscape of collegiate athletics and the role of NIL opportunities is going to provide some interesting careers. The growth of sport gambling and Esports is an interesting arena for jobs.

I have a former student that married his love of sport and his love of gaming into a pretty lucrative consulting business, helping high school students navigate the world of Esports.

I would also be negligent if I didn’t mention the explosion of opportunities in data analytics. Everything, from positioning players on the baseball field to the staffing of concessions, not to mention the sales and marketing impact, is driven by data and its analysis.

At the University of Tennessee Martin, you offer a major in Sport Business. What are some of the strengths of studying a sport management/sport business degree in Tennessee?

 

Dr. Dexter Davis: I think the broad ranging curriculum is a huge strength. As I mentioned previously, some students find out that the sport world isn’t for them and they have that business degree to fall back on.

But, in terms of the sport industry, it really is a Jerry Maguire, “show me the money” world. Everything, from youth sport to the highest levels of professional sport, needs revenue to function. The broad business base helps students understand more than just marketing and sales, as it also requires an understanding of cash flow, micro and macro economics, and even finance.

I’m a little biased, but I think that students with that broad base are better prepared to bring a wider skill set to the industry, and therefore, more valuable employees.

Can you please share some of the benefits of launching your professional career in the sports industry in Tennessee? How is the sports economy generally, and what are some of the major employers where your graduates are finding jobs?

 

Dr. Dexter Davis: We are fortunate to have a growing economy in Tennessee, one only has to look at the boom going on in Nashville to understand that.

The sport industry is alive and well across Tennessee. From the NASCAR track at Bristol (the dirt race is an interesting experience!) in the extreme eastern edge of the state, to the NBA franchise in Memphis, the western edge of the state, there are incredible opportunities for sport careers.

Minor league and collegiate summer league baseball is a great starting point for many careers, and those opportunities are ones that I encourage students to take advantage of whenever possible.

The Titans (NFL) and Predators (NHL) have been a place where some of students have found jobs as well.

I’m an old soccer coach and excited about the opportunities the Nashville SC are providing and was excited when a former student landed the Head of Security position with them. Bottom line is this: if students are willing to step out of their comfort zone and take a chance, there are endless opportunities across the state.