Troy University’s Bachelor of Sport Management Program has undergone a transformative journey, leveraging innovative tools such as the Athlete Assessments’ Sports ManagerDISC Profile to enhance student learning and career readiness. Originally established as a sport management major in the early 2000s, the program has since evolved into the School of Hospitality, Sport, and Tourism Management, expanding to offer majors in hospitality and tourism management, along with minors in event management, eSport management, and beverage management. The growth of the program is a testament to the exceptional faculty, who are committed to delivering a high-quality experience that sets students up for success in their future careers.
Dr. Rob Mathner, Associate Director & Professor of Sport Management, who has been a pivotal figure in the program’s evolution. Reflecting on its development, he shares, “Our program’s growth into a school in 2015 marked a strategic expansion. We aimed to equip students not only with academic knowledge but also with practical skills essential for success in the competitive sports industry.”
A key part of the program’s approach to developing these skills in their students has been the evolving partnership with Athlete Assessments, specifically through the integration of the Sports ManagerDISC Profile into the curriculum to enhance each student’s individual development. Dr. Mathner elaborates,
“The Sports ManagerDISC Profile has been integral to our educational framework. Initially introduced in our capstone course, the DISC Assessment helps students understand how their behaviors and communication styles impact team dynamics.”
Working closely with Dr. Mathner are Dr. Nicole Sellars, Sport Management Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor, and Dr. Heather Lewis, Associate Professor of Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management. Both highlight the significant value that the DISC Assessment brings to students’ personal growth.
While the primary aim of the Sports ManagerDISC Profile tool is to develop self-awareness by providing insights into students’ behavioral tendencies and how they prefer to approach tasks, situations, or people, its application extends far beyond this. Dr. Mathner explained,
“The DISC assessment equips students with a deeper understanding of their behavioral tendencies and how they can leverage these insights in professional settings. This self-awareness empowers students to articulate their strengths confidently during job interviews and demonstrates their ability to contribute effectively to organizational goals.”
The use of DISC in the classroom also enhances the students’ ability to collaborate and work effectively with others. By understanding their DISC styles, students can start to identify similarities and differences in others, which helps them navigate team dynamics and improve their communication. Dr. Sellars and Dr. Lewis add,
“Beyond helping students understand and improve their leadership, teamwork, and interpersonal skills, we use the ‘Ideal Work Environment’ recommendations detailed in each student’s report to help them consider professional positions and environments that best fit their work style.”
Dr. Mathner emphasizes, “This proficiency is invaluable in the sports industry, where teamwork and effective communication are essential for success. Collaboration among the Troy faculty has been crucial in maximizing the impact of the DISC Assessments across the curriculum, and they work closely to explore ways to expand the integration of DISC across the program. Dr. Mathner shared how they apply the tool within other class activities to provide students with practical career preparation, “Students utilize their DISC Profiles to refine their resumes, craft compelling cover letters, and prepare effectively for job interviews. This strategic use of self-awareness and communication skills gives our graduates a competitive edge in securing internships and entry-level positions.”
Dr. Sellars also shares a simple activity she uses that incorporates students’ DISC results into any course through ‘Leadership Scenarios’.
She explains, “After shifting students into small, homogenous groups based on their preferred behaviors from the DISC Report, the groups are presented with the same decision-making scenario and asked to verbally report their course of action. This is a great way for students to see both their similarities and differences as it relates to leadership behaviors. For example, we might have a group of students with more a dominant behavioral style who decisively agree to immediately fire an employee who hasn’t shown up to work. On the other hand, a group of students whose preferred style is steadiness might lean toward a calmer approach, offering patience and support to the employee. After all courses of action are shared, the class discusses the pros and cons of each, offering suggestions and feedback.”
Feedback from students after using the Sports ManagerDISC in the final-year capstone course, which included a guest lecture from Liz Masen, CEO of Athlete Assessments, was overwhelmingly positive with one asterisk;
“this is fantastic*”
“*but we wish we had it earlier!”
This feedback prompted the program to introduce the Sports ManagerDISC one year earlier, in the Leadership Principles class. Dr. Mathner explains,
“By embedding the DISC into our leadership curriculum, students gain insights into their strengths and adaptability early on. This proactive approach empowers students to develop robust leadership philosophies and interpersonal skills, preparing them comprehensively for careers in sport management.”
Dr. Lewis adds,
“The diversity of assessments and support provided by Athlete Assessments has been invaluable for our program because our Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management students are also required to take the Leadership Principles course. We are thankful for the offering of the Team8 DISC Assessment for them, providing an equally tailored report to help them just like our Sport Management students.”
One of the key benefits of Athlete Assessments’ Academic Program, is the comprehensive resources that accompany the use of the DISC Assessments. In addition to completing their DISC Profile and attending guest lectures, students gain access to Online Learning Dashboards on various topics like Sport Management, Leadership, Career Preparation, and Team Dynamics, along with a 200+ page Student Learning Guide. While students only complete their DISC Profile once, programs like Troy’s ensure they get the most out of the available resources.
Dr. Mathner adds,
“The partnership with Athlete Assessments has been crucial. We often describe the Sport ManagerDISC Profile as a personalized textbook. Students are not only provided with information about their preferred behaviors in and out of the workplace, but they are also given recommendations for how to adjust those behaviors to better assist in their personal and professional development.”
Looking ahead, Troy University plans to further integrate the Sports ManagerDISC Profile by introducing it even earlier in the curriculum. Now, students will take the assessment in their sophomore year as part of the Introduction to Sport Management class, while continuing to apply it in the Leadership Principles and Capstone classes. Dr. Mathner explains,
“We aim to foster self-awareness and adaptive growth from the outset. This initiative will empower students to navigate their academic and professional paths with confidence, and ensure they receive consistent support in leveraging their DISC Profiles throughout their academic journey.”
He adds, “By shifting the Sports ManagerDISC to introductory classes, we can integrate DISC concepts throughout the entirety of the program and help students build their skills over several years. Among many other benefits, the Athlete Assessments system allows us to frame the Sports ManagerDISC results in the context of course focus areas. For example, instructors will be able to use the profiles to discuss how individual students approach problem-solving in Case Studies, resource allocation in Finance, creative thinking in Marketing, and career development in Senior Seminar.”
Troy University’s Bachelor of Sport Management program exemplifies the strategic use of the Sports ManagerDISC Profile, maximizing its impact and demonstrating the university’s commitment to holistic student development. We are grateful to the Troy team for sharing insights into how they continue to set a benchmark for excellence in sport management education, ensuring their graduates leave with the skills they need, are well-prepared to make meaningful contributions to the field and excel in their future careers in the competitive sports industry.
Where to from here?
If this article has sparked some ideas about how you can contribute to your own students’ professional development and experience, we encourage you to reach out to our team. Whether you teach Sport Management, Coaching, Health Science, or even Tourism, Business, or other disciplines, Athlete Assessments’ Academic Program can be tailored to your course focus and students.
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