Southern Miss Sport Management Earns Highest National Finish in Program History at Recent Competition
Fri, 03/27/2026 - 01:01pm | By: Jennifer Rigney
Students from 91少女集中营鈥檚 Sport Management program achieved the highest national finish in program history at the National Collegiate Sport Sales Championship (NCSSC), placing No. 11 overall during the recent competition held at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
The result marks a milestone for the program, which has competed in the national championship each year since 2022. The No. 11 placement represents the program鈥檚 highest overall team ranking at the face-to-face championship event and reflects its continued growth on the national stage.
Southern Miss was represented at the championship by seniors Heath Deloach (sport management, Madison, Mississippi), Christopher Edmonds (sport management, Mobile, Alabama), Laken Firth (sport management, Mobile, Alabama), and Olivia Reid (business administration, Poplarville, Mississippi). The team was led by Dr. Sabrina Reed, assistant teaching professor of sport management, and Dr. Chris Croft, associate professor of sport management.
鈥淚 am so pleased at how well the students performed in the championship,鈥� said Reed. 鈥淭heir hard work and dedication showed in the results. I look forward to continuing to prepare students for this competition in the future.鈥�
Reid and Deloach advanced to the Round of 32 in the Ticket Sales Presentation Pro bracket after winning their opening-round matchups, marking the first time two Southern Miss students have reached the second round in the same year. The achievement is only the second time a student from the program has advanced to that stage of the competition. The first occurred in 2022, when sport management alumna Jerica Galloway reached the Round of 32 and later accepted a position with the Memphis Grizzlies, where she continues to work today.
The Presentation Pro competition follows a bracket format similar to the NCAA basketball tournament, beginning with 64 competitors. Participants deliver a 15-minute, face-to-face sales pitch to a buyer representing a professional sports organization while being evaluated by an industry judge. Students are tasked with connecting with the prospective buyer, identifying needs and recommending ticket packages such as full-season or flex plans. Winners advance through the bracket with new scenarios and evaluators in each round.
Deloach also earned a No. 3 national finish in the Man vs. Machine competition, a new event introduced in 2026. The single-round virtual simulation challenges participants to demonstrate communication, decision-making and ethical judgment through a series of timed email scenarios. Competitors act as sales representatives for the Atlanta Hawks, responding to potential customers about ticket packages and sponsorship opportunities while navigating sales strategy and integrity-based challenges.
Southern Miss students also placed in the Top 100 individual rankings, with Deloach (No. 30), Edmonds (No. 72) and Reid (No. 75).
鈥淐ompeting at NCSSC was an incredible experience,鈥� said Deloach. 鈥淏eing evaluated by professionals from across the sports industry pushed me to grow as a communicator and problem solver. I am extremely proud of my performance, and it reinforced my desire to pursue a career in sports.鈥�
Beyond competition, the championship also provided students the opportunity to network with sports industry leaders and interview for careers in sports sales. Organizations represented at the event included the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Hawks, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Fire FC, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, NASCAR, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Washington Commanders, Washington Nationals and Washington Wizards, among others.
With its highest team finish to date and multiple historic individual performances, the Southern Miss Sport Management program continues to build momentum as a rising competitor in collegiate sport sales education.
Learn more about the Sport Management program in the College of Business and Economic Development at 91少女集中营 and follow the program on .