SHU Student Competes in National Sports Sales Contest

Patrick Rescsanski’s performance in preliminaries qualified him for collegiate competition

Patrick Rescsanski ’24, a sport management student in Sacred Heart University’s Jack Welch College of Business & Technology (WCBT), recently participated in the National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship (NCSSC). He is the first SHU student to qualify for the event.

The NCSSC is an opportunity for students to showcase their sports sales skills in a competitive format. Job recruiters serve as buyers in a role-play competition, while students act as the sales associates tasked with making a sale. The students are given a case study in preparation for this, and their performance is judged by the recruiters based on a rubric. Throughout the competition, students have opportunities to interview and interact with job recruiters.

To qualify for the national championship in Atlanta, GA, Rescsanski attended training sessions and then placed high enough in a virtual competition to advance. “There were more than 70 schools in the virtual competition, each with four competitors. So, making the championship round is something I am definitely proud of,” said Rescsanski.

In Atlanta, he competed in a bracket-style, 64-participant sports sales contest at State Farm Arena. Although he did not advance past the first round, he said the experience was worthwhile because he built connections with sales representatives from different sports teams.

“I am so grateful that I had this opportunity because I met so many amazing people. I am most grateful for meeting other competitors who, like me, are the future of this field,” said Rescsanski. “There were so many interesting stories and lessons to learn from people with different backgrounds. It was cool that at the end of the day, we all share the same passion.”

Rescsanski credits the WCBT and his sales class with Sam Schelfhout, assistant professor in sport management, for his piqued interest in sporting event ticket sales. He said he not only enjoys the uniqueness and competitiveness of that line of work, but also the opportunity to help people create the kind of fond memories he has of attending sporting events as a child.

“I am thrilled to see Patrick excel in this national setting, and his journey is a testament to the outstanding opportunities available to students at the WCBT,” said Schelfhout. “All of us in the sport management program are proud of Patrick’s accomplishments and are grateful for the support of SHU alums and industry partners, whose mentorship helped prepare him for this incredible opportunity.”

Rescsanski was mentored leading up to the NCSSC by SHU alums Dan Tamburro ’11, ticket sales director for the Connecticut Sun basketball team, and Zack Tsamisis ’18, sales manager for MSG Sports, along with Jessica Beer, inside sales manager for the Philadelphia Flyers ice hockey team. David Taylor, WCBT dean, and Khawaja Mamun, associate dean, as well as management department professors, also supported him on his journey.

“A chief goal of our program is to provide students with opportunities for experiential learning and networking. Sport management is a very hands-on, skills-based profession and those that get involved early and often are our most successful. Patrick’s preparation, performance and professionalism throughout was impressive and admirable. Many thanks to our dedicated program alumni and to our faculty and administration for recognizing the value in this competition,” said Josh Shuart, director of the sport management program at SHU.