December 3, 2022
Meet Professor David Perricone
“The students will, and have been, defining the success of this program. They’ve put this program on the map.” Professor Dave Perricone and his Sports Management program is all about the students and giving them the opportunity to get the experience they need to secure a job after graduation. His classes aren’t easy but they all have a purpose through doing projects with sports industry professionals, such as those from the New York Red Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, and Pocono Raceway to name a few.
David Perricone with Student
Before Centenary, Professor Perricone worked at the New Jersey Devils for twenty years. In that time span, he rose from an Intern to the Senior Director of Merchandise. He made the move into teaching after he went back to his alma mater, Robert Morris University, for a conference where he realized he wanted to share his knowledge and experience with future sports industry leaders. And that is what he has done at Centenary for the past six years.
The Sports Management program is very beneficial because it teaches students everything from being a professional, planning events, creating and carrying out marketing plans, professional selling in sports, and much more. The best part about classes is that you are assigned real-world tasks. You are not just reading in a textbook and taking tests; you are working with professional teams and companies giving you the experience in the industry to start your career. In Professor Perricone’s class you can expect to receive more than a couple of emails per semester about volunteering opportunities, internships, and networking events to get involved in. When I asked him about his favorite part of the program he said, “Watching my students, such as yourself, come in as freshman and watching them grow between then and senior year has to be the best part.”
As a junior sports management major, I have to say this program is a life changer. It provides you with every opportunity you need to jump right into the industry as soon as you step on campus. I definitely made the right choice with the Centenary Sports Management program.