Samford University has received a transformative $1 million gift from distinguished alumnus Gary Cooney '74 to expand the Andrews-White-Cooney Center for Sports Analytics, dramatically enhancing experiential learning opportunities and industry connections for students pursuing careers in the rapidly growing sports business sector.
The center serves as the industry-facing arm of Samford's nationally recognized Sports Industry Program in Brock School of Business, partnering with premier sports organizations worldwide to advance data-driven decision-making in business strategy and competitive performance. As the nation's first sports analytics center housed within an AACSB-accredited business school, the center prepares ethically grounded students for successful careers while serving as an international thought leader at the intersection of analytics, business strategy and sport.
"This generous gift will be transformative for our students," said Darin White, executive director of the center and founder of the Sports Industry Program. "It allows us to strengthen the experiential learning opportunities and industry connections that are essential to all four of our academic pathways. Our students will benefit from enhanced consulting projects, expanded internship placements with top organizations, and deeper engagement with industry leaders who are shaping the future of sports business."
The center's commitment to real-world experience and industry partnerships has produced remarkable outcomes for students. The program boasts a 100% internship and job placement rate, with recent graduates securing positions with elite organizations including the Atlanta Braves (MLB), Tennessee Titans (NFL), Minnesota Vikings (NFL) and Charlotte F.C. (MLS). This success reflects Samford's national recognition, ranked No. 3 for career preparation and No. 7 for student learning opportunities by The Wall Street Journal (2026).
The gift will directly support students across all four Sports Industry Program pathways:
- Fast Track in Sports Business (Undergraduate): This innovative five-year accelerated program allows students to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a 12-month residency at a leading sports organization while completing graduate coursework.
- Sports Marketing Concentration (Undergraduate): This concentration can be added to any business major and prepares students for revenue-generation careers in sports sales, brand management, digital marketing, sponsorship activation and fan engagement.
- Sports Analytics Pathway (Undergraduate): Two specialized sports analytics tracks, Sports Business Strategy and Analytics and Team Strategy and Player Performance, combine rigorous analytics curricula with real-world industry internships.
- Sports Business MBA (Graduate): Available on campus or online, the Master of Business Administrationwith a concentration in sports business provides flexibility for professionals while preparing them for leadership roles in the sports industry with comprehensive business training tailored to the unique dynamics of sports organizations.
Through partnerships with over 250 premier sports organizations—including the LA Dodgers, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, NBA, Atlanta Braves, Bayern Munich F.C. and Celtic F.C. — students engage in hands-on consulting projects that provide invaluable experience. The gift will enable the center to expand these relationships and create even more opportunities for students to work directly with industry leaders on real challenges facing sports organizations today.
Recent student-led projects demonstrate the caliber of work being conducted through the center. Five sports analytics students recently completed a sponsorship ROI measurement project for Cambridge United F.C. in England. Students are currently working with a Scottish Premiership professional soccer team, using analytics to optimize roster construction and transfer market strategy for the 2026-27 campaign. Additionally, the center's research on American soccer fandom was recently featured in the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Bloomingburg News, and the Los Angeles Times, examining what it will take for soccer to achieve mainstream status in the United States after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
"We're incredibly grateful to Gary Cooney for this visionary gift," said Bradley Lail, dean of Brock School of Business. "It enables us to help our students realize their dreams of working in the sports industry by providing them with unparalleled experiential learning and industry connections. Combined with Dr. White's innovative leadership, this investment ensures our students graduate with both the analytical skills and real-world experience that top sports organizations are seeking."
Beyond team partnerships, the center collaborates with leading corporate sponsors including Coca-Cola, Nike, TransAmerica, Mercedes, Mutual of Omaha, Chick-fil-A, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Phillips 66, providing students with exposure to the sponsorship and brand activation side of the sports business.
The center's new name, the Andrews-White-Cooney Center for Sports Analytics, honors three individuals whose lives exemplify excellence. William Cooney, son of benefactor Gary Cooney, and Avery White, son of executive director Darin White, are remembered following their untimely deaths. Their names are joined by that of world-renowned sports medicine physician James R. Andrews, founder of Andrews Sports Medicine.
"This gift represents an investment in the dreams and futures of our students," White added. "It will allow us to provide even more transformative experiences that bridge the classroom and the front office, preparing the next generation of sports business leaders who are not only analytically sophisticated but also grounded in ethical principles."
Learn more about Samford’s Andrews-White-Cooney Center for Sports Analytics and Brock School of Business’ Sports Industry Program here.
