Major Momentum – Growing Excellence in Sport Administration

The symposium attracted 166 attendees, featuring students from five high schools and six colleges, as well as industry professionals representing 23 sports organizations. Most impressively, 40 Simpson students designed, organized and executed the event.

“Our symposium is the largest student-run event in the state,” said Matt Garrett, professor of sport administration. “Our students are completely running it, giving them a tremendous sense of pride and accomplishment.” The symposium provides unique access to career-shaping insights
and invaluable networking opportunities.

The symposium provides unique access to career-shaping insights and invaluable networking opportunities.

“It [The symposium] brings in big names in the world of sports,” said Taylor Carlson ’27, who will serve as chair of next year’s event. “We have a chance for one-on-one interactions, which is really special. You don’t get to meet people in your field like that every day.”

Close to Countless Opportunities

In addition to creating opportunities for engagement with top industry leaders at the symposium and in his classroom, Garrett offers students a variety of field trips to visit major sports franchises across Des Moines and throughout the upper Midwest.

Complementing those experiences, says Garrett, is the great diversity of game-changing internships available to students — thanks to Simpson’s ideal Indianola location.

“We’re just 20 to 25 minutes away from Des Moines, where we have Triple A baseball (Iowa Cubs), the equivalent of Triple A basketball (Iowa Wolves) and hockey (Iowa Wild) and arena football (Iowa Barnstormers). We are also close to two major racetracks and both of Iowa’s high school athletic associations. They have all been great partners — and that’s a huge plus for our students.”

High-Impact Internships

Carlson can vouch for that assertion, based on her current internship role with Southeast Polk High School Athletics.

“I love it,” said Carlson. “I get to help with game day logistics and put together some social media. Everything from event set up to take down, including operating the scoreboard — I’m doing it. They just kind of throw me into whatever and I run with it.”

Kacie Eisentrager ’26 has been more than willing to go the distance for outstanding internships. She started with the Indianola Chamber of Commerce helping to host RAGBRAI riders before moving onto a marketing role with the Iowa Sports Foundation and, most recently, completing an event management internship with the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. She also served as a social media intern for the American Rivers Conference and worked four years for Simpson Athletics.

Eisentrager is just getting started. The Simpson track and field distance runner is about to kick it into an even higher gear as she pursues dual master’s degrees in business administration and sports administration from Ohio University.

“They have the top sports administration program in the country,” said Eisentrager. “They literally have connections everywhere you want to go. I just want to keep learning while trying to grow and do new things — so I’m very excited for that.”

Eager to Compete

Garrett says Eisentrager and Carlson reflect the kind of drive and determination demonstrated by students across the program. Enthusiasm for sport administration is reaching new highs, as evidenced by robust participation in the student club organization and a recent top 12 finish in a national sports sales competition.

“We are looking to build a national profile,” said Garrett. “Our students have a passion for what they’re doing and I think they’re competitive. Top to bottom, I’ll put our students against anyone in the country.”