A quarter of a century on from beginning his postgraduate studies, Dan Lefton remains convinced the enduring connections forged through Temple University’s trailblazing School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) remain as relevant as ever in a “relationship business”.
Indeed, Temple’s track record of producing industry talent has been a consistent presence throughout Lefton’s burgeoning career.
When he worked with Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, for instance, Lefton assisted with the relocation of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets to the New York borough from New Jersey in 2012. When tasked with putting together a new sales team, Lefton turned to his Temple contacts book, and hired two people he had met through the school to key roles.
Lefton, who is now executive vice president and chief revenue officer at the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, is one of numerous sports executives to have participated in a programme that has proved to be pivotal in producing some of the industry’s most influential decision-makers.
Valuable links
Philadelphia-based Temple University established the school in 1998, a year before Lefton embarked on his Master’s in Sports Management, which has been around since the 1980s. Nowadays, STHM’s Master of Science in Sport Business is internationally renowned, and consistently ranks among the best programmes of its kind and is ranked number one in sport management research by the Sport Innovation Project.
The sprawling alumni network created by the school continues to forge valuable links across an industry where relationships matter.
“The alumni setup is great,” Lefton says. “If I see someone from Temple in my inbox then I’m having a conversation with that person. It’s that simple.
“People that I had classes with 20 years ago will randomly reach out to me. There will be a couple of degrees of separation, and they’ll say, ‘Hey, do you know this person? We’re interviewing them for a job. Your opinion would be really valuable to us.’
“I think there is a great affection and affinity that people who have been a part of the programme have for one another.”
Lefton has worked for the Pistons for more than three years, but before his move to Detroit he served as senior vice president at BSE Global, the parent company of Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets, and worked in a number of senior roles across the sector.
“I have found throughout the last 25 years of my career that this is such a relationship business,” he adds. “The last few jobs I’ve got have not come through interviews, but more from someone that I have previously worked with or been recommended to, which is a wonderful thing. I think it’s those principles that have been so valuable that I have taken with me throughout my career.”
Tailored learning
STHM’s Master of Science in Sport Business includes four industry-focused ‘concentrations’, ensuring participants can delve into specific areas in a tailored learning environment.
These are Athletic Administration, Recreation and Event Management, Sport Analytics and Sport Marketing and Promotions, which gives students the opportunity to work with some of the sector’s most recognisable entities, including the NFL League Office, Live Nation, and Madison Square Garden.
The STHM’s Center for Industry Engagement has played a key part in helping students to secure top internships and learn beyond the classroom.
This ethos of learning from experts has been core to the school from the outset.
“We would plan fundraising events and it allowed everyone to be assigned to different roles that you would have within an organisation,” Lefton says. “What I loved about the programme was that it had courses with real-life experience. That part was really invaluable.”
Professional setting
Such experience proved to be a significant launchpad for Lefton, who has maintained fruitful connections with Temple alumni throughout his career.
When discussing STHM, Lefton comes back to relationships established during his studies – including with his mentors, Dr. Michael Jackson and Dr. Ira Shapiro.
He credits them with not only making his time at Temple so engaging, but also for providing ongoing encouragement as his career progressed. As a result, he wants to ensure he can return the favour by helping others in the same way.
“I want to give back,” Lefton says. “I’ve been fortunate throughout my career and probably had thousands of people that have been under my purview.
“To be able to help people’s careers and give certain advice, knowing that I received the same so early on is fantastic.”