Kalani (KJ) Brown

Sport Management Major

Kalani (KJ) Brown remembers the first basketball game he ever watched on television. He might not remember the score, but he remembers the adrenaline. He remembers watching players—like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kobe Bryant—bring the ball down the court, pass it effortlessly back and forth to teammates, then put it through the hoop for victory.

Watching sports, Brown eventually realized that this form of entertainment could turn into a professional career. Years later, he considered a career in kinesiology before learning more about Indiana State University’s Sport Management BS program.

“I’ve loved sports all my life. I played sports as a kid [basketball, football, soccer, and baseball], and I knew people worked in athletics, but I didn’t know just what was involved in the career. When I learned about Indiana State’s program, I knew it was the best program for me to grow my skills,” Brown says.

Students in Indiana State’s sport management program study and practice the organizational and management side of athletics at every level, including event planning, sports administration, marketing and revenue generation, leadership, team management, sports law, finance, and more. Faculty help students find professional connections through internships and other hands-on learning opportunities.

“I enjoy the variety of courses in the program. I’ve studied college athletics, sports law, administration, leadership, and the current trends in sports, including e-sports,” says Brown, who expresses particular interest in college athletics. The junior hopes to become a sports information director or an athletic director.

“Since my first day in Indiana State’s program, my professors have mentored me, and they’ve helped me explore my career options,” he adds. “They’re always available to answer my questions.”

Sport management majors enhance their educational experiences with hands-on training that often involves internships and trips. Brown was fortunate to travel abroad to Ireland and Scotland to learn about international sports. He also visited Olympic training facilities in Colorado and Arizona.

“In sports management, you need experience in all aspects of sports. You learn so much on the job. You have to be willing to learn. Say ‘yes’ to every opportunity that comes your way,” Brown says.

The Sycamore, who is from Danville, Illinois, has said ‘yes’ to many on-campus learning opportunities, including working as a student media relations assistant for Indiana State Athletics. Brown assists during basketball and baseball games, at which he helps record game stats, operates music, creates social media posts, and writes game summaries. Brown says he enjoys the flexibility involved in the job.

“Every game is different. You can’t predict sports. You never know what’s going to happen, which makes it exciting. It’s really fun to be in the locker room before and after games and to see the excitement from our athletes,” Brown comments. He also expresses appreciation for all the support from other Sycamores and the Terre Haute community.

“Our teams represent the city [of Terre Haute]. Our athletes know this, and they work hard to represent Indiana State and Terre Haute wherever they go,” he says.

In addition to his involvement with Indiana State Athletics, Brown also completed an internship for the Big Ten Conference in which he worked at the Big Ten football championship at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. He assisted during a three-point contest, guided fans to their seats, and helped operate the scoreboard.

“It was a high-intensity tournament. It was my first experience being a part of a major tournament, and I was able to meet other college football fans,” Brown says.

(photo/Kalani Brown on LinkedIn)

This summer, the Sycamore also completed an internship in social media and gameday operations for the Danville Dans collegiate summer league team in his hometown. Brown explains, “Every learning experience is helping me grow as an individual and professional. I’m building a resume, and I’m pursuing a career I know I’ll love.”

Back on campus, Brown appreciates the close-knit environment with his peers, including those in the Honors College – an immersive academic unit offering unique learning experiences with smaller class sizes, individualized and group research projects, and experiential learning opportunities. The Honors College has motivated Brown to stay focused on his studies, he says.

Brown also serves as an Honors Peer Mentor, assisting 25 freshmen students throughout their first semester at Indiana State. In addition, he is a member of Indiana State’s Christian Student Fellowship group.

“I feel like my professors know me on a personal level. I’m never just a number on campus, and I want every student to know that. This is a family campus. I always feel like it’s a good day to be a Sycamore,” Brown remarks.

As he looks ahead to his professional career, Brown knows that no matter where in sports he works in the future, he will always fondly remember his alma mater as he cheers for the Sycamores.