What It Takes To Run March Madness — and How Purdue Is Training the Next Sports Pros - This Is Purdue

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[00:00]
Jeanne Boyd
This is Jeanne Boyd and you're listening to this Is Purdue.
[00:08]
Kate Young
Hi, I'm Kate Young and you're listening to this Is Purdue, the official podcast for Purdue University. As a Purdue alum and Indiana native, I know firsthand about the family of students and professors who are in it together, persistently pursuing and relentlessly rethinking.
[00:27]
Unknown
Who are the next game changers, difference.
[00:29]
Kate Young
Makers, ceiling breakers, Innovators? Who are these boilermakers? Join me as we feature students, faculty and alumni taking small steps towards their giant leaps and inspiring others to do the same.
[00:44]
Jeanne Boyd
Sports don't happen in a vacuum, and even some of the events that surround sports, it is so interdisciplinary. One of the pieces that's going to set us apart is the fact that we're going to rely on industry experts to help us build that curriculum. So we're gonna stay not just on trend, but ahead of the trend.
[01:06]
Kate Young
In this episode of this Is Purdue, we're talking to Jeanne Boyd, Executive Director of Sport Management and Senior Advisor to the Provost at Purdue University.
[01:16]
Unknown
Jeannie is leading Purdue's new Master's degree.
[01:18]
Kate Young
Program in Sport Management, an interdisciplinary program with courses taught at both the West Lafayette and and Indianapolis locations that includes hands on opportunities with Purdue Athletics, Indiana.
[01:30]
Unknown
Sports Corp. And other industry leaders. The program starts this fall of 2025 and will be housed in the College of Health and Human Sciences with offerings led by the College of Science and Department of Computer Science. Jeanne discusses the wide variety of careers students can pursue in the sports industry from sport marketing, sport analytics, organizational leadership, ticketing, sales, sponsorships and venue management, plus sport analytics and AI and technology and sport. This new program reflects Purdue's commitment to meeting workforce demands and preparing students for future career success in a dynamic and evolving industry. Jeannie is also a veteran with national respect in the sports industry. She previously spent over a decade as the Managing Director of the Division 1 men's basketball championship at the NCAA.
[02:25]
Kate Young
So it's safe to say she knows.
[02:26]
Jeanne Boyd
A thing or two about March Madness.
[02:28]
Unknown
And the behind the scenes work it takes to put on a massive event like that. We're diving into all of this and more in today's episode. Here's my conversation with Janie.
[02:38]
Janie, thank you so much for joining us on this is Purdue. We're delighted to have you and talk to you today.
[02:43]
Jeanne Boyd
Hey, thank you so much for inviting me. This is really special. I'm excited.
[02:47]
Unknown
We're excited to have you. So so you are the Executive Director of Purdue's new Master's Program in Sport Management. This is taught at both West Lafayette campuses and Indianapolis campuses. And there's so many hands on things that you're going to tell us about with the program. You know, we're partnered with Purdue Athletics, Indiana Sports Corporation, other sports industry leaders. So we're excited to jump into that, jump into your personal journey in the sports world.
[03:12]
But first things first.
[03:13]
How did you come to Purdue and tell us a little bit about your role here?
[03:17]
Jeanne Boyd
You know, I was so fortunate to be able to work at a high level of college athletics, the highest level, actually. From undergrad, I was at a very large SEC institution. And then I went to another SEC institution which was large, then a conference office which was also Division 1, and, and then the national office. And at some point in time though, you start thinking about kind of like your position in life. How do you give back, when do you give back and the responsibility to give back. And I felt that this was a perfect opportunity to do that. You know that. Plus you take into consideration just the academic success that is unmatched here at Purdue. The fact that you have an athletic department, which is unbelievably successful, you have a brand that is like nationally and internationally recognized. And also our Purdue and Indianapolis campus, it just felt like all the stars were aligned and it was going to be a perfect opportunity for me.
[04:22]
Unknown
What are you most excited about for this role?
[04:24]
Jeanne Boyd
I'm surprised by how excited I am. I'm really excited about the interdisciplinary collaboration. You know, sports don't happen in a vacuum. And even some of the events that surround sports, it is so interdisciplinary. I. I was thinking as I was preparing for today that if you gave me a specific discipline or major at Purdue, I could make a tie to every single one. Doesn't matter what it is. Veterinary science, bomb dogs, agricultural. You had your turf management.
[04:57]
Unknown
Absolutely, yes. The Cubs.
[04:59]
Jeanne Boyd
Yeah. Yes. Amazing. So it is just such an interdisciplinary effort. I think that that's what makes it special.
[05:06]
Unknown
Yeah. And I know we'll get into this, but a lot of people, I think, talk about the glitz and glamour of sports and there's so many behind the scenes roles that are so important and are new and that didn't exist ten years ago, probably.
[05:19]
Jeanne Boyd
That's very true.
[05:20]
Unknown
So we'll dive into that. Sports is such a fast growing industry. It generates billions of dollars in Indiana and it's expected to grow 11% nationwide by 2033. What should students be excited about with this new master's degree program?
[05:34]
Jeanne Boyd
You know, we worked with industry experts to help us build this. And at the end of the day, we Think we've built something that is innovative. It's forward thinking. It addresses the fact that sport, not just college sport, but sport across the board, is ever changing. And it is in. I don't know if this is because I'm getting older, but it feels like time is going by quicker, but it is in a perpetual state of change. So it addresses that. It's a 36 hour residential program and courses as you mentioned, will be taught in both West Lafayette and down in, in Indianapolis. And one of the things that I think is going to set us apart is once students are accepted into the program, we're going to sit down with them and conduct like an in depth interview to find out their area of specialty or interest or again, just area of, again almost like specialization. Every student's going to have to complete six courses of foundational knowledge and those are all housed in hhs. And those include things like sport management and sport, business, business law, business communications, things of that nature that regardless of what area of specialization you go into, there's an application, you know that's there. But then after that every student's roadmap is customized to their area of interest. And we'll get to the point that maybe somebody doesn't know which way they're going to go and that's okay. But if they do know their way to go, they have four additional courses that they have to take that are electives outside of the department that will be tailored again to their specific area of interest. And then they have 450 hours of hands on work where we've partnered with industry partners and university departments here to also match those areas of interest. So for example, if somebody comes in and in their interview they say, hey, I would love to be a sport information director, they'd have to take those six courses that again apply to everybody. But then those four courses they might take something like public relations, public speaking that I did not take, that I would wish at this moment that I would have taken communications and then maybe a data analytics and sport class and an AI and technology and sport class. And then those 450 hours will also be targeted in the sport information world. And again we'll work with our industry partners to make those opportunities available.
[08:08]
Unknown
It sounds like you're zeroing in on what they're passionate about. But then if they don't know, there are paths for those people who don't know either.
[08:15]
Jeanne Boyd
Right, right, right. And you know what, if you come in as a generalist and you have no idea where you know which direction you want to go, we'll be able to just start em off somewhere, wherever they might think they have an inkling. And you know what, if that doesn't work, that's okay because I think you learn oftentimes just as much about what you don't like or where you don't want to go. And it's not necessarily meaning that it's a negative experience. But you can say, hey, I'm not really, I don't love kids, right? I, I'm not, I don't wanna be around kids. I do not wanna be a high school teacher, whatever it may be. But you learn just as much from that. So we'll redirect that.
[08:50]
Unknown
So, yes, you know, downtown Indy is such a special place. It's the amateur sports capital of the world. We have the WNBA All Star Game coming up this summer. We have the 2026 NCAA Final Four in Indy again. It's home to the Colts, the Fever, the Pacers.
[09:07]
Why should students be excited about leveraging.
[09:09]
Indy and their position in the sports industry when it comes to this degree?
[09:13]
Jeanne Boyd
Indianapolis has created such a special opportunity and almost an ecosystem that doesn't exist anywhere else. There's a lot of different components to this. So the first component is, well, you know, what makes them kind of set themselves apart? The first thing is going back in history in 1979. Was anybody even alive in 1979 in this room? Me too. 3. 3. They created the first sport commission in the United States. And so since then it's been setting the tone of how do these large cities usually attract and also host these large scale events? So they've really set the tone for every other city in the world. So there's this historical significance. The second piece that sets Indianapolis apart is that they have world class facilities. Everything is walkable is the third piece. Right. And they also have all these tremendous hotels and restaurants. The other piece is the fact that we have now a campus down there in, in Indianapolis. So all those things together make for a like a perfect, almost like ecosystem. So in a sense, I think of it as if you were in film, you wanted to be in film. Doesn't matter if you're an actor, a director, a producer, or if you're a camera person or in special effects. You're going to Hollywood, right?
[10:41]
Unknown
Going to la.
[10:41]
Jeanne Boyd
That's exactly right. To back up, the other thing that Indianapolis has is just an unmatched level of like, direction or leadership. Patrick Talty there at the Sports Corp, he understands kind of the broader picture and all of the things that are needed to host and support these events. So again, they've got almost, again, a broader sense of the economic impact and the infrastructure and things that are needed and the lasting effects that hosting these types of event brings with it. So, anyway, so if you are, again, it doesn't matter what your area of specialization is. If you want to be in film, you're going to Hollywood, and that's what they're creating in Indianapolis. If you want to be in sports, Indianapolis is the place to be.
[11:24]
Unknown
I'll never forget, I'm from Fort Wayne, so smaller than Indy, you know, And I went to my first NCAA final for. I can't. Maybe it was in 2010.
[11:33]
Jeanne Boyd
Yes.
[11:33]
Unknown
Yes.
[11:34]
Kate Young
Okay.
[11:34]
Jeanne Boyd
Butler's run. Butler's run. Loved it.
[11:36]
Unknown
Yep. And it was just this, who the vibes of the city and how hospitable Hoosiers are.
[11:43]
Jeanne Boyd
Right.
[11:43]
Unknown
Like, there were so many pieces and parts that I was just so proud to now be, like, living in Indy and be a part of that. It's such a special place, and you.
[11:52]
Jeanne Boyd
Should be proud of it. I mean, again, in my previous role as the managing director of the men's Final Four, I had, again, the privilege to work across all cities that submitted bids. They were able to, you know, host the event. I remember as a part of the post tournament evaluation that we conduct with all the Final Four teams plus the host city to basically say, hey, what can we improve upon? How can we do things better? What issues came up that, you know, were not detailed in kind of like, our directions or bid specifications? And I talked to the person who ran all the volunteer stuff, and I said, you know, coming into this, again, like, what set them apart? And it was very clear that it's this really nice balance of a knowledgeable staff. I mean, they've hosted all of these events, and they do it really, really well. Mixed with an interest in almost like an evolution or an evolvement of the event. As events continue to grow and whatnot. They're open to all of those things, but also preserving the Hoosier hospitality just made such a special combination. When I worked for the Final Four, I was also the main point of contact for the nabc, which is the national association of Basketball Coaches, and they host their yearly convention in conjunction with the Final Four. So you had basketball coaches coming in from divisions 1, 2, 3, high school coaches from all over the country, and they have a board of directors that at the end of the Final Four, they submit these recommendations for future years. And they wanted the Final Four to, you know, can we set up an opportunity where it rotates between two specific cities and one of those was Indianapolis? And I had to gently explain that there's a little bit of taxing that's a heavy load. It's a heavy load in a sense of personnel and volunteerism and all of those things, but there's also a financial heavy load. So we do need to spread it around a little bit, but based on their experience only, and these are folks that are coming in from all around the country, they wanted to just narrow it down to two different cities and Indianapolis being one of those.
[13:59]
Unknown
So we know Indy is special. West Lafayette is also special. The program here on campus in West Lafayette will be housed right next to Purdue athletics. What does that mean for students?
[14:10]
Jeanne Boyd
Oh, my gosh. So yes, we are in Lambert, which is connected through a tunnel right directly to Mackie. And so those students who decide to come and experience the program from a West Lafayette perspective gives them the opportunity to get behind the scenes to again, one of the most respected and successful athletic programs in the country. So again, not only being connected physically, but we do have a great partnership with Purdue athletics that will offer these students a behind the scenes look at a wide variety of opportunities or what are potential jobs. I don't think people understand kind of the depth and breadth of the different opportunities that are available. In my mind, if you think about sport management, you might think about coaching or essentially like managing, whatever that may be. But I would encourage folks to take a minute and look at the our team link that's there on Purdue athletics website to see the depth and breadth of opportunities because it is crazy, but it'll give them a behind the scenes look at what opportunities are available. Also an opportunity to be connected with those professionals because there'll be guest speakers in our classroom. They'll serve on a board that's helping us continuously look at the curriculum and make sure that it is evolving and keeps up with trends and things of that nature. So yeah, it's going to be fun.
[15:35]
Unknown
With things like the nil in the news everywhere now, this increased regulation at the professional level of sports, how will.
[15:42]
This degree program at Purdue support this.
[15:45]
Need for flexibility in an industry that's always changing.
[15:48]
Jeanne Boyd
You're exactly right. It is changing every day. I feel for the commissioners and the athletic directors and the NCAA and all of those that are involved from an administrative perspective that it's changing constantly and it's almost like they're whipping in the wind. I think one of the pieces that's going to set us Apart is the fact that we're going to rely on industry experts to help us build that curriculum. So we're going to stay not just on trend, but ahead of the trend. Not only will they be involved from like an advisory perspective, but they're also going to serve as, in some cases, adjunct professors, guest speakers. They'll also serve as mentors and more of those types of tangential touch points with our students. So they'll oversee kind of, again, we talked about the, the hands on experience and the 450 hours that they have to complete. They're also providing those opportunities. So they'll give feedback on job performance and what's needed. Because actually, right now there's a lot of conversation about there being a little bit of a disconnect between when folks come out of graduation versus what the industry needs. And so these folks, again, being so well connected with them and being essentially friends, they're going to allow us and provide feedback to help us bridge that gap or close that gap.
[17:09]
Unknown
So before coming to Purdue, we touched on this a little bit, but you spent over a decade leading operations as the managing director of the NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Tournament. I'm sure a lot of our listeners are excited to hear some more behind the scenes.
[17:22]
Jeanne Boyd
Oh, boys.
[17:22]
Unknown
Details of that job and what that entails tell us about your path to the NCAA and what led you on that journey and through that role.
[17:30]
Jeanne Boyd
You know, looking back to undergrad. And I think a lot of your guests that have come on the podcast have said that their journey wasn't linear. That's certainly the case for me. I started out as an accounting major. Well, I love numbers, I love money, but that did not work for me. I was like, this is so boring. So then I shifted to being a business major. That didn't work either. And then I was in education. And as, again, as looking back, that didn't seem linear at the time. And I felt like I was kind of in this weird place. And my parents certainly didn't think it was very logical at the time. But looking back, sport management has elements of all those things, right? I mean, you're preparing budgets, you're doing organizational leadership, learning how to communicate with folks. There's an educational component in a sense that with a local organizing committee, you had all of these meetings where you would educate them on what's needed and what we need. Here's here are all the logistics of it. And so it's just so multifaceted and so multidisciplinary. Up until the day my dad passed away. Every time I called and I had been directing the men's Final Four for eight years, he would say, don't tell me you called me to say you changed your major. I was like, dad, I have a PhD.
[18:52]
Unknown
We're too far down that.
[18:53]
Jeanne Boyd
Right, right, right. So again, it wasn't linear, it wasn't logical. But looking back, just because at that point in time, I'm again, I'm older than everybody in this room, that opportunity wasn't available. But it's so multidisciplinary.
[19:06]
Unknown
I can't imagine the logistics and coordination that it takes to put on an event that big.
[19:12]
Jeanne Boyd
It's crazy. It is absolutely crazy.
[19:14]
Unknown
Tell us some insider info, some behind the scenes stories. What's something that's really memorable from your time in that role?
[19:21]
Jeanne Boyd
You know, the memories for me there are a couple of special ones you mentioned. You know, the Butler run in 2010 was memorable only because when you work at either a conference office or the ncaa, you're coached and it's the expectation that you're neutral. You want everyone to have the same experience. You know, you don't have any type of emotional investment on who wins and you who moves on through the bracket. To me, it was, again, take the names off. It was really boring to have the same four teams there every single year. I always loved when somebody kind of the underdog. Yes, yes, Absolutely loved that. Absolutely loved that.
[20:00]
Unknown
No story.
[20:01]
Jeanne Boyd
Yes, yes, yes. That was really fun. But my most memorable moments of working in that for over a decade wasn't really a individual moment or an event, but it was more so the relationships that were built behind the scenes. You know, every year we had 13 preliminary round sites, which in my mind, again, is kind of like one unit of the Final Four. And then the Final Four itself is this whole other entity. It's the same staff that works both of them, but they're very, very different. And so talking about the preliminary rounds, there's a responsibility to have kind of a cross section of West Coast, Middle America, east coast to make sure that it covers all the different television zones and things like that. But there are a handful of tournament managers who are usually deputy athletic directors, that we would come back year after year and it would be the same. Not year after year, but, you know, a couple of times. Next times, bids came open that ended up being like my best friends in the business. You know, you're in it at a pace that is unbelievable. You're working, I would say, at least 70 hours a week. You're in the trenches with these folks. And you just, you know, you're eight, you're there with them for so many hours a day and you have no idea what's like coming down the pike, what issues you're going to hit. And through all of that, you're essentially in the trenches with them. And so there's a handful of tournament managers across the country, there's about six of us that establish almost like this clique. It's almost like being in high school, being new to a high school and you don't know what lunch table you're going to sit at. And you end up like finding your people. And this is the exact same situation. And you find your people by trust, by mutual respect, by accountability, availability, consistency in management. Those folks have ended up being some of my best friends. And it was also special because we grew up together. So we all started around the same age. Even though our professions have taken kind of different twists and turns, we still have a text string together and we make fun of each other and tease each other, but at the same time we're still supportive of each other. And so that's what really has stuck with me and will stick with me for the rest of my life, is the friendships and the connections.
[22:15]
Unknown
We were talking earlier this week, I think something that people might not necessarily think of is how secretive and basically like lockdown you had to be in your role when you talked about a police officer was guarding the door. Tell us a little bit about the process of choosing cities, choosing the teams selection set. Like I know our listeners and viewers will be super interested in those little behind the scenes stories.
[22:40]
Jeanne Boyd
So there are two separate processes. The whole site selection thing is important because again you should. In a perfect world you'll be able to balance like an east coast site and a west coast site. And not dating myself, but back when I was doing it, there were only seven cities that could host the event, meaning that they would have the facility requirements that were needed, they had the hotel and essentially the infrastructure that was required. We developed this big bid specification notebook that was probably 200 pages long that talked about everything from the broad brushstrokes of what's required down to the height and the width and the depth of the tables and the candle light, you know, strength in the competition venue. It was just ad nauseam. Detail versus this. The selection, seating and bracketing thing is something that's completely, you know, separate. That happens right before Selection Sunday. That's about a week long event, you're in lockdown, where they would set aside There was a specific hotel down in Indianapolis that we would go to that no one was allowed to visit the floor. We bought out the entire floor. There was a guard who is an Indiana State Police policeman who is absolutely wonderful, who is positioned right there at the elevator bank. He had a list of every single person, plus their headshot. So he knew who was supposed to be on the floor and anyone else who would try to get off that floor, he would. Obviously, he wouldn't let them. But when I first started, I remember helicopters flying, you know, like, circling the facility. There were no deliveries that would be accepted.
[24:21]
Unknown
No lunch deliveries.
[24:23]
Jeanne Boyd
No deliveries.
[24:24]
Unknown
Delivery driver could overhear something.
[24:25]
Jeanne Boyd
That's right. Well, well. And it was a lot of institutions who might be considered right there on the bubble would send pages, and again, I'm dating myself, it would send pages and pages of information to basically bolster their position as to why they should.
[24:40]
Unknown
Be like, this is why we deserve to be.
[24:43]
Jeanne Boyd
Yes. Yeah. Yes. We closed down every phone line so you couldn't call our individual rooms. I mean, it was. It was absolutely crazy. But it is a real protective environment, free as possible of any type of bias. Perception is reality in a sense, that if there were teams that were involved in the discussion, like, I remember one year we had Mike Slive, who was the Commissioner of the SEC, Southeastern Conference, and anytime an SEC's team was discussed, he would have to leave the room. And if I remember correctly, I mean, there were a handful of five, six, seven institutions that were in the SEC that were up for discussion. And so he would have to leave the room. So he was out of the. Out of the selection room just as much as he was in there. But again, just to be able to look everyone in the face and say, hey, look, this is completely free of bias. He wasn't even in the room. He didn't submit a vote. So it was an independent decision, a collective decision. I think that that gave it a little bit of credence.
[25:46]
Unknown
Absolutely.
[25:47]
Jeanne Boyd
Yeah.
[25:47]
Unknown
Oh, that's fascinating. So we talked about. You changed your major several times, it sounds like. But what was that turning point for you that you were like, I really want to pursue sports as a career. Did you grow up just loving sports? Walk us through that.
[26:00]
Jeanne Boyd
I grew up in a family. I'm one of five children. I'm a four or five. The best number four or five. I have three brothers and a sister. And our household was incredibly competitive. Like, hyper competitive. Like, unhealthily unhealthy competitive. We would compete at every level. I remember my first memories Again, are probably field day in elementary school. And I may or may not still have the 50 yard dash record at the elementary school.
[26:31]
Unknown
Let's do a fact check on that.
[26:33]
Jeanne Boyd
Yes, please. Elementary, Spring, Texas. But all of my brothers competed and my sister competed and get just like this, healthy, unhealthy, hyper competitive. So it wasn't even really about sports at the time. It was who could unload the dishwasher the fastest, who had read the most books over the summer months.
[26:53]
Unknown
Oh, your parents are smart.
[26:55]
Jeanne Boyd
Oh my gosh, yes. My dad was an engineer and military, so it was a no nonsense type of household. And again, every day life is about competition. Right. And then mom was a nurse. But so my earliest memories revolve around, you know, getting playing football in the backyard or the elementary school field day. But one memory that stands out to me that is kind of full circle is we have to picture it. It is Spring, TX 1983ish. I was playing 7th grade basketball and we were on our way to a tournament and it was a double. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a double elimination tournament. And we're about to pull out of the parking lot and our coach comes down the, you know, the little skinny aisle and she's handing us copies of the bracket. So she hands one to me, by the way. I had the pigtails, I had the tube socks pulled up high. I was wearing the blue and gold like polyester scratchy uniform. So she hands out the bracket and we're at like a number seven or whatever seat. And I thought, how did we, you know, arrive at this number 7? Like who design this? How did it come about? Why are we seven when we've already played against number one and number four and we've beaten both of them. And so it's just fascinated by the inner workings of not only the bracketing piece, if we win, we go here, if we lose, we go here. But also just the behind the scenes operational detail of it. Like who is calling to make sure we have referees? Who's calling to make sure we have an official score? Does that even matter in some of the grade basketball? I don't know. But again, it just became a very full circle moment that I remembered. And also with it being a double elimination tournament, it's a little bit confusing. You know, if you win, you go here. And I remember trying to gently, she said, if we win, we play it this time. If we lose, we play it this time. And I remember going, no, no, no, no. If we lose, we actually go over here. So again, I've just been fascinated, and again, maybe it's genetic with dad, you know, being the engineer in military, but I've always been fascinated with the behind the scenes work.
[29:07]
Unknown
And then fast forward and you're literally designing.
[29:10]
Jeanne Boyd
Yes, yes.
[29:11]
Unknown
Where people go.
[29:12]
Jeanne Boyd
Yes, yes. And the bracket actually would come off of my computer. So I facilitated the selection, seating and bracketing process. Gosh. And that's a whole nother level of secrecy. Secrecy and pressure. The committees are. At that time, again, it was a 10 member committee and they were usually athletic directors or conference commissioners. But there's a requirement to make sure that there's a balance of representation from east coast to central. All the different time zones plus the level, they all had to be Division 1, but the different sizes of institutions. So there had to be a cross section of representation. And so again, the fascinating thing was they served four year terms, but they would rotate off every four years. So the addition or subtraction of one person, which is kind of like this fascinating case study because it would change the whole dynamics in the room. But it was really fun to, again, you're in the trenches with them. You're talking about teams for 12 hours at least a day. And there were some instances when I was like, for the love of the Lord, can someone just please vote? Let's just call for a vote. We've had enough discussion. I mean, it was really fun. And again, you're in the trenches with them, so you develop these relationships. And some of them would feel the pressure during the selection piece, whether or not the team is in or out. Others would feel the highest point of pressure being where their seed was. Isn't that interesting? In my mind, for me, it'd be whether they're in or out. After that, it's up to them. Right.
[30:48]
Unknown
But all the dominoes and how they fall into place depending on the seed. Right?
[30:53]
Yes.
[30:54]
I can kind of see that side of it too, I guess.
[30:56]
Jeanne Boyd
Yeah.
[30:56]
Unknown
You know, women are increasingly stepping into.
[30:58]
Leadership roles in the sports industry.
[31:01]
People in general are getting more excited about women's sports. You think about Caitlin Clark coming to Indy with the Fever. Our own boilermaker, Stephanie White, is now.
[31:10]
The Fever head coach.
[31:11]
What will that mean for the future of the industry to have more female voices?
[31:15]
Jeanne Boyd
When I walked into that room for selection and I, again, I was facilitating the process. So I would lead them and say, hey, this is what you're doing. I never once gave a thought to, oh, my goodness, I'm the only woman in this room.
[31:28]
Unknown
Interesting.
[31:29]
Jeanne Boyd
I never once thought about that, I think, because I looked at him and thought, you don't have anything on my brothers. They were so mean and brutal. He would say, hey, go run deep. You know, do a slant. And so I'd go and I'd run the little football pattern and they would never throw me the ball. So on one hand, I wasn't ever. I didn't ever feel intimidated, but I knew I had to have my ducks in order. Right. And I was also very appreciative for all the women who came before me because if not, this opportunity wouldn't be afforded. You know, we talked a little bit about Indianapolis. They also set the tone way back in 1979 when they developed that first sport commission. They also identified a woman who was the first president of the Indiana Sports Corp. Which in 1979, that was unheard of. And so, again, I'm just so appreciative of all the women who came before. There's been a lot of conversation on your podcast about the implication and the effects and of everything from Amelia Earhart, who was ahead of her time. I feel privileged to have been a part of the sport evolution where when I first started, it was an exception. Now it's an expectation. And it's not about really representation. It's about women being put in positions of executive level. You think about Mel Rains, who's down there, who is the CEO of Pacers Sport and Entertainment, But I don't think we do a really good enough job of celebrating that because Mel is amazing. But there's also Alison Millington, who was the head of the super bowl back in 2012. Again, we don't hear her name enough, but under her leadership, we set what which is widely known as being the most successful super bowl in recent history. You have people like Julie Rowe, who is the commissioner of the Horizon League, which is down in Indianapolis, and she's the first woman to chair the Indy Sports Corp. You have Susan Boffman, who ran the College football playoff in 2022. Every single final Four in recent memory. For me, she's also overseeing or directing the NBA All Star Game, the WNBA All Star Game. I mean, these are women who, again, it's not about representation. It's about them being in positions where they are, again, executive directors and making, I mean, just making a real impact.
[34:02]
Unknown
What advice do you give to young women when it comes to pursuing a degree in the sports industry?
[34:09]
Jeanne Boyd
I would tell them to be prepared to work your butt off. And that's not any different for women versus men, but it is so competitive. It's about. Life is competitive. Again, as I mentioned. But it is about setting yourself apart from these other 300 applicants. But I would tell them to be passionate about it. Be a really, really good team player because that's a whole nother part of it. And be curious and don't be afraid to ask questions and. And also surround yourself with people like you. It's about finding your people. Just like you did. Yes, just like I did. And again, like we talked about, you know, Susan Boffman, and we haven't mentioned people like Joanne Briet, who is on the board of trustees here. She is such a fascinating case study. I keep telling her that she needs to run for office and that I would be her campaign manager. She doesn't want to do that. She's kind of giving me the thumbs down on it. But she's so impactful. Been almost kind of behind the scenes, and that's where she's most comfortable. But also people like Dean Flesch. Lucy Flesch has her fingerprints all over the sport management program. I mean, again, it's not about representation. It's about influence and creating the next generation of sport leaders.
[35:26]
Unknown
You talked about how you had to stay neutral for a long time. How does it feel to wear black and gold and truly be a boilermaker.
[35:34]
Jeanne Boyd
And support Purdue and mean it. It has been so special. You and I talked about this off camera, but being able to be here in West Lafayette and Purdue is really, really special. I really feel like I have made friends here that will be friends for the rest of my life. Now, throughout my career, I've had an opportunity to work across a lot of different campuses. Whether I worked at them or they were part of the. When I was an associate commissioner, they, you know, one of the member institutions or, you know, Final Four. I've worked with several. Several campuses. I also had, again, brothers and sisters who went to, at the time were Southwest Conference or whatever, but they went to University of Texas and Texas A and M and the Naval. So I've had exposure to a lot of different campuses. Purdue is something that is really special. I mean, it is a really unique blend of humility and almost understatement, but at the same time, like kicking ass, you know, I mean, they are incredibly. And that is Joanne Briet, right? I mean, it is like this understated excellence and this, again, just humility and friendship. I am so proud to be a part of the Purdue community and take that, I don't want to say position, but opportunity very seriously. I mean, the other thing that really is special about Purdue is that it is generationally deep. And again, it's weirdly collegial in a sense that when you're in the sec, you are not going to see University of Florida and University of Tennessee or Georgia fans tailgating together. That just doesn't happen here. Again, there's a collegiality that you see them tailgating together. It's almost like a shared experience. But also the roots are generationally deep. I've never seen anything like it in my life. And I've talked to Mike Babitsky about it too. I mean, we've just never seen it. To have not only a sibling, but your mom and your grandmother and father and your aunts and uncles and everybody's involved in Purdue. It is really something special. And again, it's something that I so much love and appreciate and cherish.
[37:46]
Unknown
It's nice to hear that from someone who's had so many different experiences with so many different colleges. Show and tell us how special Purdue is. Well, Jeannie, we can't thank you enough. It was such a pleasure. It was so fun learning more about you and your journey.
[37:59]
Jeanne Boyd
Thank you so much for having me. If anybody's interested in the in the program and willing to do the work, we have a place for them and.
[38:07]
Unknown
We'Ll link some things in our show notes for easy access for our listeners.
[38:11]
Jeanne Boyd
Great. Thank you so much.
[38:12]
Unknown
Thank you.
[38:12]
Kate Young
Boiler up we can't thank Jeannie enough.
[38:15]
Unknown
For joining us on this Is Purdue.
[38:17]
She is so delightful and genuine and.
[38:20]
Kate Young
We'Re proud to have her as part of of our Boilermaker community. You can watch more videos with Jeannie.
[38:25]
Unknown
Including some of her thoughts on why.
[38:26]
Kate Young
Purdue basketball is so unique and her time serving as her college mascot on our podcast YouTube channel YouTube.com, this is Purdue. Okay, time flies when you're having fun, and this marks our last episode of our spring 2025 season already. But we'll be back in August for our fall 2025 season and we have so much more in store for you all. And don't forget, we'll have bonus content releasing on our YouTube channel all summer. Be sure to subscribe over there. Plus, be sure to follow this is Purdue on Apple Podcast, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss out on our kickoff to the fall season, which may include a certain athletics guest.
[39:10]
Unknown
I'm sure all of our Boilermaker fans are curious to learn more about.
[39:14]
Kate Young
We'll talk to you in August this.
[39:17]
Unknown
Is Purdue is hosted and written by me, Kate Young.
[39:20]
Kate Young
Our podcast videography for this episode was led by Ted Schellenberger in collaboration with John Garcia, Thad Boone and Zach Mogensen. Our social media marketing is led by Maria Welch. Our podcast distribution strategy is led by Carly Eastman. Our podcast design is led by Cheryl Glatzba. Our podcast photography is led by John Underwood. Our podcast team Project Manager is Rain goo. Our podcast YouTube promotions is managed by Megan Hoskins. Additional writing and research assistance is led by Sophie Ritz and Ashvini Malshi and.
[39:52]
Unknown
Our Creative Production assistant is Delaney Young.
[39:56]
Kate Young
Thanks for listening to this Is Purdue. For more information on this episode, visit our website at purdue.edu podcast. From there you can head over to your favorite podcast app to subscribe. And don't forget, you can also check out all of our podcast content on our podcast YouTube page, YouTube.com/this is Purdue.
[40:19]
Unknown
And as always, boiler up.

Summary5 min read

This Is Purdue: Episode Summary - "What It Takes To Run March Madness — and How Purdue Is Training the Next Sports Pros"

Release Date: May 29, 2025
Host: Kate Young
Guest: Jeanne Boyd, Executive Director of Sport Management and Senior Advisor to the Provost at Purdue University

Introduction

In this engaging episode of This Is Purdue, host Kate Young delves into the intricacies of running one of the most significant events in college sports: March Madness. Joined by Jeanne Boyd, Purdue University's Executive Director of Sport Management and a seasoned veteran in the sports industry, the discussion offers listeners an insider's perspective on both the operational challenges of hosting the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and how Purdue is shaping the next generation of sports professionals through its innovative Master's Program in Sport Management.

Purdue's New Master's Program in Sport Management

Jeanne Boyd provides a comprehensive overview of Purdue's newly launched Master's degree in Sport Management, set to commence in Fall 2025. This interdisciplinary program is uniquely positioned across both the West Lafayette and Indianapolis campuses, emphasizing hands-on experiences with Purdue Athletics, Indiana Sports Corporation, and other industry leaders.

Notable Quote:
Jeanne Boyd (04:57): “Sports don't happen in a vacuum. We relied on industry experts to help us build a curriculum that stays not just on trend, but ahead of the trend.”

Key Highlights:

Interdisciplinary Approach: Courses are offered through the College of Health and Human Sciences, College of Science, and Department of Computer Science.
Customization: Students undergo in-depth interviews to tailor their educational roadmap, allowing for specialization in areas such as sport marketing, analytics, AI in sports, and more.
Hands-On Experience: The program includes 450 hours of practical work with industry partners, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for the dynamic sports industry.

The Significance of Indianapolis in the Sports Industry

Jeanne emphasizes Indianapolis as a pivotal hub for sports, likening it to Hollywood for the film industry. The city's rich history, world-class facilities, and strong leadership from organizations like the Indiana Sports Corporation create a unique ecosystem conducive to sports management excellence.

Notable Quote:
Jeanne Boyd (09:13): “Indianapolis has created such a special opportunity and almost an ecosystem that doesn't exist anywhere else.”

Key Highlights:

Historical Impact: Home to the first sports commission in the U.S. established in 1979, setting the standard for city-hosted large-scale events.
World-Class Infrastructure: Walkable facilities, extensive hotel and restaurant options, and strategic campus locations support seamless event management.
Leadership Excellence: Figures like Patrick Talty of Sports Corp demonstrate Indianapolis's commitment to effective sports event leadership and economic impact.

Behind the Scenes of March Madness

Jeanne shares her extensive experience as the Managing Director of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, offering listeners a rare glimpse into the logistical and operational complexities of March Madness.

Notable Quotes:
Jeanne Boyd (17:30): “Sport management has elements of all those things—budgeting, organizational leadership, communication. It’s so multifaceted and multidisciplinary.”
Jeanne Boyd (19:21): “The memories for me there are a couple of special ones... it was more so the relationships that were built behind the scenes.”

Key Highlights:

Site Selection Process: A meticulous, highly confidential procedure involving detailed specifications and strict security measures to ensure unbiased selections.
Operational Challenges: Coordinating across multiple locations, managing vast teams, and maintaining neutrality and fairness throughout the tournament.
Personal Insights: Jeanne recounts memorable moments, such as Butler's unexpected run in 2010, and underscores the importance of building strong, trust-based relationships within the industry.

The Rise of Women in Sports Management

The conversation shifts to the growing presence and influence of women in leadership roles within the sports industry. Jeanne celebrates trailblazing women who have paved the way and discusses the positive impact of having diverse voices in executive positions.

Notable Quote:
Jeanne Boyd (31:15): “It's not about representation. It's about women being in positions where they are, executive directors, making a real impact.”

Key Highlights:

Trailblazers: Acknowledgment of women like Mel Rains (CEO of Pacers Sport and Entertainment) and Alison Millington (former head of the Super Bowl) who have significantly influenced the industry.
Gender Dynamics: Jeanne reflects on her experiences working in predominantly male environments and the importance of having role models and mentors.
Future Outlook: Emphasis on creating opportunities for women to ascend to executive roles, thereby enriching the sports management field with diverse perspectives.

Advice for Aspiring Sports Management Professionals

Jeanne offers invaluable advice to students, particularly young women, aspiring to enter the sports industry. She underscores the importance of passion, hard work, teamwork, and continuous learning.

Notable Quote:
Jeanne Boyd (34:08): “Be passionate. Be a really, really good team player because that's a whole nother part of it. And be curious and don't be afraid to ask questions.”

Key Highlights:

Work Ethic: Preparation to work diligently and compete effectively in a demanding industry.
Networking: Building strong relationships and finding supportive communities within the field.
Continuous Improvement: Staying adaptable and open to learning to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of sports management.

Personal Connection and Commitment to Purdue

Jeanne expresses deep appreciation for Purdue University, highlighting its unique community, intergenerational ties, and the collaborative environment that fosters both personal and professional growth.

Notable Quote:
Jeanne Boyd (35:26): “I am so proud to be a part of the Purdue community and take that opportunity very seriously.”

Key Highlights:

Community Spirit: The generational depth and collegiality among Purdue affiliates create a supportive and enduring network.
Academic and Athletic Excellence: Proximity to Purdue Athletics offers unparalleled opportunities for students to engage directly with a successful and respected athletic program.
Personal Fulfillment: Jeanne shares heartfelt sentiments about her connections and experiences at Purdue, reinforcing her dedication to the institution's mission and values.

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Jeanne Boyd extending an open invitation to prospective students to join Purdue's Master's Program in Sport Management, emphasizing the program's rigor, innovative curriculum, and extensive industry connections. Host Kate Young expresses gratitude for Jeanne's insights and encourages listeners to explore the opportunities Purdue offers in shaping the future of sports management.

Notable Quote:
Jeanne Boyd (37:59): “If anybody's interested in the program and willing to do the work, we have a place for them.”

Additional Resources

For more information about Purdue’s Master's Program in Sport Management and other initiatives, listeners are encouraged to visit purdue.edu/podcast. You can also subscribe to This Is Purdue on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or watch additional content on the podcast’s YouTube channel.

Boiler up!

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Transcript115 lines

[00:00]
Jeanne Boyd
This is Jeanne Boyd and you're listening to this Is Purdue.
[00:08]
Kate Young
Hi, I'm Kate Young and you're listening to this Is Purdue, the official podcast for Purdue University. As a Purdue alum and Indiana native, I know firsthand about the family of students and professors who are in it together, persistently pursuing and relentlessly rethinking.
[00:27]
Unknown
Who are the next game changers, difference.
[00:29]
Kate Young
Makers, ceiling breakers, Innovators? Who are these boilermakers? Join me as we feature students, faculty and alumni taking small steps towards their giant leaps and inspiring others to do the same.
[00:44]
Jeanne Boyd
Sports don't happen in a vacuum, and even some of the events that surround sports, it is so interdisciplinary. One of the pieces that's going to set us apart is the fact that we're going to rely on industry experts to help us build that curriculum. So we're gonna stay not just on trend, but ahead of the trend.
[01:06]
Kate Young
In this episode of this Is Purdue, we're talking to Jeanne Boyd, Executive Director of Sport Management and Senior Advisor to the Provost at Purdue University.
[01:16]
Unknown
Jeannie is leading Purdue's new Master's degree.
[01:18]
Kate Young
Program in Sport Management, an interdisciplinary program with courses taught at both the West Lafayette and and Indianapolis locations that includes hands on opportunities with Purdue Athletics, Indiana.
[01:30]
Unknown
Sports Corp. And other industry leaders. The program starts this fall of 2025 and will be housed in the College of Health and Human Sciences with offerings led by the College of Science and Department of Computer Science. Jeanne discusses the wide variety of careers students can pursue in the sports industry from sport marketing, sport analytics, organizational leadership, ticketing, sales, sponsorships and venue management, plus sport analytics and AI and technology and sport. This new program reflects Purdue's commitment to meeting workforce demands and preparing students for future career success in a dynamic and evolving industry. Jeannie is also a veteran with national respect in the sports industry. She previously spent over a decade as the Managing Director of the Division 1 men's basketball championship at the NCAA.
[02:25]
Kate Young
So it's safe to say she knows.
[02:26]
Jeanne Boyd
A thing or two about March Madness.
[02:28]
Unknown
And the behind the scenes work it takes to put on a massive event like that. We're diving into all of this and more in today's episode. Here's my conversation with Janie.
[02:38]
Janie, thank you so much for joining us on this is Purdue. We're delighted to have you and talk to you today.
[02:43]
Jeanne Boyd
Hey, thank you so much for inviting me. This is really special. I'm excited.
[02:47]
Unknown
We're excited to have you. So so you are the Executive Director of Purdue's new Master's Program in Sport Management. This is taught at both West Lafayette campuses and Indianapolis campuses. And there's so many hands on things that you're going to tell us about with the program. You know, we're partnered with Purdue Athletics, Indiana Sports Corporation, other sports industry leaders. So we're excited to jump into that, jump into your personal journey in the sports world.
[03:12]
But first things first.
[03:13]
How did you come to Purdue and tell us a little bit about your role here?
[03:17]
Jeanne Boyd
You know, I was so fortunate to be able to work at a high level of college athletics, the highest level, actually. From undergrad, I was at a very large SEC institution. And then I went to another SEC institution which was large, then a conference office which was also Division 1, and, and then the national office. And at some point in time though, you start thinking about kind of like your position in life. How do you give back, when do you give back and the responsibility to give back. And I felt that this was a perfect opportunity to do that. You know that. Plus you take into consideration just the academic success that is unmatched here at Purdue. The fact that you have an athletic department, which is unbelievably successful, you have a brand that is like nationally and internationally recognized. And also our Purdue and Indianapolis campus, it just felt like all the stars were aligned and it was going to be a perfect opportunity for me.
[04:22]
Unknown
What are you most excited about for this role?
[04:24]
Jeanne Boyd
I'm surprised by how excited I am. I'm really excited about the interdisciplinary collaboration. You know, sports don't happen in a vacuum. And even some of the events that surround sports, it is so interdisciplinary. I. I was thinking as I was preparing for today that if you gave me a specific discipline or major at Purdue, I could make a tie to every single one. Doesn't matter what it is. Veterinary science, bomb dogs, agricultural. You had your turf management.
[04:57]
Unknown
Absolutely, yes. The Cubs.
[04:59]
Jeanne Boyd
Yeah. Yes. Amazing. So it is just such an interdisciplinary effort. I think that that's what makes it special.
[05:06]
Unknown
Yeah. And I know we'll get into this, but a lot of people, I think, talk about the glitz and glamour of sports and there's so many behind the scenes roles that are so important and are new and that didn't exist ten years ago, probably.
[05:19]
Jeanne Boyd
That's very true.
[05:20]
Unknown
So we'll dive into that. Sports is such a fast growing industry. It generates billions of dollars in Indiana and it's expected to grow 11% nationwide by 2033. What should students be excited about with this new master's degree program?
[05:34]
Jeanne Boyd
You know, we worked with industry experts to help us build this. And at the end of the day, we Think we've built something that is innovative. It's forward thinking. It addresses the fact that sport, not just college sport, but sport across the board, is ever changing. And it is in. I don't know if this is because I'm getting older, but it feels like time is going by quicker, but it is in a perpetual state of change. So it addresses that. It's a 36 hour residential program and courses as you mentioned, will be taught in both West Lafayette and down in, in Indianapolis. And one of the things that I think is going to set us apart is once students are accepted into the program, we're going to sit down with them and conduct like an in depth interview to find out their area of specialty or interest or again, just area of, again almost like specialization. Every student's going to have to complete six courses of foundational knowledge and those are all housed in hhs. And those include things like sport management and sport, business, business law, business communications, things of that nature that regardless of what area of specialization you go into, there's an application, you know that's there. But then after that every student's roadmap is customized to their area of interest. And we'll get to the point that maybe somebody doesn't know which way they're going to go and that's okay. But if they do know their way to go, they have four additional courses that they have to take that are electives outside of the department that will be tailored again to their specific area of interest. And then they have 450 hours of hands on work where we've partnered with industry partners and university departments here to also match those areas of interest. So for example, if somebody comes in and in their interview they say, hey, I would love to be a sport information director, they'd have to take those six courses that again apply to everybody. But then those four courses they might take something like public relations, public speaking that I did not take, that I would wish at this moment that I would have taken communications and then maybe a data analytics and sport class and an AI and technology and sport class. And then those 450 hours will also be targeted in the sport information world. And again we'll work with our industry partners to make those opportunities available.
[08:08]
Unknown
It sounds like you're zeroing in on what they're passionate about. But then if they don't know, there are paths for those people who don't know either.
[08:15]
Jeanne Boyd
Right, right, right. And you know what, if you come in as a generalist and you have no idea where you know which direction you want to go, we'll be able to just start em off somewhere, wherever they might think they have an inkling. And you know what, if that doesn't work, that's okay because I think you learn oftentimes just as much about what you don't like or where you don't want to go. And it's not necessarily meaning that it's a negative experience. But you can say, hey, I'm not really, I don't love kids, right? I, I'm not, I don't wanna be around kids. I do not wanna be a high school teacher, whatever it may be. But you learn just as much from that. So we'll redirect that.
[08:50]
Unknown
So, yes, you know, downtown Indy is such a special place. It's the amateur sports capital of the world. We have the WNBA All Star Game coming up this summer. We have the 2026 NCAA Final Four in Indy again. It's home to the Colts, the Fever, the Pacers.
[09:07]
Why should students be excited about leveraging.
[09:09]
Indy and their position in the sports industry when it comes to this degree?
[09:13]
Jeanne Boyd
Indianapolis has created such a special opportunity and almost an ecosystem that doesn't exist anywhere else. There's a lot of different components to this. So the first component is, well, you know, what makes them kind of set themselves apart? The first thing is going back in history in 1979. Was anybody even alive in 1979 in this room? Me too. 3. 3. They created the first sport commission in the United States. And so since then it's been setting the tone of how do these large cities usually attract and also host these large scale events? So they've really set the tone for every other city in the world. So there's this historical significance. The second piece that sets Indianapolis apart is that they have world class facilities. Everything is walkable is the third piece. Right. And they also have all these tremendous hotels and restaurants. The other piece is the fact that we have now a campus down there in, in Indianapolis. So all those things together make for a like a perfect, almost like ecosystem. So in a sense, I think of it as if you were in film, you wanted to be in film. Doesn't matter if you're an actor, a director, a producer, or if you're a camera person or in special effects. You're going to Hollywood, right?
[10:41]
Unknown
Going to la.
[10:41]
Jeanne Boyd
That's exactly right. To back up, the other thing that Indianapolis has is just an unmatched level of like, direction or leadership. Patrick Talty there at the Sports Corp, he understands kind of the broader picture and all of the things that are needed to host and support these events. So again, they've got almost, again, a broader sense of the economic impact and the infrastructure and things that are needed and the lasting effects that hosting these types of event brings with it. So, anyway, so if you are, again, it doesn't matter what your area of specialization is. If you want to be in film, you're going to Hollywood, and that's what they're creating in Indianapolis. If you want to be in sports, Indianapolis is the place to be.
[11:24]
Unknown
I'll never forget, I'm from Fort Wayne, so smaller than Indy, you know, And I went to my first NCAA final for. I can't. Maybe it was in 2010.
[11:33]
Jeanne Boyd
Yes.
[11:33]
Unknown
Yes.
[11:34]
Kate Young
Okay.
[11:34]
Jeanne Boyd
Butler's run. Butler's run. Loved it.
[11:36]
Unknown
Yep. And it was just this, who the vibes of the city and how hospitable Hoosiers are.
[11:43]
Jeanne Boyd
Right.
[11:43]
Unknown
Like, there were so many pieces and parts that I was just so proud to now be, like, living in Indy and be a part of that. It's such a special place, and you.
[11:52]
Jeanne Boyd
Should be proud of it. I mean, again, in my previous role as the managing director of the men's Final Four, I had, again, the privilege to work across all cities that submitted bids. They were able to, you know, host the event. I remember as a part of the post tournament evaluation that we conduct with all the Final Four teams plus the host city to basically say, hey, what can we improve upon? How can we do things better? What issues came up that, you know, were not detailed in kind of like, our directions or bid specifications? And I talked to the person who ran all the volunteer stuff, and I said, you know, coming into this, again, like, what set them apart? And it was very clear that it's this really nice balance of a knowledgeable staff. I mean, they've hosted all of these events, and they do it really, really well. Mixed with an interest in almost like an evolution or an evolvement of the event. As events continue to grow and whatnot. They're open to all of those things, but also preserving the Hoosier hospitality just made such a special combination. When I worked for the Final Four, I was also the main point of contact for the nabc, which is the national association of Basketball Coaches, and they host their yearly convention in conjunction with the Final Four. So you had basketball coaches coming in from divisions 1, 2, 3, high school coaches from all over the country, and they have a board of directors that at the end of the Final Four, they submit these recommendations for future years. And they wanted the Final Four to, you know, can we set up an opportunity where it rotates between two specific cities and one of those was Indianapolis? And I had to gently explain that there's a little bit of taxing that's a heavy load. It's a heavy load in a sense of personnel and volunteerism and all of those things, but there's also a financial heavy load. So we do need to spread it around a little bit, but based on their experience only, and these are folks that are coming in from all around the country, they wanted to just narrow it down to two different cities and Indianapolis being one of those.
[13:59]
Unknown
So we know Indy is special. West Lafayette is also special. The program here on campus in West Lafayette will be housed right next to Purdue athletics. What does that mean for students?
[14:10]
Jeanne Boyd
Oh, my gosh. So yes, we are in Lambert, which is connected through a tunnel right directly to Mackie. And so those students who decide to come and experience the program from a West Lafayette perspective gives them the opportunity to get behind the scenes to again, one of the most respected and successful athletic programs in the country. So again, not only being connected physically, but we do have a great partnership with Purdue athletics that will offer these students a behind the scenes look at a wide variety of opportunities or what are potential jobs. I don't think people understand kind of the depth and breadth of the different opportunities that are available. In my mind, if you think about sport management, you might think about coaching or essentially like managing, whatever that may be. But I would encourage folks to take a minute and look at the our team link that's there on Purdue athletics website to see the depth and breadth of opportunities because it is crazy, but it'll give them a behind the scenes look at what opportunities are available. Also an opportunity to be connected with those professionals because there'll be guest speakers in our classroom. They'll serve on a board that's helping us continuously look at the curriculum and make sure that it is evolving and keeps up with trends and things of that nature. So yeah, it's going to be fun.
[15:35]
Unknown
With things like the nil in the news everywhere now, this increased regulation at the professional level of sports, how will.
[15:42]
This degree program at Purdue support this.
[15:45]
Need for flexibility in an industry that's always changing.
[15:48]
Jeanne Boyd
You're exactly right. It is changing every day. I feel for the commissioners and the athletic directors and the NCAA and all of those that are involved from an administrative perspective that it's changing constantly and it's almost like they're whipping in the wind. I think one of the pieces that's going to set us Apart is the fact that we're going to rely on industry experts to help us build that curriculum. So we're going to stay not just on trend, but ahead of the trend. Not only will they be involved from like an advisory perspective, but they're also going to serve as, in some cases, adjunct professors, guest speakers. They'll also serve as mentors and more of those types of tangential touch points with our students. So they'll oversee kind of, again, we talked about the, the hands on experience and the 450 hours that they have to complete. They're also providing those opportunities. So they'll give feedback on job performance and what's needed. Because actually, right now there's a lot of conversation about there being a little bit of a disconnect between when folks come out of graduation versus what the industry needs. And so these folks, again, being so well connected with them and being essentially friends, they're going to allow us and provide feedback to help us bridge that gap or close that gap.
[17:09]
Unknown
So before coming to Purdue, we touched on this a little bit, but you spent over a decade leading operations as the managing director of the NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Tournament. I'm sure a lot of our listeners are excited to hear some more behind the scenes.
[17:22]
Jeanne Boyd
Oh, boys.
[17:22]
Unknown
Details of that job and what that entails tell us about your path to the NCAA and what led you on that journey and through that role.
[17:30]
Jeanne Boyd
You know, looking back to undergrad. And I think a lot of your guests that have come on the podcast have said that their journey wasn't linear. That's certainly the case for me. I started out as an accounting major. Well, I love numbers, I love money, but that did not work for me. I was like, this is so boring. So then I shifted to being a business major. That didn't work either. And then I was in education. And as, again, as looking back, that didn't seem linear at the time. And I felt like I was kind of in this weird place. And my parents certainly didn't think it was very logical at the time. But looking back, sport management has elements of all those things, right? I mean, you're preparing budgets, you're doing organizational leadership, learning how to communicate with folks. There's an educational component in a sense that with a local organizing committee, you had all of these meetings where you would educate them on what's needed and what we need. Here's here are all the logistics of it. And so it's just so multifaceted and so multidisciplinary. Up until the day my dad passed away. Every time I called and I had been directing the men's Final Four for eight years, he would say, don't tell me you called me to say you changed your major. I was like, dad, I have a PhD.
[18:52]
Unknown
We're too far down that.
[18:53]
Jeanne Boyd
Right, right, right. So again, it wasn't linear, it wasn't logical. But looking back, just because at that point in time, I'm again, I'm older than everybody in this room, that opportunity wasn't available. But it's so multidisciplinary.
[19:06]
Unknown
I can't imagine the logistics and coordination that it takes to put on an event that big.
[19:12]
Jeanne Boyd
It's crazy. It is absolutely crazy.
[19:14]
Unknown
Tell us some insider info, some behind the scenes stories. What's something that's really memorable from your time in that role?
[19:21]
Jeanne Boyd
You know, the memories for me there are a couple of special ones you mentioned. You know, the Butler run in 2010 was memorable only because when you work at either a conference office or the ncaa, you're coached and it's the expectation that you're neutral. You want everyone to have the same experience. You know, you don't have any type of emotional investment on who wins and you who moves on through the bracket. To me, it was, again, take the names off. It was really boring to have the same four teams there every single year. I always loved when somebody kind of the underdog. Yes, yes, Absolutely loved that. Absolutely loved that.
[20:00]
Unknown
No story.
[20:01]
Jeanne Boyd
Yes, yes, yes. That was really fun. But my most memorable moments of working in that for over a decade wasn't really a individual moment or an event, but it was more so the relationships that were built behind the scenes. You know, every year we had 13 preliminary round sites, which in my mind, again, is kind of like one unit of the Final Four. And then the Final Four itself is this whole other entity. It's the same staff that works both of them, but they're very, very different. And so talking about the preliminary rounds, there's a responsibility to have kind of a cross section of West Coast, Middle America, east coast to make sure that it covers all the different television zones and things like that. But there are a handful of tournament managers who are usually deputy athletic directors, that we would come back year after year and it would be the same. Not year after year, but, you know, a couple of times. Next times, bids came open that ended up being like my best friends in the business. You know, you're in it at a pace that is unbelievable. You're working, I would say, at least 70 hours a week. You're in the trenches with these folks. And you just, you know, you're eight, you're there with them for so many hours a day and you have no idea what's like coming down the pike, what issues you're going to hit. And through all of that, you're essentially in the trenches with them. And so there's a handful of tournament managers across the country, there's about six of us that establish almost like this clique. It's almost like being in high school, being new to a high school and you don't know what lunch table you're going to sit at. And you end up like finding your people. And this is the exact same situation. And you find your people by trust, by mutual respect, by accountability, availability, consistency in management. Those folks have ended up being some of my best friends. And it was also special because we grew up together. So we all started around the same age. Even though our professions have taken kind of different twists and turns, we still have a text string together and we make fun of each other and tease each other, but at the same time we're still supportive of each other. And so that's what really has stuck with me and will stick with me for the rest of my life, is the friendships and the connections.
[22:15]
Unknown
We were talking earlier this week, I think something that people might not necessarily think of is how secretive and basically like lockdown you had to be in your role when you talked about a police officer was guarding the door. Tell us a little bit about the process of choosing cities, choosing the teams selection set. Like I know our listeners and viewers will be super interested in those little behind the scenes stories.
[22:40]
Jeanne Boyd
So there are two separate processes. The whole site selection thing is important because again you should. In a perfect world you'll be able to balance like an east coast site and a west coast site. And not dating myself, but back when I was doing it, there were only seven cities that could host the event, meaning that they would have the facility requirements that were needed, they had the hotel and essentially the infrastructure that was required. We developed this big bid specification notebook that was probably 200 pages long that talked about everything from the broad brushstrokes of what's required down to the height and the width and the depth of the tables and the candle light, you know, strength in the competition venue. It was just ad nauseam. Detail versus this. The selection, seating and bracketing thing is something that's completely, you know, separate. That happens right before Selection Sunday. That's about a week long event, you're in lockdown, where they would set aside There was a specific hotel down in Indianapolis that we would go to that no one was allowed to visit the floor. We bought out the entire floor. There was a guard who is an Indiana State Police policeman who is absolutely wonderful, who is positioned right there at the elevator bank. He had a list of every single person, plus their headshot. So he knew who was supposed to be on the floor and anyone else who would try to get off that floor, he would. Obviously, he wouldn't let them. But when I first started, I remember helicopters flying, you know, like, circling the facility. There were no deliveries that would be accepted.
[24:21]
Unknown
No lunch deliveries.
[24:23]
Jeanne Boyd
No deliveries.
[24:24]
Unknown
Delivery driver could overhear something.
[24:25]
Jeanne Boyd
That's right. Well, well. And it was a lot of institutions who might be considered right there on the bubble would send pages, and again, I'm dating myself, it would send pages and pages of information to basically bolster their position as to why they should.
[24:40]
Unknown
Be like, this is why we deserve to be.
[24:43]
Jeanne Boyd
Yes. Yeah. Yes. We closed down every phone line so you couldn't call our individual rooms. I mean, it was. It was absolutely crazy. But it is a real protective environment, free as possible of any type of bias. Perception is reality in a sense, that if there were teams that were involved in the discussion, like, I remember one year we had Mike Slive, who was the Commissioner of the SEC, Southeastern Conference, and anytime an SEC's team was discussed, he would have to leave the room. And if I remember correctly, I mean, there were a handful of five, six, seven institutions that were in the SEC that were up for discussion. And so he would have to leave the room. So he was out of the. Out of the selection room just as much as he was in there. But again, just to be able to look everyone in the face and say, hey, look, this is completely free of bias. He wasn't even in the room. He didn't submit a vote. So it was an independent decision, a collective decision. I think that that gave it a little bit of credence.
[25:46]
Unknown
Absolutely.
[25:47]
Jeanne Boyd
Yeah.
[25:47]
Unknown
Oh, that's fascinating. So we talked about. You changed your major several times, it sounds like. But what was that turning point for you that you were like, I really want to pursue sports as a career. Did you grow up just loving sports? Walk us through that.
[26:00]
Jeanne Boyd
I grew up in a family. I'm one of five children. I'm a four or five. The best number four or five. I have three brothers and a sister. And our household was incredibly competitive. Like, hyper competitive. Like, unhealthily unhealthy competitive. We would compete at every level. I remember my first memories Again, are probably field day in elementary school. And I may or may not still have the 50 yard dash record at the elementary school.
[26:31]
Unknown
Let's do a fact check on that.
[26:33]
Jeanne Boyd
Yes, please. Elementary, Spring, Texas. But all of my brothers competed and my sister competed and get just like this, healthy, unhealthy, hyper competitive. So it wasn't even really about sports at the time. It was who could unload the dishwasher the fastest, who had read the most books over the summer months.
[26:53]
Unknown
Oh, your parents are smart.
[26:55]
Jeanne Boyd
Oh my gosh, yes. My dad was an engineer and military, so it was a no nonsense type of household. And again, every day life is about competition. Right. And then mom was a nurse. But so my earliest memories revolve around, you know, getting playing football in the backyard or the elementary school field day. But one memory that stands out to me that is kind of full circle is we have to picture it. It is Spring, TX 1983ish. I was playing 7th grade basketball and we were on our way to a tournament and it was a double. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a double elimination tournament. And we're about to pull out of the parking lot and our coach comes down the, you know, the little skinny aisle and she's handing us copies of the bracket. So she hands one to me, by the way. I had the pigtails, I had the tube socks pulled up high. I was wearing the blue and gold like polyester scratchy uniform. So she hands out the bracket and we're at like a number seven or whatever seat. And I thought, how did we, you know, arrive at this number 7? Like who design this? How did it come about? Why are we seven when we've already played against number one and number four and we've beaten both of them. And so it's just fascinated by the inner workings of not only the bracketing piece, if we win, we go here, if we lose, we go here. But also just the behind the scenes operational detail of it. Like who is calling to make sure we have referees? Who's calling to make sure we have an official score? Does that even matter in some of the grade basketball? I don't know. But again, it just became a very full circle moment that I remembered. And also with it being a double elimination tournament, it's a little bit confusing. You know, if you win, you go here. And I remember trying to gently, she said, if we win, we play it this time. If we lose, we play it this time. And I remember going, no, no, no, no. If we lose, we actually go over here. So again, I've just been fascinated, and again, maybe it's genetic with dad, you know, being the engineer in military, but I've always been fascinated with the behind the scenes work.
[29:07]
Unknown
And then fast forward and you're literally designing.
[29:10]
Jeanne Boyd
Yes, yes.
[29:11]
Unknown
Where people go.
[29:12]
Jeanne Boyd
Yes, yes. And the bracket actually would come off of my computer. So I facilitated the selection, seating and bracketing process. Gosh. And that's a whole nother level of secrecy. Secrecy and pressure. The committees are. At that time, again, it was a 10 member committee and they were usually athletic directors or conference commissioners. But there's a requirement to make sure that there's a balance of representation from east coast to central. All the different time zones plus the level, they all had to be Division 1, but the different sizes of institutions. So there had to be a cross section of representation. And so again, the fascinating thing was they served four year terms, but they would rotate off every four years. So the addition or subtraction of one person, which is kind of like this fascinating case study because it would change the whole dynamics in the room. But it was really fun to, again, you're in the trenches with them. You're talking about teams for 12 hours at least a day. And there were some instances when I was like, for the love of the Lord, can someone just please vote? Let's just call for a vote. We've had enough discussion. I mean, it was really fun. And again, you're in the trenches with them, so you develop these relationships. And some of them would feel the pressure during the selection piece, whether or not the team is in or out. Others would feel the highest point of pressure being where their seed was. Isn't that interesting? In my mind, for me, it'd be whether they're in or out. After that, it's up to them. Right.
[30:48]
Unknown
But all the dominoes and how they fall into place depending on the seed. Right?
[30:53]
Yes.
[30:54]
I can kind of see that side of it too, I guess.
[30:56]
Jeanne Boyd
Yeah.
[30:56]
Unknown
You know, women are increasingly stepping into.
[30:58]
Leadership roles in the sports industry.
[31:01]
People in general are getting more excited about women's sports. You think about Caitlin Clark coming to Indy with the Fever. Our own boilermaker, Stephanie White, is now.
[31:10]
The Fever head coach.
[31:11]
What will that mean for the future of the industry to have more female voices?
[31:15]
Jeanne Boyd
When I walked into that room for selection and I, again, I was facilitating the process. So I would lead them and say, hey, this is what you're doing. I never once gave a thought to, oh, my goodness, I'm the only woman in this room.
[31:28]
Unknown
Interesting.
[31:29]
Jeanne Boyd
I never once thought about that, I think, because I looked at him and thought, you don't have anything on my brothers. They were so mean and brutal. He would say, hey, go run deep. You know, do a slant. And so I'd go and I'd run the little football pattern and they would never throw me the ball. So on one hand, I wasn't ever. I didn't ever feel intimidated, but I knew I had to have my ducks in order. Right. And I was also very appreciative for all the women who came before me because if not, this opportunity wouldn't be afforded. You know, we talked a little bit about Indianapolis. They also set the tone way back in 1979 when they developed that first sport commission. They also identified a woman who was the first president of the Indiana Sports Corp. Which in 1979, that was unheard of. And so, again, I'm just so appreciative of all the women who came before. There's been a lot of conversation on your podcast about the implication and the effects and of everything from Amelia Earhart, who was ahead of her time. I feel privileged to have been a part of the sport evolution where when I first started, it was an exception. Now it's an expectation. And it's not about really representation. It's about women being put in positions of executive level. You think about Mel Rains, who's down there, who is the CEO of Pacers Sport and Entertainment, But I don't think we do a really good enough job of celebrating that because Mel is amazing. But there's also Alison Millington, who was the head of the super bowl back in 2012. Again, we don't hear her name enough, but under her leadership, we set what which is widely known as being the most successful super bowl in recent history. You have people like Julie Rowe, who is the commissioner of the Horizon League, which is down in Indianapolis, and she's the first woman to chair the Indy Sports Corp. You have Susan Boffman, who ran the College football playoff in 2022. Every single final Four in recent memory. For me, she's also overseeing or directing the NBA All Star Game, the WNBA All Star Game. I mean, these are women who, again, it's not about representation. It's about them being in positions where they are, again, executive directors and making, I mean, just making a real impact.
[34:02]
Unknown
What advice do you give to young women when it comes to pursuing a degree in the sports industry?
[34:09]
Jeanne Boyd
I would tell them to be prepared to work your butt off. And that's not any different for women versus men, but it is so competitive. It's about. Life is competitive. Again, as I mentioned. But it is about setting yourself apart from these other 300 applicants. But I would tell them to be passionate about it. Be a really, really good team player because that's a whole nother part of it. And be curious and don't be afraid to ask questions and. And also surround yourself with people like you. It's about finding your people. Just like you did. Yes, just like I did. And again, like we talked about, you know, Susan Boffman, and we haven't mentioned people like Joanne Briet, who is on the board of trustees here. She is such a fascinating case study. I keep telling her that she needs to run for office and that I would be her campaign manager. She doesn't want to do that. She's kind of giving me the thumbs down on it. But she's so impactful. Been almost kind of behind the scenes, and that's where she's most comfortable. But also people like Dean Flesch. Lucy Flesch has her fingerprints all over the sport management program. I mean, again, it's not about representation. It's about influence and creating the next generation of sport leaders.
[35:26]
Unknown
You talked about how you had to stay neutral for a long time. How does it feel to wear black and gold and truly be a boilermaker.
[35:34]
Jeanne Boyd
And support Purdue and mean it. It has been so special. You and I talked about this off camera, but being able to be here in West Lafayette and Purdue is really, really special. I really feel like I have made friends here that will be friends for the rest of my life. Now, throughout my career, I've had an opportunity to work across a lot of different campuses. Whether I worked at them or they were part of the. When I was an associate commissioner, they, you know, one of the member institutions or, you know, Final Four. I've worked with several. Several campuses. I also had, again, brothers and sisters who went to, at the time were Southwest Conference or whatever, but they went to University of Texas and Texas A and M and the Naval. So I've had exposure to a lot of different campuses. Purdue is something that is really special. I mean, it is a really unique blend of humility and almost understatement, but at the same time, like kicking ass, you know, I mean, they are incredibly. And that is Joanne Briet, right? I mean, it is like this understated excellence and this, again, just humility and friendship. I am so proud to be a part of the Purdue community and take that, I don't want to say position, but opportunity very seriously. I mean, the other thing that really is special about Purdue is that it is generationally deep. And again, it's weirdly collegial in a sense that when you're in the sec, you are not going to see University of Florida and University of Tennessee or Georgia fans tailgating together. That just doesn't happen here. Again, there's a collegiality that you see them tailgating together. It's almost like a shared experience. But also the roots are generationally deep. I've never seen anything like it in my life. And I've talked to Mike Babitsky about it too. I mean, we've just never seen it. To have not only a sibling, but your mom and your grandmother and father and your aunts and uncles and everybody's involved in Purdue. It is really something special. And again, it's something that I so much love and appreciate and cherish.
[37:46]
Unknown
It's nice to hear that from someone who's had so many different experiences with so many different colleges. Show and tell us how special Purdue is. Well, Jeannie, we can't thank you enough. It was such a pleasure. It was so fun learning more about you and your journey.
[37:59]
Jeanne Boyd
Thank you so much for having me. If anybody's interested in the in the program and willing to do the work, we have a place for them and.
[38:07]
Unknown
We'Ll link some things in our show notes for easy access for our listeners.
[38:11]
Jeanne Boyd
Great. Thank you so much.
[38:12]
Unknown
Thank you.
[38:12]
Kate Young
Boiler up we can't thank Jeannie enough.
[38:15]
Unknown
For joining us on this Is Purdue.
[38:17]
She is so delightful and genuine and.
[38:20]
Kate Young
We'Re proud to have her as part of of our Boilermaker community. You can watch more videos with Jeannie.
[38:25]
Unknown
Including some of her thoughts on why.
[38:26]
Kate Young
Purdue basketball is so unique and her time serving as her college mascot on our podcast YouTube channel YouTube.com, this is Purdue. Okay, time flies when you're having fun, and this marks our last episode of our spring 2025 season already. But we'll be back in August for our fall 2025 season and we have so much more in store for you all. And don't forget, we'll have bonus content releasing on our YouTube channel all summer. Be sure to subscribe over there. Plus, be sure to follow this is Purdue on Apple Podcast, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss out on our kickoff to the fall season, which may include a certain athletics guest.
[39:10]
Unknown
I'm sure all of our Boilermaker fans are curious to learn more about.
[39:14]
Kate Young
We'll talk to you in August this.
[39:17]
Unknown
Is Purdue is hosted and written by me, Kate Young.
[39:20]
Kate Young
Our podcast videography for this episode was led by Ted Schellenberger in collaboration with John Garcia, Thad Boone and Zach Mogensen. Our social media marketing is led by Maria Welch. Our podcast distribution strategy is led by Carly Eastman. Our podcast design is led by Cheryl Glatzba. Our podcast photography is led by John Underwood. Our podcast team Project Manager is Rain goo. Our podcast YouTube promotions is managed by Megan Hoskins. Additional writing and research assistance is led by Sophie Ritz and Ashvini Malshi and.
[39:52]
Unknown
Our Creative Production assistant is Delaney Young.
[39:56]
Kate Young
Thanks for listening to this Is Purdue. For more information on this episode, visit our website at purdue.edu podcast. From there you can head over to your favorite podcast app to subscribe. And don't forget, you can also check out all of our podcast content on our podcast YouTube page, YouTube.com/this is Purdue.
[40:19]
Unknown
And as always, boiler up.