Center for Sports Media Caps Landmark Year of With Unprecedented Opportunities for Students

Seton Hall University’s Center for Sports Media, housed in the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media, concluded the 2025-26 academic year with expanded industry partnerships, national event coverage and one-of-a-kind experiential learning opportunities that position students for careers at the highest levels of sports media.

Under the leadership of Executive Director B.J. Schecter, a sports media veteran with more than 30 years of industry experience, including two decades at Sports Illustrated and more than 15 years in higher education, the Center continues to strengthen its reputation through hands-on learning and meaningful professional experiences.

“We’re creating opportunities for students to get into the field and start building their portfolios from the moment they arrive on campus,” said Schecter. “This experiential learning is crucial to the students’ education and is what will set them apart from thousands of other students across the country.”

The Center's continued growth builds upon the vision established by founder and distinguished alumnus Bob Ley '76, whose leadership helped shape the program and who remains actively involved today. That foundation continues to guide the Center as it expands opportunities for students while responding to the rapidly evolving sports media landscape.

"Through our relationships across the industry, in our respective careers and now through the growth of the Center, we're able to bring to our students the leaders and major figures who are shaping a constantly-evolving media landscape,” said Ley. “Nothing is more satisfying than helping Center students thrive in this atmosphere."

During the academic year, Center for Sports Media students participated in 16 "Pirates in the Field" experiences, working as credentialed media professionals covering the largest sporting events on the calendar. Students covered the Super Bowl, the NCAA Men's and Women's Final Fours, the NFL and NBA drafts and the FIFA World Cup, among others, gaining firsthand experience in live production, reporting and event operations.

The Center also expanded its relationships with leading media organizations, including ESPN, NBC Sports and Fox Sports. This year, Seton Hall piloted an ESPN focus group project that provided students with direct insight into audience research and content strategy. The Center also continued its participation in the Fox Sports University program, where Seton Hall earned recognition after developing a semester-long engagement plan for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Leaders in the industry recognize Seton Hall as a model for educating future sports media professionals. Notably, Stephen A. Smith hosted ESPN’s First Take and The Stephen A. Smith Show on SiriusXM from campus. Smith also gave time to interact with students in an exclusive Q&A session.

“Thanks to the vision of Bob Ley and the leadership of B.J. Schecter, our Center for Sports Media is providing our students unparalleled opportunities for professional and personal development,” said Dr. Bryan Crable, Founding Dean of the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media. “And when Seton Hall students have this kind of opportunity, they seize it and truly shine. Thanks to them, the Center is really turning heads in the industry.” 

For example, through a partnership established with NBC Sports, three students from the Center worked on the network’s production of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, while two students have been selected to work for Fox Sports during the FIFA World Cup this summer.

Among those students is rising senior Niamh Campbell, a Visual and Sound Media major from Phoenix, AZ, via England.

Campbell, captain of the University’s women’s tennis team, has been building her professional portfolio through her work with the Center for Sports Media as well as Pirate Sports Network while also serving as an ambassador for the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media. In the past year, she has provided commentary for soccer matches, interviewed NCAA President Charlie Baker, served as the emcee for the New Jersey Youth Soccer awards and represented the College at a campaign roadshow held at the Montclair Art Museum.

Rising sophomore Manny Pereira, a first-generation college student from West New York, NJ, will also work with Fox Sports during the World Cup. A Visual and Sound Media major, Pereira was selected for ESPN's inaugural student focus group cohort as a freshman and is active with both the Pirates Sports Network and SHU TV.

Campbell and Pereira are hosting the Pirates in the Field podcast, which is presented by the Center for Sports Media and Seton Hall College of Human Development, Culture, and Media and produced by SHU TV. The podcast, recorded in the University’s Innovation Hub, gives students who participate in the Pirates in the Field experiential learning program an opportunity to reflect upon their experiences and share their insights about the state of sports media. 

“The opportunities provided to me by the Center have been invaluable,” said Campbell. “Every experience has given me the confidence and skills I’ll need throughout my career. Now, with the creation of the Pirates in the Field Podcast, we have another platform to gain useful experience.”

The Center’s growing national reputation also helps its students get jobs when they graduate. Recent alumni have accepted positions with the BIG EAST Conference, MLB Network, Gotham FC, and CNBC, reflecting the program's growing network throughout the sports and media industries.

Looking ahead, the Center is launching a new partnership with DeSales Media and four Catholic high schools in Brooklyn and Queens to produce a magazine-style sports program highlighting individuals whose faith inspires extraordinary service within their communities. Students will serve as editors, producers and mentors for the participating high school correspondents. A pilot episode is scheduled for October 2026, with four additional programs planned for 2027.

As the Center looks toward the future, its focus remains on providing students with professional experiences, strengthening industry partnerships and preparing the next generation of sports media leaders.

“I wish I was a student in this program,” said Schecter. “Our students are on the ground floor of a media industry transformation. They are driving the conversation, innovating and getting opportunities you can’t find anywhere else.”

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