Gonzaga University M.A. Sport & Athletic Administration

Congratulations to recent graduate, Yushi Bo, who received a fully funded Ph.D. offer from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities where she will continue her research in sport management! 🎉

Read Yushi's Q&A article to hear how Gonzaga's M.A. in Sport & Athletic Administration provided the skills and knowledge to help her reach her goal of pursuing her Ph.D. https://bit.ly/4uoJ6My

The Zags were back at Girona FC for one of the most insightful front-office experiences we've had during our Study Abroad program.

Our group had the privilege of learning from Marco Onorato, International Coordinator for Girona FC's Academy, who delivered an engaging and thought-provoking session on scouting in international football. Marco shared valuable insights into how data, communication, and media are leveraged to identify, evaluate, and analyze talent from around the world. Despite being younger than some of our students, he demonstrated remarkable expertise, professionalism, and humility.

A big thank you to Gerard Corominas Tour from Marketing & Fan Engagement team for coordinating our visit, welcoming us to Estadi Montilivi, and ensuring such a memorable experience. Girona FC continues to be one of the most welcoming and collaborative clubs we have worked with, and we deeply appreciate their partnership and generosity.
Huge congratulations to Braden Ridenour, Jiaxing Zeng (MASAA), Lukas Nielsen, Allie Flynn (MASAA), Finn Monahan, and Benjamin Del Castillo for presenting an outstanding pitch to Marco on launching a Girona FC North American marketing and academy program. Fantastic work from this talented group.
Som-hi, Girona!

It was a pleasure for the Zags to return to RCDE Stadium in Barcelona and reconnect with RCD Espanyol, one of Spain’s historic La Liga clubs. We appreciated the insightful discussions from business manager Manu Carrasco Parodi, club historian David Tolo Gutiérrez, and Jordi Tomas Augusto, who also provided a tour of the stadium and club operations.

A highlight of the visit was our students’ excellent project pitch for an exclusive VIP box suite and networking lounge at RCDE Stadium for university students across Catalonia, supported by a marketing and ticketing campaign ready for implementation. Special thanks to Jordi and Manu for engaging with the students and providing valuable feedback.

RCD Espanyol continues to stand out as a welcoming, first-class club that offers sports management students a unique look into the business and technical side of world football. ¡Vamos Espanyol!

Student pitch team:
Jhe-Kai Tsao (MASAA)
Hoby Miller
Jose Lopez
Isabella Paillet-Toohey
Margaret Owens
Keira Saavedra
Jordan Spiro

Week 2 in Barcelona is officially in the books for the Gonzaga M.A. in Sport & Athletic Administration/Sport Management program! 🇪🇸

This week was filled with unforgettable experiences exploring the culture, history, and passion of Catalonia through the lens of sport.

Aside from our visits with professional sport clubs (separate post coming soon), highlights from Week 2 included:
• Attending the FC Barcelona Femení match shortly after their Champions League victory and witnessing club legend Alexia Putellas receive an emotional sendoff in what marked her final match with the club
• Exploring the iconic Park Güell
• Participating in an international sports cooking class with Dr. Bartlett
• Traveling to the historic city of Girona and visiting famous Game of Thrones filming locations

From experiencing world-class sport environments to immersing ourselves in local culture, this program continues to provide students with meaningful global learning opportunities both inside and outside the sports industry.

Stay tuned as we continue sharing more from our time abroad!

Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day began after the Civil War to honor those who gave their lives in service to our country. Today, we continue that tradition by remembering the fallen, honoring their sacrifice and reflecting on the cost of freedom. As we commemorate Memorial Day on May 25, Gonzaga gives thanks to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Please note there will be no summer classes or University work on Monday.

Zags at Spotify Camp Nou! ⚽️🇪🇸

The Gonzaga MASAA–Sport Management Barcelona Program is officially underway as students settle into life in Barcelona after kicking off classes earlier this week with MASAA professors Dr. Bartlett and Dr. Turcott.

This week, the group toured the iconic Spotify Camp Nou and the FC Barcelona Museum, getting an inside look at one of the world’s most legendary football clubs. Once fully renovated, Spotify Camp Nou will hold 105,000 spectators, making it the largest stadium in Europe.

Tomorrow, after class, the students will hike through Montjuïc and visit Barcelona’s historic 1992 Olympic sites before diving into an exciting lineup of club visits and collaborative projects with La Liga and Liga ACB teams.

Stay tuned for more from Barcelona! 🔥

We are excited to celebrate Alexi Fogo, an outstanding MASAA student‑athlete recognized at the Evening of Excellence. Her dedication and academic achievement earned her the title of 2026 Scholar Athlete of the Year. We couldn’t be more proud of her. 🎉👏

Meet Nate Dellinger (Class of 2026), Assistant Director of Football Operations at the University of Montana Athletics. Nate provides central support across the Montana football program, handling PR, finances, travel, and daily logistics for 15+ coaching and non-coaching staff as well as student-athletes. He works closely with the program's General Manager on team calendars, travel, and practice and game operations.

That makes Nate the fourth MASAA grad currently on staff with Montana Athletics. The Zags-to-Griz pipeline keeps growing.

"I chose Gonzaga due to the holistic nature of the MASAA program. It was evident that I would be gaining a quality education in all sectors of sport and athletics. I will attribute my ability to think with a systems-minded approach throughout the rest of my professional career to the education I gained in this graduate program. Additionally, I am always impressed by the network of MASAA graduates and their accomplishments."

A big shoutout to this outstanding group of MASAA and Sport Management Club students who dedicated the semester to researching and developing a consulting presentation for the newly formed PWHL team, Seattle Torrent.

Daniel Sokoler
Campbell Thorner
Patrick Machado
Kristian Rorvik
Noah Sherrell

The students delivered a thoughtful and detailed presentation to Seattle Torrent executive staff, Victor Anderson and Madi McNamara, sharing innovative ideas to build brand awareness in Seattle’s highly competitive sports market.

Amazing work by these students as they applied their skills in a real-world setting while receiving valuable feedback and engaging in meaningful discussion about their recommendations.

A special thank you to Victor and Madi for helping make this opportunity possible!