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Washington State University
College of Education

Sports Management

Getting to Know You: Matthew Cho


Matthew (far right) with SABR Diamond Dollars Case Study baseball analytics competition teammates: from left, Alex Yano, Dante Ludlow, Reagan Stubb, and Matthew.

Matthew Cho – Sport Management Undergrad

Name: Matthew Cho
Hometown: Bellevue, WA
Year: 2021
Favorite sport: Baseball

What inspired you to study Sport Management?

I have always wanted to work in sports, and I figured this would be the best degree for me. At the end of the day, sports are a business, and I felt that learning as much information about the behind-the-scenes would be beneficial.

What advice do you have for incoming students pursuing this degree?

Something I have always struggled with was creating connections and maintaining them. You never know who can help you in the future so make sure to never burn bridges!

Tell us about your extracurricular activities while at WSU!

I was an assistant coach for the Colfax High School baseball team and helped during the Palouse Summer Series in baseball.

In 2019, you were part of a team that participated in a baseball analytics case study competition. What was the experience like?

This was an eye-opening experience for me. Not only did I represent WSU, but some of the top analytical minds in baseball minds were there and I listened to them speak. It was very humbling and a great learning experience. It helped me realized that just knowing the numbers isn’t enough.

If you could witness any event—past, present, or future—what would it be? Why?

It’s tough to choose but I would probably go back to Game 5 of the 1995 American League Division Series between the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees. This game saved baseball in Seattle, and I would have witnessed Ken Griffey, Jr. and Edgar Martinez in their prime.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Probably getting my current internship with Seattle University’s baseball team. Being able to influence the game plan, digging into the numbers, and providing support to the coaching staff has been awesome.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Hopefully in a position of influence in terms of game planning, scouting, and analytics for a baseball organization.

Your advice to students coping with the pandemic?

Continue looking for experiences. Organizations look for passion, but writing down you have passion on a resume isn’t enough. Rather than staying home and waiting for an opportunity, you can create a blog or a website and show your passion. However, at the end of the day, life is bigger than just sports, so take care of yourself and spend quality time with your loved ones!

Getting to Know You: Ryan Ngo


Ryan on the sideline of Martin Stadium at the 2018 WSU vs. CAL game as a Marketing and Promotions Intern. 

Ryan Ngo – Sport Management Undergrad

Hometown: Hacienda Heights, CA

Year: Senior 2021

Favorite sport: Football

What inspired you to pursue a degree in Sport Management?

Tabling on Terrell Mall in the fall of my freshman year I saw “Sport Management” on a sign and thought “I like sports” and went over and talked to the previous advisor about what it entailed. I wasn’t sure about it at first, and then in the spring I began my marketing and promotions internship in the athletic department, and I think that is what helped me make my decision.

Where are you currently completing your internship? What are your main duties?

I am with Cal State Fullerton in their athletic department. My duties include graphic design, social media campaigns, developing marketing plans, and game presentation. My big project is to find ways to increase attendance for fall sports and increase the department’s social media presence.

What are your plans after completing this internship?

Attending Ohio University’s dual master’s degree program in business administration (MBA) and sports administration (MSA). Expand my knowledge of business and sport will give me flexibility. Ohio’s dual program is the best in the nation and the networking opportunities will help. Ohio also felt like a family and they really foster a close community even before I committed.

What advice do you have for incoming students pursuing this degree?

Let things happen naturally. Plans change and let your passions drive you.

If you could witness any event—past, present, or future—what would it be? Why?

Fast-forwarding to when society has all-electric vehicles, and we make better use of green energy. I think it is something that could drastically reduce climate change and once the change is made it can be cheaper.

What is an “aha moment” from a sport management course?

In Dr. Rhee’s Sport Marketing class, I started seeing the power of marketing. You do your research and create a plan, but you can be creative. His class confirmed my desire to work in sport marketing.

Your tip to make sport management a more inclusive and welcoming field?

Highlighting the people that are doing great things even when they aren’t in executive roles. Over time people will see that they can fit in the career path and helping people see through the stigmas of some majors. As an Asian-American, I’ve felt pushed to become a doctor but that’s not what I was passionate about. Educating people on the opportunities to work in all kinds of sports can help them get away from where they “think” they should be and get them to where they want to be.

Sport Management graduate program information session

In the meeting, we will discuss the purpose of pursuing a master’s degree, provide an overview of the WSU Sport Management master’s program, discuss funding options at WSU and elsewhere, and answer any questions students might have. A current WSU Sport Management master’s student will share her experience as a student and graduate assistant. The meeting will open with a short presentation, followed by plenty of time for questions. Late drop-ins are welcome to join us “open house”-style any time until 2 p.m.

“Esports Immigration Alternatives for International Gamers” Sport Management Research Meeting

HENRY EVANS, J.D., M.A., will speak in the third Sport Management research meeting of the Fall 2019 semester.

His presentation, “Esports Immigration Alternatives for International Gamers,” happens 4:00–5:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, in Cleveland Hall 255 in Pullman, Washington.

Professional video gaming has become increasingly popularity over the last decade. Video games have become more than just a source of entertainment and are now a source of livelihood for many professional gamers. Many of them are not residents of the United States but still wish to enter the country to compete in major tournaments in the United States. Entry has proven difficult due to unreliable and inconsistent visa options for professional gamers, forcing them to either be left behind or enter the country without appropriate documentation. This presentation will discuss the options esports competitors have to temporarily visit the United States until the P-1A visa (granted to athletes and performers) becomes a more stable option for professional gamers.

Sport Management research meetings are organized by the Sport Management program at Washington State University. They occur monthly and feature faculty and student presentations of ongoing and completed research projects. Students and faculty from all programs are welcome to attend.

Access here the meetings video archive

Sport Management Research Meeting: Student Baseball Analytics

Four undergraduate students at Washington State University, Dante Ludlow, Matthew Cho, Alex Yano and Reagan Stubb, will speak in the first Sport Management research meeting of the Fall 2019 semester. Their presentation entitled, “MLB Pitching Strategies: 2019 SABR Diamond Dollars Case Competition,” happens 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, September 18, in Cleveland Hall 255 in Pullman.

This spring, Washington State University had its first-ever team of students compete in the Diamond Dollars Case Competition at the Society for American Baseball Research Analytics Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Undergraduate students Dante Ludlow, Matthew Cho, Alex Yano, and Reagan Stubb were tasked with developing a strategy for MLB teams to most effectively distribute innings within a pitching staff. The team will be presenting their findings and projected results for every MLB team, as well as discussing the experience of traveling to the conference, a trip that was partially funded by the Sport Management program.

Sport Management research meetings are organized by the Sport Management program at Washington State University. They occur monthly and feature faculty and student presentations of ongoing and completed research projects. Students and faculty from all programs are welcome to attend.

Those who miss the presentations but are interested in the topic can access the video archive of past presentations here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0RdCHElWWJj0-X_x4EyAgA/videos.

Sport Management guest lecture: “Performing in the spectacle: The 21st-Century Gladiator and the Modern-Day Coliseum”

Dr. Ashleigh-Jane Thompson, a Lecturer and Program Director within La Trobe University’s Department of Management, Sport and Tourism, will present a guest lecture entitled, “Performing in the spectacle: The 21st-Century Gladiator and the Modern-Day Coliseum,” 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, in Cleveland Hall 30E.

Social media have become pervasive parts of modern society, consumer culture and are now an important facet of sport communication. In this talk, Dr. Thompson will consider the growing importance of social media as a sport communication tool, share how athletes are negotiating and performing in this new arena, and the exciting new opportunities that make sport fans part of the spectacle. She will also discuss whether social media serves up the right results for stakeholders involved in a global sport like tennis.

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The good, bad, and ugly of social media in sport will be discussed at Washington State University Pullman by a professor from La Trobe University in Australia, in an open lecture at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, in Cleveland Hall 30E.

Ashleigh-Jane Thompson’s lecture, titled “Performing in the Spectacle: The 21st-Century Gladiator and the Modern-Day Coliseum,” will discuss the growing importance of social media as a communication tool in sport.

“The strategic use of social media might help sport brands create an authentic connection with fans, and develop social bonds that are not easily copied by competitors,” said Thompson, who directs study programs in Sport Development and Management in the La Trobe Business School.

“Social media’s lack of geographical and temporal boundaries allow fans to feel part of the tournament, even if they are thousands of kilometers away. Fans forget they are communicating with a company.”

Thompson studies the impact of communication between sport organizations, athletes, and consumers.

If used correctly, social media allows athletes to cultivate their image and increase their potential endorsement value. However, when used incorrectly, it can cause irreparable harm.

“Whether athletes want to acknowledge it or not, they are public figures and receive increased attention, and social media enhances this,” Thompson said. “There’s a fragility around an athlete’s playing career – for example, through injury – but there’s also the possibility of athletes destroying their career through posts to social media.”

Thompson is originally from New Zealand, a sport-mad nation that often punches above its weight in global contests. “I’m hoping to share with you a view inside New Zealand’s unique outlook on sport, our idolized stars and the use of social media,” Thompson said about her visit to Pullman.

“Australia and New Zealand are very technologically advanced, and frequent test markets for new digital products,” said Simon Licen, assistant professor of sport management and program coordinator. “Dr. Thompson will introduce us to the ‘tomorrow’ of today’s technologies.”

Thompson has studied a range of sports including elite tennis, rugby, and cricket. She maintains connections within the sport industry and provides guidance to national and international sport organizations and events.

“This presentation will be particularly valuable to people interested in social media and sport in university departments, Olympic sports, and beyond, who cannot count on league mastodons to provide detailed guidelines and rather need to rely on their own creativity and originality when using cutting-edge technology,” Licen said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Thompson will present a guest lecture on alcohol and sport in New Zealand to students in a course on sport and popular culture. She studied alcohol advertisement in rugby and cricket world cups hosted by the island nation.

The event is hosted by the Sport Management program in the College of Education.

International social media scholar to speak at WSU