Rice University Department of Sport Management

06/02/2026

The sixth annual Jimmy Disch Sport Analytics Award has been presented to Lucca Ferraz and Nathaniel Ascher, both graduating members of the Class of 2026. 👏

The Disch Award is voted on by professors and given to graduating seniors who have shown a strong commitment to academic excellence and earned exceptional practical experience in Sport Analytics throughout their time at Rice University.

Ferraz said that he was honored to win this award alongside Ascher, as the two seniors added their names to a long list of Rice alumni with track records full of success in the sport analytics industry.

“There are so many talented people in this program, so many hard workers, so many people that could just as easily qualify for this award,” Ferraz said. “To be recognized for the award, and to be able to share it with Nathaniel—one of the hardest-working people I know and someone whom I have watched blossom in baseball—was an honor. It meant the world to me.”

The sixth annual Jimmy Disch Sport Analytics Award has been presented to Lucca Ferraz and Nathaniel Ascher, both graduating members of the Class of 2026.

05/29/2026

Congratulations to Maya Moise ’26 and Kai Cowin ’26 who are the 2026 recipients of the Patrick K. Thornton Memorial Award!

This award recognizes graduating Sport Management students in the Sport Law concentration who demonstrate a promising future in the field of law. Together, Moise and Cowin helped grow sport law opportunities at Rice through the founding of the Rice Sport Law Society and participation in national negotiation competitions.

Read more about their journeys ⤵️

The 13th annual Patrick K. Thornton Memorial Award has been presented to Maya Moise and Kai Cowin, both graduating members of the Class of 2026. Moise and Cowin co-founded the Rice Sport Law Society, which made history as the first-ever undergraduate team to compete in the Tulane International Baseb...

05/21/2026

Congratulations to Ben Schragger ’19, who has been named Chief Content Officer at Global Athletics!

In his role, Ben leads strategy for athlete content, digital media, and creative activations—helping Olympic and professional athletes build their brands and connect with fans around the world.

From his time at Rice Sport Management to leading innovative work across the sports industry, Ben continues to make an impact on how athletes tell their stories beyond competition.

Read more about his journey ⤵️

While world-class track athletes shave seconds off their times in hopes of making the 2028 Olympics, Ben Schragger ’19 is helping them prepare for life well beyond the finish line.

05/08/2026

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! 🎓

As we celebrate this exceptional class, we invite you to take a “walk down memory lane” through the memories, milestones, and moments that made your time at Rice so special.

Thank you for the leadership, passion, friendships, and spirit you brought to our program and community. We are so proud of all you have accomplished and excited to see what comes next for each of you.

Forever Proud. Forever RiceSMGT. 🦉💙

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05/07/2026

Congratulations to Professor Steven Rackley for being awarded the 2026 Sarah A. Burnett Teaching Prize in Social Sciences! 👏🎉

This award is awarded to the faculty member(s) with the highest teaching evaluations in the previous academic year.

We are so PROUD of Professor Rackley! 💙

05/07/2026

Congratulations to Professor Steven Rackley, Professor in the Practice of Sport Management, on receiving the Sarah A. Burnett Teaching Prize in the Social Sciences. This award honors the faculty member(s) with the highest teaching evaluations in the previous academic year; a testament to his impact in the classroom! 🎉

Steven Rackley, a Professor in the Practice of Sport Management at Rice University, received the Sarah A. Burnett Teaching Prize in the Social Sciences in late April. This annual award recognizes the faculty member(s) in the Social Sciences with the highest teaching scores in the previous academic y...

05/06/2026

Rice Sport Law students competed in the 2026 Tulane Professional Basketball Negotiation Competition in late February. 🏀⚖️

Representing Rice as one of the only undergraduate teams in the field, they showcased their ability to compete in high-level, real-world NBA contract negotiations.

Rice Sport Law students competed in the 2026 Tulane Professional Basketball Negotiation Competition in late February. Run by the Tulane Law Society, the competition brought together undergraduate and law students from across the country to participate in simulated contract negotiations based on real...

05/05/2026

In late February, a team of Rice Sport Law students competed in the 2026 Tulane Professional Basketball Negotiation Competition (TPBNC). 🏀⚖️

05/04/2026

2026 SABR Diamond Dollars Case Competition ⚾️📈🏆

05/04/2026

Two Rice Sport Analytics teams were named winners at the 2026 SABR Diamond Dollars Case Competition!

🏆 Congratulations to Brady Detwiler’s '27 team, who earned 1st place overall, and to J. Dante Maurice’s '26 team, who also won their room.

Their success highlights the strength of Rice’s Sport Analytics program and the impact of applying data to real-world baseball decisions.

Two teams of Rice Sport Analytics students were named winners of the 2026 Diamond Dollars Case Competition, held during the SABR Analytics Conference from February 27 to March 1 in Phoenix. Competing against undergraduates from around the country, Rice was one of only three universities to have a wi...