UMO Students Get Inside Look at Professional Sports Operations
November 17, 2025
Contact: Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations
FAYETTEVILLE, NC – Students in the University of Mount Olive’s Sport Management program recently had the opportunity to step behind the scenes of one of Minor League Baseball’s most dynamic organizations during an educational networking experience at Segra Stadium with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. The visit took place at the $40 million state-of-the-art ballpark, home to the Class A affiliate of the Houston Astros. The venue provided a real-world classroom for UMO students aspiring to careers in coaching, media, marketing, stadium operations, and professional sports management.
Leading the experience were Assistant General Manager Pete Subsara and Director of Stadium Operations Kyle Barnes, who guided students through the facility and shared their professional journeys. Subsara described his career path and the wide-ranging responsibilities of overseeing stadium operations. Barnes discussed his own progression within the organization and emphasized how hands-on learning, mentorship, and industry exposure helped prepare him for leadership in professional sports. Both encouraged students to seize internship opportunities and build strong professional networks early.
Students also learned about major facility investments designed to elevate player development and fan engagement. Recent upgrades include a $150,000 field vetting project and a $2 million women’s locker room expansion, reflecting the organization’s commitment to professionalizing all aspects of the game.
The group gained insight into budgeting, sponsorship development, clubhouse management, and the logistics of team travel. Woodpeckers staff also outlined paid summer internship opportunities in marketing, ballpark entertainment, stadium operations, creative services, and community relations. For many UMO students, the visit reaffirmed their career aspirations.
Tariq Talley, a sport management major and center fielder on the UMO baseball team, said experiences like this help shape his professional goals. “Coming to a bigger stadium and seeing what the professional level looks like is great,” Tally said. “You get to interact with new people, make connections, and see what you are striving for.”
Another student, Mackenzie Chabala, a sport management major from China Grove and a member of the UMO women’s basketball team, found the visit valuable as she considers a future in coaching and professional sports media. “This helps you understand the technical side of sports,” she said. “Being here lets you ask questions, see different roles, and figure out if this is really what you want to do. I could see myself working media or photography for a team like this.”
Dr. Tony Franklin, Professor of Sports Management, said the experience deepens students’ understanding of the sports industry while helping them build professional networks. “Segra Stadium and the Woodpeckers organization offer an incredible learning environment,” Franklin said. “Our students get to interact with professionals, hear real stories, and see how a successful sports franchise operates behind the scenes.”
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
