UMass Amherst Names Gary Bettman McCormack Department Executive-in-residence

AMHERST — Gary Bettman, commissioner of the National Hockey League, Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, and the longest-serving commissioner in professional sports, has been named the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management’s executive-in-residence at UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management this fall.

Bettman will visit the UMass Amherst campus on Tuesday, Dec. 2, during which he will participate in the Mark H. McCormack Sport Innovator’s Lecture at 6 p.m. in Room N151 of the Integrative Learning Center. He will discuss his career with Brian Burke, former NHL general manager, Professional Women’s Hockey League executive, and founder of You Can Play, an organization that combats homophobia and promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports. The event will be livestreamed on the department’s Facebook page.

Bettman’s residency activities will also include classroom visits, roundtables with McCormack students and faculty, and participation in the McCormack Collection Oral History Project.

“The executive-in-residence program continues to honor Mark H. McCormack’s legacy by bringing to campus Commissioner Gary Bettman, one of the most accomplished and respected leaders in the sports industry,” said Matt Katz, chair of the McCormack Department of Sport Management. “Welcoming an active commissioner to campus to meet with our students is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all our aspiring sports industry leaders. Each year we learn so much from our esteemed guests, and Commissioner Bettman’s perspective on fan engagement, international growth, and the future of our industry will further strengthen the McCormack tradition of innovation and insight.”

Will Norton, senior lecturer and McCormack graduate program director, added that “we are honored to have Commissioner Bettman join us as our esteemed McCormack executive-in-residence this semester, joining an impressive group of sport business leaders who have shared their stories of forward-thinking innovation and career fulfillment with our students, faculty, and alumni.

“Commissioner Bettman stands alone as the only active commissioner to serve as McCormack executive-in-residence, and his presence in our classrooms will enrich the student experience immensely,” Norton added. “For students studying the growth of professional sports leagues and learning the management skills needed to lead and inspire from the top, Commissioner Bettman’s visit will serve as the highlight of our academic year and help reinforce the leadership pillars that remain the hallmark of Mark McCormack’s legacy.”