In an effort to close the racial gap when it comes to professional athlete representation, Southern University Law Center, in partnership with Diverse Representation, is hosting its inaugural Sports Agent Bootcamp on February 4-5, 2022, on the campus of Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
“Our inaugural Sports Agent Bootcamp will allow students to engage and network with highly trained and experienced sports agents that will offer the inside scoop on the industry and its emerging trends,” says Marla Dickerson, Associate Vice Chancellor of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives. “We strive to provide learning experiences and opportunities so that our students can become versatile legal professionals.” Southern University Law Center is one of six HBCU law schools in the country, and a number of professional athletes, including three Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees, have graduated from the undergraduate program.
During the two-day immersive Bootcamp, students will participate in several workshops led by an array of sports agents from across the country who will prepare attendees for careers as professional sports agents. Participants will hear from industry leaders such as Bobby Height (VP, Talent Representation; CSE Talent), Jovan Barnes (VP, Football; Independent Sports & Entertainment), Jumaane K. Ford (NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor; Vanguard Sports Group), Aaron Henderson (Director of Football Strategy; Vanguard Sports Group), and more. Some of the topics that will be covered during the Bootcamp include “Recruiting and Managing Clients,” “Representing the Peak Professional Athlete,” and “Maintaining Integrity as an Agent.”
“In 2020, history was made when more than half of players selected in the first round of the NFL draft were represented by Black agents,” says Jaia Thomas, Esq, Founder and CEO of Diverse Representation. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen an uptick in the number of professional athletes hiring Black agents, but we still have a long way to go. The Southern University Law Center’s Sports Agent Bootcamp is the first-of-its-kind program specifically geared towards educating Black students and young professionals about the inner workings of athlete representation. The goal of this program is to give Black students and young professionals a competitive edge in an industry in which they have been historically excluded.”
The event is open to the public; however, it will require registration. Student registration is $50, general registration is $150, and the event will offer streaming options.
For more information and to register, visit www.sulc.edu/sportsbootcamp.