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Marketing YSU is Love’s dream
By Greg Gulas
AUSTINTOWN
Rick Love, Youngstown State’s associate athletic director for marketing, says that the sports landscape has changed since he first stepped foot onto the YSU campus 32 years ago.
Back then, he was looking to learn every aspect of the department with the hopes of pursuing a job within the industry upon graduation.
Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches Monday, Love said the one thing that hasn’t changed is that you have to stay one step ahead of the curve if you expect to be successful.
“I tried to learn all areas within the athletic department, starting out on an IBM Selectric typewriter while writing releases and then learning how to fax that information to the media and potential clients,” Love said. “Then, computers took over, time spent on projects were cut in half and everything just exploded with so many technological advancements.”
A Hubbard native and YSU graduate, Love holds an MA from the highly acclaimed Ohio University sports administration program.
“I am very fortunate in that I get to wake up every morning, live in my hometown and work at my alma mater,” Love said. “Not many people in sports can make that claim.
“Athletic Director Ron Strollo has afforded me a great opportunity as I am entrusted with the external relations portion of our department.”
As the school’s associate athletic director, Love oversees marketing, promotions, corporate sponsorships, game management, sports information and its ticket office.
“We have the responsibility of generating income,” Love said.
Having a strong core of corporate sponsors, many of whom have supported Penguin athletics for several decades, has been helpful.
Maintaining those relationships while cultivating new sponsors is his charge.
“Regardless of wins or losses, we have many partners that understand the importance of YSU Athletics to the Mahoning Valley,” Love said. “Each year they continue to support our student-athletes and the coaches of our 18 varsity sports.
“You can’t always measure returns in sports marketing as it is more about relationships and providing advertisers a way to reach students, faculty, staff, alumni and our supportive fan base,” Love said. “YSU is a driving economic force in this region and companies enjoy attaching their brand to the Penguins as they maintain visibility on campus, both at Stambaugh Stadium and in the Beeghly Center.”
Football coach Bo Pelini, who recently completed his first season at the helm, became an instant dream for a sports marketer because of national visibility.
“We certainly had renewed excitement this past spring and summer as we ‘sold’ YSU football,” Love said. “The hiring of Coach Pelini and the presence of President [Jim] Tressel helped attract new sponsors and Penguin Club members.
“We reached our highest ever income totals in corporate sponsorships and Penguin Club income.”
The excitement wasn’t limited to just football.
“While there is excitement surrounding our football program, there’s women’s basketball with Coach [John] Barnes, who led his team to the WNIT last year and is once again off to a great start,” Love said. “Men’s basketball head coach Jerry Slocum won his 700th career game while winning Horizon league championships in cross country, track and field, golf and tennis certainly helps our marketing team as we sit with sponsors.
“Also attractive to potential sponsors is our facilities,” Love said. “The addition of WATTS, Farmers National Bank Field and the YSU softball complex provides marketing and promotional opportunities for our teams, as well as area high school teams visiting and playing on our campus.”