Self-described “world’s okayest triathlete and marathoner”

Brandon Podgorskibrandon podgorski

Trine University - Ketner School of Business
Director of the Center for Sports Studies
B.G.S. - Indiana University
M.S. - Ohio University
M.B.A. - Trine University
260-665-4599 |  email

I arrived at Trine in the fall of 2017 after spending two seasons with Roc Ventures as the Sports Marketing Director for the Kokomo Jackrabbits, the Lafayette Aviators Prospect League baseball teams, and the Kokomo Jackrabbits Premier Development League soccer club. Before working in baseball, I was an instructor in the Physical Education Department at Darton State College in Albany, Georgia for four years and I was an adjunct professor teaching Sports Promotion & Public Relations at Indiana University Kokomo. In addition to my adjunct duties at IUK, I was also the Cole Fitness Center & Athletics Director from 2015-2017 where I oversaw the operations for a brand new 20,000 sq. ft. fitness center and helped grow a young athletic department into a full-fledged member of the NAIA.

My experience in sport management began in 2003 as a manager with Cardinal Fitness in Indianapolis. Within eight months I was made a general manager and eventually a partner where I either owner or managed health clubs in Bloomington, Columbus, and Indianapolis. In 2009 I sold my interest in Cardinal Fitness to pursue my dream of coaching college basketball and I was an assistant coach at Wabash College and then Darton until 2013. It was at Darton where I found that my true passion was actually teaching and I’m thrilled to be part of the amazing faculty at Trine. I hope my combination of experience in sport management, use of relevant technology, and some humor lead to success in my classes. In my time at Trine, we have had students work or intern in the NFL, MLB, WNBA, NBA G-League, NCAA athletic departments, and various other sport organizations. I also coach our National Collegiate Sports Sales team and Trine has finished in the top 15 in the nation every year since 2020, including the individual national runner-up in 2021.

I am also the Director of the Trine Center for Sports Studies that officially launched in February 2020. The Trine Center for Sports Studies is a multidisciplinary teaching and experiential learning collaborative at Trine University focusing on the study of sports and the international sports industry. The Center draws from well-respected Trine University programs and courses in business, health sciences and communication to provide the broadest range of sports-related academic major, minors and internships to prepare Trine students for this fast-growing, dynamic international marketplace.

I self-describe as the “world’s okayest triathlete and marathoner” with over a dozen half marathons, four full marathons, and a half Ironman under my belt. I am also working on my MBA at Trine and my Ph.D. in Sports Leadership through Concordia University Chicago. I live in Fort Wayne with my wife and son and we love to spend our time running, traveling, at church, or playing with our dog Wrigley. My spare time is reserved for obsessing over the Chicago Cubs