The 2025 NCAA Basketball Tournament first and second rounds in Wichita provided students in the College of Applied Studies' (CAS) Sport and Leadership Studies (SLS) department at Wichita State University with a unique opportunity to be a part of one of the biggest events in college sports. 

SLS Adjunct Faculty member Brad Pittman served as Tournament Director, overseeing event operations. Under his leadership, many Wichita State students, alumni and faculty assisted in various roles from providing support in the media room, to working with the stats crew, assisting with tournament logistics and more. 

Mike Ross, the tournament’s Communication Coordinator and an SLS faculty member, who will become CAS Associate Dean for Faculty & Staff Affairs in June, emphasized that the tournament provided a one-of-a-kind opportunity where students, faculty and alumni collaborated all in one place to manage a major event. This level of hands-on involvement is rare and not often replicated at other sites. 

The tournament also offered students the chance to build professional networks, forge connections with industry professionals and engage with alumni who are already making waves in the sports industry. 

Following the NCAA Tournament, the CAS Sport and Leadership Studies program continues to prove itself as a top destination for students that are seeking immersive, real-world experience in the sports industry.