SMBA Alumnus Influenced by Lessons Learned at SDSU

SDSU Sports MBA students recently heard from alumnus Steven Price (SMBA ’10), a Pro Scout with the Houston Texans as part of the program’s ongoing series of Zoom visits from alumni. 

Price, a North Carolina native, joined the Texans organization in 2018 after 8 years in various scouting roles within the Minnesota Vikings organization. His conversation with the Sports MBA Class of 2021 started with a discussion of his career path, which included a year in San Diego with SDSU Sports MBA in 2010 after a mentor advised him that a graduate degree would make him stand out in the hypercompetitive world of NFL front offices.

Steven Price guest speaks to SMBA '21 class. 

“The toolset that you learn in an MBA program shows up in various ways,” Price said of the education he received at SDSU. “My job now is influenced by the things I learned at SDSU, and the MBA toolset is put to use every day.” As part of his Sports MBA experience, Price conducted a 6-month internship with the Carolina Panthers conducting an analytical study of the team’s salary cap situation alongside a faculty adviser. 

When asked by a student about the role of analytics in sports business, Price discussed how much more prevalent analytics and technology are within scouting departments now as compared to when he first started in the NFL in 2008. “These days, there’s a firehose of analytics data out there, and the people who are able to communicate what the numbers are saying are some of the most valuable people in an organization.” 

Price also gave insights into how he adapted to a new organization with his move from Minnesota to Houston, and how NFL organizations differ in terms of front office structure and culture.

When the conversations turned toward the NFL’s efforts to improve diversity in its coaching and front office ranks, Price said “Things are starting to change, but there’s still more change needed. The results come from having decision makers on staff committed to diversity. More diversity leads to more ideas, and more ideas mean more room for growth. And it’s not just for Black people, but that includes women and people of all orientations.”

He also spoke passionately about the value that diversity brings to an organization, and how he’s seen its value play out in real time in his own department. When Price was with the Vikings, he was part of the scouting department that was among the first in the league to hire a woman in a full-time scouting position. Price heaped praise upon the work of his former colleague, Kelly Kleine, who is now the team’s Manager of Player Personnel and a College Scout.

Price ended the conversation with advice for the MBA students entering an uncertain environment in sports business. “Shoot your shot,” he told the group, noting that there needs to be significant research done about how teams and leagues will weather the changes brought by COVID-19. “Teams will have to learn how to market to fans in new ways or adjust to playing in a stadium without fans in the stands. Use your MBA consulting project as an opportunity to put yourself out there and get your work in front of the right people.”

SDSU Sports MBA is grateful to Steven for taking the time to share his career path and advice with the SMBA Class of 2021.