The National Basketball Association (NBA) G League has recognized the six-year collaboration between the Delaware Blue Coats and Rowan University by presenting the Philadelphia 76ers affiliate with its prestigious “NBA G League Partnership of the Year” award.
Hailed as an innovative, student-driven model, the partnership stretches far beyond traditional corporate sponsorships by transforming a professional sports arena into a fully functioning, real-world classroom.
Launched in November 2020 with the creation of the Blue Coats Broadcast Academy—which designated Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM as the official radio home—the collaboration has rapidly expanded into every operational vertical of the organization. Today, more than 40 Rowan students work directly with the franchise each season.
- Complete Broadcast Control: Behind the scenes, the entire game-day broadcast production is student-run. Rowan students direct, produce, manage control room operations, handle game cameras, and deliver live radio play-by-play coverage.
- Operational Immersion: Students are embedded into live team operations, assisting with social media management, merchandise sales, game statistics crews, and venue logistics.
- Career Pipeline: The program serves as an active bridge into the sports industry, with multiple alumni successfully transitioning into full-time roles with both the Delaware Blue Coats and the Philadelphia 76ers.
“By delivering high-quality content, genuine community impact and proven career pathways, the collaboration stands out as an award-winning benchmark for modern sports partnerships,” Neil Hartman, senior director of Rowan University’s Center for Sports Communication & Social Impact, said.
The award highlights the massive growth of Rowan’s Sports Communication & Media (Sports CaM) program, which now involves over 100 students across multiple professional sports partnerships.
In addition to its ongoing six-year run with the Wilmington Blue Rocks (minor league affiliate of the Washington Nationals) and local mixed martial arts powerhouse Cage Fury Fighting Championship (CFFC), the program is expanding this fall to support professional minor league hockey with the newly arrived Trenton Ironhawks at the CURE Insurance Arena.
