As the Baltimore Orioles gear up for the last months of the baseball season, the Baltimore Ravens are flexing their wings as the regular football season begins in September. For Baltimoreans, that means savoring their last bites of foot-long sausages at Camden Yards and getting ready for the Ravens’ tailgate parties at M&T Stadium.

For Dennis Coates, professor of economics, it is neither the beginning or ending of a season. As a sports economist, Coates lives and breathes sports 365 days a year. Sports economics is the study of everything that encompasses sports—player salaries, stadiums, major leagues, broadcasting and media rights—and how it all affects the fans and the larger economy. It’s that kind of passion that inspired him to organize the first sports economics conference at UMBC in 2024 and then again in 2025, and the reason why the North American Association of Sports Economists (NAASE) established an award in his and his long-time research partner, Brad R. Humphreys’ honor.

NAASE, of which Coates is a founding member, voted to establish the Coates-Humphreys NAASE Distinguished Research Award in honor of the decades of research and contributions Coates and Humphreys, the associate dean of academic affairs at the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University, have made to the field of sports economics. 

“NAASE’s executive committee is pleased to create this award to honor your distinguished scholarly records in sports economics, contributions to NAASE, including serving as presidents of the organization, extensive activities connecting NAASE to sports economics communities outside North America, and your service to the broader sports economics field,” wrote NAASE president E. Frank Stephenson, in the award letter. “The committee has also selected you as the inaugural winners.”

This year marks Coates’s 30th year teaching at UMBC and working with Humphreys, a former associate professor of economics at UMBC. Humphreys is currently a professor of economics at West Virginia University and associate dean of academic affairs and research. When Coates is not teaching Retrievers the ins and outs of sports economics, he edits the sports economics book series for Springer Publishing and serves as the editor of the Journal of Sports Economics. The journal publishes research in labor market research, labor-management relations, collective bargaining, wage determination, local public finance, and other fields related to the economics of sports. Humphreys is editor-in-chief of Contemporary Economic Policy, a general interest economics journal, and serves on the editorial boards of six sports economics research journals. In the last five years, Coates and Humphreys have co-authored six research papers ranging from topics on voting behavior in the NCAA, public policy toward professional sports stadiums, and the impact of professional sports stadiums on local economies.

“I was totally surprised by the creation of this award and that Brad and I were the first to receive it,” says Coates. “I am honored and humbled that my colleagues think so highly of me, my research, and my contribution to the discipline that they would create an award in my name.”

Learn more about UMBC’s economics department.

At the start of a new academic year, many students arrive at UMBC hoping to land an on-campus job right away. These roles can be a great way to earn income, build experience, and connect with the campus community. But before getting too caught up in the excitement of applying, it’s important to understand the reality: on-campus jobs are limited and highly competitive.

Why On-Campus Jobs Are Limited

On-campus roles are in high demand at UMBC, and the number of positions is usually much smaller than the number of students who apply. Many jobs open only at certain times of year, and some positions prioritize students who are work-study eligible. For international students in particular who are typically only eligible to work on campus their first year, this means the competition is even tougher.

How to Stand Out as an Applicant

While you can’t control the number of jobs available, you can control how you present yourself:

• Polish Your Resume: Make sure it’s clear, concise, and highlights skills relevant to the position.
• Be Flexible: Consider a variety of roles across campus — from administrative offices to research roles to tutoring. The more flexible you are, the more opportunities you’ll find.
• Show Initiative: Demonstrate reliability, professionalism, and a willingness to learn. Employers want students who will show up on time and contribute positively.
• Leverage Connections: Talk to peers, faculty, and staff who might know of openings. Sometimes opportunities are shared through word of mouth.

Other Ways to Gain Experience

If you don’t land an on-campus job right away, don’t lose hope. There are many other ways to build skills that employers value:

• Volunteer with campus organizations or community groups.
• Join student clubs to practice leadership and teamwork.
• Consider programs and initiatives at The Shriver Center that focuses on community-engaged, applied learning.
• Work on personal or research projects that showcase your talents.
• Explore short-term, project-based experiences like micro-internships from Parker Dewey. 

Remember: not having an on-campus job doesn’t mean you’re falling behind. Employers care about the skills and experiences you bring — not just where they came from.

Take the Next Step

Missed this week’s On-Campus & Part-Time Jobs Expo? It’s not too late to reach out to employers. Check out the Directory to see who’s hiring, and find their positions on Handshake. Ask questions and make connections along the way. Good luck, and reach out to the Career Center for more support as needed.