Just 14 years ago, Ryan Alpert was a student in the University of South Carolina’s David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management. This July, he became the new vice president and director of athletics at Georgia Tech.
Leading the athletic department at a Power 4 conference school with a long and proud history is a tremendous accomplishment, but Alpert is quick to thank those who helped him get there.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the unwavering support of my family and the many mentors who poured into me and helped shape the leader I’ve become,” he says.
Some of those mentors were faculty members and athletics staff at South Carolina. The David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management has built a reputation as one of the world’s best programs of its kind by uniting theory and practice, and that combination helped Alpert launch a successful career in college athletics.
“One thing that really stood out to me about South Carolina, and I tell our folks this all the time, was how well the athletic department was integrated into the academic program,” Alpert says.
All students in the sport and entertainment bachelor’s degree program are required to complete two internships and are offered numerous opportunities for other hands-on experience.
The USC College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management has done a great job hiring and retaining faculty that understand the workplace. They also understand the importance of integrating practitioners into the classroom. I think that having the combination of academics, practitioners, and focus on real world experience is a very successful way to prep students for the real world.
While a student, Alpert gained hands-on experience with Gamecock Athletics, learning from athletic department leaders such as Steve Fink and Marcy Girton. He also completed internships with U.S. Soccer and the University of Miami.
“There’s a big difference between what you learn solely in the classroom and what you gain from real-world experience,” Alpert says. “Those internships outside of South Carolina gave me a true sense of what working in college athletics, and the sports industry as a whole, is really like. You have to be willing to take risks, move where the opportunities are, and follow your passion.”
Those lessons proved transformative for Alpert. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he accepted a graduate position with Gamecock Athletics. When a full-time opportunity opened at the University of Memphis shortly thereafter, members of the South Carolina staff encouraged him to pursue it.
“My internships helped me understand that moving is simply part of this industry, which made me more comfortable taking that leap,” he says. “Honestly, if I hadn’t taken the job in Memphis, I might not be sitting here today.”
While at Memphis, Alpert also earned his master’s degree before advancing into leadership roles at the University of Missouri, Florida Atlantic University, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His appointment as athletic director at Georgia Tech represents the fulfillment of a major personal and professional goal but he has no plans to slow down.
“Stepping into this role means I get to make the decisions and build the team — but that’s also when the hard work truly starts,” he says.
That work is already off to a strong start, with the Yellow Jackets opening the 2025 football season 5-0 and ranked among the top 15 teams nationally.
Alpert says the program where his journey began remains a great place to be, crediting leaders such as professors Tom Regan and Danny Morrison for their impact.
“It ultimately is a relationship business,” he says. “I think the USC College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management has done a great job hiring and retaining faculty that understand the workplace. They also understand the importance of integrating practitioners into the classroom. I think that having the combination of academics, practitioners, and focus on real world experience is a very successful way to prep students for the real world.”
Asked what advice he would give to students hoping to emulate his successful career, he again emphasizes relationships, as well as hard work.
“Wherever you want to work, getting hands-on experience is essential, it helps you understand what it really takes to succeed,” he says. “In college athletics especially, sports have become just a big business, so pairing that experience with a strong business foundation is key as you enter the workforce. Always be willing to outwork everyone around you: show up, listen, learn, and give it everything you’ve got. If you focus on making the people you work for look good, you’ll continue to move forward within any organization.”