It is a testament to the program
and UIndy as a whole. You can tell when they’re the UIndy crew because they go above and beyond.” — Drew Naumovich ’21 (MS in Sport Management)
responsibilities, like conducting background research to help determine Horizon League award winners, making her a vital addition to the team. “It is a testament to the program and UIndy as a whole,” added Naumovich. “You can tell when they’re the UIndy crew because they go above and beyond. Thankfully, they also need less oversight; they can just run with tasks.” Accustomed to large lecture halls, Pettigrew has come to appreciate the individual attention the UIndy Sport Management program provides. For both her and Naumovich, an even bigger draw is how it places students directly into Indianapolis’s sports ecosystem. This includes access to events like the Final Four, which the city has hosted more than any other over the past 50 years. As Naumovich and Pettigrew experienced the energy inside the stadium, the buzz outside was just as electric, due in part to UIndy students’ efforts. Dr. Isabel Mills, associate professor and director of the sport management program, challenged her class to create a marketing plan aimed at pulling UIndy students off campus and into the Final Four atmosphere. Brayden Doll ’27 (Sport in Management) was one of four students who led the project. He helped launch the Instagram account “Hounds at Final Four” to serve as a guide for fan-focused events, which included tailgates, autograph
The son of GLVC Commissioner Jim Naumovich, Drew understands what it takes to make competition run smoothly. He carried over many of his Horizon League responsibilities to the Final Four, ensuring teams were in the right place, courts were ready for play, and cleanup procedures were implemented. Players and coaches didn’t know who he was, which he says is a good thing. “It’s only when there’s an issue that people start asking who’s responsible.” Naumovich wasn’t the only game operations member from the UIndy pipeline. As he guided teams throughout Lucas Oil Stadium, Carlea Pettigrew ‘27 (MS in Sport Management) carefully organized locker rooms, stocking them with drinks, snacks, and fresh towels. “You literally have to think of the dimensions of a sign to hang up or how many drinks you can fit in a cooler in the locker room,” she mentioned. As an assistant basketball coach at Edgewood High School, Pettigrew focuses on the finer details of the game and its tiny adjustments. “I don’t like the spotlight at all,” she said. “I don’t want any of the credit.” That same mindset carries over into her role as a graduate assistant with the Horizon League through a partnership with UIndy. On a day-to-day basis she reports to Naumovich, who completed the same graduate assistantship five years ago, making him the perfect mentor. She’s taken on some of his
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UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
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