USC names department in honor of Carolina Panthers owner

COLUMBIA—The University of South Carolina announced a new name for the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management in honor of the Carolina Panthers owner.  

After a $5 million gift from the David and Nicole Tepper Foundation, the department will now be named the David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management.  

David Tepper, owner of the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte’s Major League Soccer team, and his wife Nicole Tepper, have been involved in USC for over five years. They started the Tepper Scholars Program, which gives four incoming sport and entertainment management students a scholarship and direct mentorship for their four years. The multi-million dollar donation will help sustain the scholarship for students. 

The naming of the department after the Teppers exemplifies the investment the couple has made in the department’s students and faculty, USC President Michael Amiridis said at an unveiling ceremony Oct. 14.

“The opportunities created through these generous donors are immeasurable as they magnify the impact of our graduates across the state, but also beyond the state,” Amiridis said.  

Matt Brown, chair of the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management and associate dean of the ollege of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, said the program’s growth nationally has been amplified because of the Tepper’s involvement.  

 “In 2020, the Tepper(s) made a historic investment in our department to establish the David and Nicole Tepper Scholars Program,” Brown said. “Every year since we have been able to recruit some of the best students in the country to receive four-year scholarships and exclusive mentoring and career development opportunities.”  

Nicole Tepper said the university has been a leader in the hospitality, retail and sports industries and hopes to see the success continue.  

“My hope is that this department now carrying our name will continue to foster that spirit for generations to come,” Nicole said.

The department is now the only named sport and entertainment management department in the country. It is also the first USC department to be named at this level of philanthropic support.