Our Vision
Amidst a time of rapid change and disruption, we envision a sport industry that maximizes the gifts and passion of each community member to foster cooperation, creativity, respect, and unity with one another and the world.
Our Mission
Connect with and advocate for people and organizations creating equity, impact, and value in the sport industry.
Education - What We Offer
Our Story
Deborah Stroman, a former full-time University of North Carolina professor and entrepreneur, founded CSBA on the UNC campus in October of 2016 as an effort to instruct and counsel her students on the positive and innovative activities in the multibillion-dollar sport industry. National and local support was far-reaching. The marquee offering was the Basketball Analytics Summit, which drew the "best and the brightest" within the industry. We are proud to have been the motivation for many universities to begin sport analytics clubs and courses. The commitment and creativity by CSBA student leaders helped to develop foundational corporate partnerships and formal engagement with local universities such as Duke, North Carolina Central, and North Carolina State. Stroman stated, “It is not surprising that there is a lot excitement for efforts that combine our region’s academic excellence and leadership in sport business. Our corporate and small business community values wellness and athletics. The vast majority of alumni of our colleges are sport-centric. The Center will bring that passion to life with unique events that educate, examine challenges, and offer a platform for networking. We are very well-positioned and connected to make a difference here in North Carolina and in global markets.”
With her retirement from UNC in January of 2026, Stroman and CSBA seeks like-minded people to join us in the promotion of education and engagement in the sport analytics industry domain. The university (students, staff, administrators, and faculty), corporate (C-Suite to the creatives who work in the field), non-profits (purposed to serve others through sport and wellness), and individuals (advisors, analytics, athletes, coaches, and front office) are all welcome!
Black Men's Brain Health
Ethnoracial inequalities in healthcare, especially for Black men, have been documented for decades, dating back to W.E.B. DuBois' The Philadelphia Negro, which highlighted systemic prejudices as the root cause of poor conditions. The BMBH Conference continues this legacy, focusing on understanding health inequities that affect Black men as they age. Despite the ongoing research, there remains a lack of Black scientists studying the impact of brain health disorders on this population.
The BMBH Conference invites community leaders, healthcare professionals, and researchers from all backgrounds to join in addressing this critical issue. Our team is inclusive, believing in the power of learning from other communities to improve health outcomes. With close ties to the sports industry, we are dedicated to increasing brain health awareness among athletes, their families, and support teams.
Sport Analytics and You!
Do you love the business side of sports and enjoy analyzing the hows and the whys of athlete and coaching decisions? Are statistics and numbers your preferred method of examining outcomes? The popular Basketball Analytics Summits are over, but the impact has created a spirit of unity that must continue. Please consider joining a new learning community for people who love sports and analytics!
Our goal is to create and nurture a community of like-minded people (high school to experienced professionals) who would like to be a part of a trusted group focused on education, career advice, and connections.
The Equity Analytics Movement
Vision Statement: T.E.A.M. seeks to co-create an inclusive sports analytics ecosystem that delivers measurable value to teams, leagues, and the communities they serve.
We center Black people. However, the organization is open to people of all races, ethnicities and backgrounds who support expanding opportunity in sports analytics.
If you want to join T.E.A.M., The Equity Analytics Movement, register here or please send an email to info@dstroman.com. In the subject line, please write: Analytics Now! #dish #dunk #data
“Expanding Access. Changing the Game.”
No Shortcuts
In partnership with the NFL Alumni Health and Wellness Initiative, No Shortcuts provides a unique platform for sports/athletics challenges to be addressed through education, experiences, and resources.
The free webinars feature athletes and healthcare professionals engaging in conversations to support a positive mental health and holistic sport experience.
SPARC - Strategic and Purposeful Athletics & Race Colloquy
This racial equity workshop is designed to open communication and develop strategy for athletes, sport teams, administrators, and staff determined to understand and heal from structural racism. Sessions are customized for high school, college, and professional teams. SPARC goes beyond the standard diversity training. If you are ready to go to the next level of analysis, SPARC is for you. Participants learn how race and racism influence sport outcomes (e.g., economics, performance, decision-making, and team dynamics), which often creates tension between athletes, company associates, family members, academics, teammates, staff, coaches, and administrators.
What are the solutions? Let’s start with dialogue.
LASER - Life After Sports with Effective Results
As an academic, athlete, entrepreneur, and business professional, I have lived and learned leadership. My doctoral studies focused on Leadership and Organizational Behavior. My background in the sport industry as a NCAA DI athlete and coach, financial services (with two Fortune 100 companies) as a director and sales representative, and now as a professor to many of the best and brightest students allows me to say with confidence: I can and am willing to help you. With over 80 different leadership theories and models, many people struggle to identify the best method, technique, and application to achieve day-to-day success.
My consulting goal is to help you better understand your leadership style and the process and capability to effect change in your life. I specifically coach to assist athletes as they further their education, become a successful entrepreneur or employee. My strategy is purposed to inspire you to take the confidence from the field or court and apply them to your next chapter.
WHY SPORT BUSINESS
I founded the Center of Sports Business and Analytics (CSBA) in 2016 to serve as a platform to educate and connect people in this fast-growing industry. Since retiring from a career as a full-time professor, I've pivoted CSBA to focus on establishing a sports analytics community and brain health for men.
It's been a great ride! I spent the 18 years teaching at the University of North Carolina in public health, business, and the sport business and entrepreneurship domains, advising incredible students on their life choices and professional pursuits. My journey was ignited as I began to examine the increased interest in objective measurement of performance. From scoring, defense, physiological response and recovery - the numbers matter. I designed and taught the first sport entrepreneurship course and graduate level sport analytics course at UNC, whichintroduced students to many opportunities to engage and learn from business owners and analytics leaders in basketball and football.
As the faculty advisor to the Carolina Sport Business Club, I continue to support students with advice and connecting them to resources. The highlights of my tenure were providing experiential education for students to work with The Atlantic Coast Conference, NBA Charlotte Hornets, and the College Football Playoff. As a mentor and advisor for the USA State Department's Global Sports Mentoring Program, I still provide counsel to a young professional woman from Benin (West Africa).