Dr. Lynn Lashbrook Returns to Fort Hays State: Where His Sports Career Began

For Sports Management Worldwide President and Founder Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, returning to Fort Hays State University is more than a campus visit.

It is a return to where his journey in sports began.

Long before becoming an NFL agent, NCAA athletic director, educator and founder of Sports Management Worldwide, Lashbrook was a Fort Hays State Tiger, playing football at FHSU in the 1960s.

More than five decades later, he recently returned to his alma mater and stood once again at Lewis Field Stadium — this time representing an organization that helps aspiring sports professionals around the world pursue the same industry that became his life's work.

It is a full-circle sports career story built around education, relationships and opportunity.

From Fort Hays State Football to a Career in Sports

Lashbrook's connection to Fort Hays State didn't end when his playing career did.

He later returned to FHSU as an educator and coach before continuing a career that would take him throughout college athletics and eventually into professional athlete representation.

His career has included roles as a college coach, professor, academic advisor, athletic administrator, NCAA athletic director and NFL agent.

Today, Fort Hays State even lists Lashbrook as an adjunct instructor in its Department of Health and Human Performance. 

That makes his return to campus especially meaningful.

The university that helped launch his sports career is now working with the company he founded to help launch careers for another generation.

A New Look at Fort Hays State Football

The videos from Lashbrook's visit also show how much Fort Hays State Athletics has changed.

One was filmed overlooking Lewis Field Stadium, the home of Tiger football.

Another takes viewers inside the new Bickle-Schmidt Athletic Complex, which opened in 2026 at the south end of Lewis Field Stadium.

The 20,000-square-foot facility includes a new football locker room, sports medicine and recovery areas, meeting rooms, coaches' offices, a student-athlete lounge and a 130-seat film room.

For someone who once played football at Fort Hays State, walking through the modern home of Tiger football makes the visit a connection between the program's past and its future.

But that connection now extends beyond football.

Fort Hays State and SMWW Are Building Sports Career Pathways Together

Today, Fort Hays State University and Sports Management Worldwide are partners in sports business education.

Students pursuing Fort Hays State's Master of Professional Studies in Sport Management can take three SMWW courses and receive six credit hours toward the master's program.

The partnership combines traditional university education with SMWW's industry-focused training and access to professionals working as agents, scouts, executives, coaches, broadcasters, analysts and other sports industry professionals. Fort Hays State University

That combination reflects one of Lashbrook's longtime philosophies about breaking into sports:

You need both what you know and who you know.

For students, that means developing academic knowledge while also learning how the sports industry actually operates and building relationships with people working inside it.

Dr. Lynn Lashbrook on Creating a Pathway Into Sports

That mission has become especially important as Fort Hays State and SMWW expand opportunities for military members, veterans and military families.

When the organizations announced their new Military Pathway in 2026, Lashbrook explained the goal simply:

“Our goal is to create a direct pathway from military service into meaningful careers throughout the sports industry.”

— Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, President & Founder, Sports Management Worldwide

The new pathway allows eligible military members, veterans and spouses to combine SMWW's sports-industry curriculum with Fort Hays State degree programs while potentially using eligible GI Bill education benefits.

The initial SMWW course options include Athlete Management, Name, Image & Likeness (NIL), and Sports Sales & Marketing. Salina Post

It's another example of the partnership focusing on a bigger question:

How do we give people a practical pathway from where they are today to where they want to work in sports?

Sports Careers Often Start With Education and Relationships

Lashbrook's own career demonstrates that a career in sports rarely follows one straight line.

Playing football led to coaching and education. Education led to athletic administration. Athletic administration led to athlete representation. Those experiences eventually helped inspire Sports Management Worldwide.

The specific jobs changed.

The industry didn't.

That is an important lesson for anyone trying to break into sports.

Your first opportunity doesn't have to be your final destination. Coaching can lead to administration. Scouting can lead to management. Sales can lead to leadership. Broadcasting, analytics, athlete representation and marketing can all open additional doors.

What matters is getting started, developing relevant skills and building relationships along the way.

From Fort Hays State Tiger to Sports Management Worldwide

There is something fitting about Dr. Lashbrook standing at Fort Hays State again.

The university was part of the beginning of his sports career.

Now FHSU and SMWW are working together to help other people begin theirs.

Fort Hays State provides the academic foundation. Sports Management Worldwide adds specialized sports-industry education, mentorship and networking.

For Lashbrook, that makes returning to his alma mater about more than remembering where his career started.

It's about helping the next generation decide where theirs will go.

Explore Sports Management Worldwide's degree and college-credit opportunities

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Dr. Lynn Lashbrook attend Fort Hays State University?

Yes. Dr. Lynn Lashbrook attended Fort Hays State University and played football for the Tigers before beginning a career spanning coaching, education, college athletics, athlete representation and sports business.

What is the partnership between Fort Hays State University and SMWW?

Fort Hays State University partners with Sports Management Worldwide to combine university education with specialized sports-industry training, mentorship and professional networking.

Can SMWW courses count toward a Fort Hays State master's degree?

Yes. Students in Fort Hays State's Master of Professional Studies in Sport Management can take three eligible SMWW courses and receive six credit hours toward the program.

Does Dr. Lynn Lashbrook currently teach at Fort Hays State?

Fort Hays State currently lists Dr. Lynn Lashbrook as an adjunct instructor in the university's Department of Health and Human Performance.

Can veterans use GI Bill benefits for the FHSU and SMWW pathway?

Eligible military members, veterans and spouses may be able to use GI Bill education benefits through the FHSU–SMWW Military Pathway. Eligibility depends on the individual's VA education benefits and program requirements.

How can I prepare for a career in sports?

A strong starting point is combining relevant education with practical sports-industry skills, mentorship, networking and experience. Programs such as the FHSU and SMWW partnership are designed to connect academic education with industry-specific career preparation.