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Andre Pittman’s journey at the University of �鶹������ý at Lafayette all started with a football game. 

Born and raised in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Pittman grew up watching the University of Southern Mississippi’s Golden Eagles. In his junior year of high school, Southern Miss went head-to-head against the �鶹������ý Ragin’ Cajuns — a team he had previously never heard of — in the 2016 New Orleans Bowl. 

“At the time, my mom told me I needed to go to whichever university ended up winning,” he recalls. 

, but Pittman was intrigued. 

“As a kid, I always knew I wanted to live in �鶹������ý at some point,” he says. “I just love the swamps, alligators, crawfish, fairs, and all of that great stuff about �鶹������ý.” 

Several campus tours later, he was sold on �鶹������ý Lafayette. 

Earning his bachelor’s in sport management and refining his business skillset through the University’s MBA program online, Pittman has built a promising career for himself as a manager of finance and administration for the University’s athletic department. 

Building the Foundation 

After spending his first few semesters at �鶹������ý Lafayette as a nursing major, Pittman decided it wasn’t for him. He grew up playing sports, so sport management felt like a natural choice. 

From the first course in the program, he knew he had made a wise decision. 

“KNES 102: Introduction to Sport Management was one of my favorite classes,” he recalls. 

The course provides an overview of the sport industry, covering the career opportunities available in core areas like finance, marketing, sales, and facility operations. 

Throughout the course, Pittman’s instructor brought in guest speakers, who shared with him and his classmates their real-world experiences in the industry. 

“One of our speakers was Dr. Bryan Maggard, the University’s athletic director, which was exciting for me at the time, to hear about what he does and the impact he has in the athletic department,” he says. 

Pittman also gained real-world experience as a marketing intern for the Ragin’ Cajuns, engaging with the community on behalf of the University’s sports teams. 

“We did a lot of outreach — contacting local businesses to sell season tickets and developing marketing plans to improve student attendance at games,” he says. “It was great at getting us to reflect on how we could grow in athletics and figure out where we wanted to go in our careers.” 

“All four people I went through the internship program with still work in athletics today.” 

Though he enjoyed his internship in marketing, he found his talents were best suited for a more administrative role. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he transitioned into a part-time role as a business analyst for the Ragin’ Cajuns. 

“I spoke with Duane Bailey, the Chief Financial Officer for athletics, to get some guidance on what avenue I should take with getting my master’s degree so that I could make the biggest impact in my role,” he says. “He recommended I get my MBA.” 

Gaining Specialized Knowledge 

While researching MBA programs, Pittman discovered �鶹������ý Lafayette’s MBA program online, which offers nine concentrations. Wanting to grow in his role as a business analyst and build on his undergraduate coursework in finance and accounting, he opted for the concentration in finance. 

Courses like ACCT 526: Analytical Methods for Planning & Control were particularly insightful. 

“It was a challenging course, but what I learned applies a lot to what I do now,” he says. “It’s been helpful learning about concepts like credits and debits. There were a lot of budgeting tools from the course that I use in my role today.” 

While in the MBA program, Pittman also earned a promotion to manager of athletics finance and administration. 

Pittman works closely with the Ragin’ Cajuns’ head coaches, helping them manage their budgets and ensuring they follow university and state travel guidelines. 

“I also help oversee our facilities and capital projects, such as bank service payments for our baseball stadium and collaborating with city officials on upgrades to the football stadium,” he says. “Our revenue and expenses come from a lot of different sources, and my job is to help tie it all together into one big picture.” 

Looking Ahead 

Pittman officially became a two-time Ragin' Grad in May 2025, counting among his network both School of Kinesiology and B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration alumni. 

“The MBA program was amazing for connecting with like-minded people, and I had a great undergraduate experience in sport management, too,” he says. “My college experience has been phenomenal.” 

For students seeking a career in sports, Pittman emphasizes the importance of gaining hands-on experience to supplement classroom knowledge. 

“If you really want to be a competitor in the job market, you have to get out there and make a name for yourself,” he advises. “Internships will not only get you through the door, but also help you understand where you want to be in the field and how you can get there.”

Prepare for a rewarding career in sports with a bachelor’s in sport management, or fine tune your business skillset with an MBA from �鶹������ý Lafayette.

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