It’s a Whole New Ballgame
Made possible by an historic gift from the Lucchino Family Foundation, the Larry Lucchino Institute for the Study of Sports will honor Larry Lucchino’s legacy by connecting the study of sports with liberal arts education, leadership, and civic life. With a distinctive approach to liberal arts education, the Institute will introduce students to the many ways sports can illuminate leadership, business, culture, and the broader world around them.
Through academic, co-curricular, and experiential learning opportunities, the Institute will invite students to explore sports through its many dimensions, including business, ethics, management, marketing, analytics, communication, culture, and society. Rather than treating sports solely as an industry, the Institute will use the field as a lens through which to examine subjects ranging from economics and literature to leadership, philanthropy, and civic life. It will complement and expand upon the University’s existing offerings in the field of sports, including a minor in Sport Management and an in-development major in Sports Marketing. In doing so, the Institute will reflect a central principle of a liberal arts education: that studying one’s passions can open doors to deeper intellectual inquiry, critical thinking, and a broader understanding of the world.
“That which can be measured can be improved, but not everything that can be measured matters, and not everything that matters can be measured.”
Larry Lucchino
Planned elements include an introductory seminar examining sports through the lens of literature, history, ethics, and culture, developed with Assumption faculty. The Institute will also pursue opportunities for mentorship, internships, industry speakers, and experiential learning, and will connect with the University’s Center for Civic Friendship and its work on sports as a means of building common ground. Together, these opportunities will help students explore the many professional paths connected to sports while developing the intellectual and interpersonal skills to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
A Different Field of Study
The Lucchino Scholars program is intended to provide a distinctive experience for students with an interest in the study of sports and the values embodied by the Institute. Beginning in Fall 2027, the program will award scholarships annually to incoming first-year students who demonstrate an interest in sports and a commitment to these core values. Each Lucchino Scholar will receive a renewable scholarship of $4,000 per year for up to four years, providing a total potential value of $16,000 per student. Students cannot receive a combined total of Assumption University scholarship funding that exceeds $45,000 in a given academic year.
Institute Advisory Board
The Institute will be supported by an Advisory Board composed of distinguished leaders and thinkers from sports and related fields. Board members will help inform the Institute’s direction and connect students with perspectives from across sports, media, business, and civic life.
Mike Barnicle
Helen R. Russell ’85
John Davis ’24
Dan Shaughnessy
Brian Kelly ’83
Janet Marie Smith
Joshua Kraft
Lesley Visser
Alice Nderitu
George F. Will
Have Fun & Be Bold!
In 2022, Lucchino delivered the address at Assumption’s 105th Commencement and received an honorary Doctor of Letters. During his Commencement remarks, Larry reflected on the close relationship between Assumption and the WooSox, their shared commitment to Worcester, and shared values including generosity, confidence, curiosity, and service to others. He urged graduates to be bold, work at friendship, and become catalysts for positive change in their communities.
Where Passion Meets Possibility
The Institute is possible in part thanks to the vision, creativity, and intellectual energy of these Assumption faculty who have helped imagine what can be possible at the intersection of sports and Catholic liberal education. By designing innovative courses, these faculty will create an enduring opportunity for students to explore their passions, broaden their perspectives, and carry forward the values that defined Lucchino’s life and career.
Thomas Burke, Associate Professor of Practice, Communication & Media
Lisa D. Souza, Professor of Education
Bridget Leonard, Dept. Chair, Marketing & Organizational Communication
Samuel Stoner, Associate Professor of Philosophy
Tyler Wasson, Assistant Professor of Management
Rachel Coleman, Associate Professor of Theology
Kyle Evans, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Gary Senecal, Associate Professor of Human Services
David Thoreen, Professor of English
Gregory Walsh, Associate Professor of Practice, Sport Management
People and Perspective Matter
Larry Lucchino was a visionary sports executive, respected leader, and passionate philanthropist whose legacy extended far beyond the baseball diamond. Known for his leadership, innovation, intellectual curiosity, and deep understanding of the role sports organizations play in their communities, Larry left a lasting impact on the game of baseball and the cities he helped shape.
Throughout his distinguished career, Larry led the Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, and Boston Red Sox, helping guide the Red Sox to three World Series championships and ending an 86-year championship drought. A driving force behind some of baseball’s most iconic ballparks, he spearheaded the development of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Petco Park, JetBlue Park, and Polar Park, while leading the transformative preservation of historic Fenway Park.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Larry believed in the power of sports to bring people together, strengthen communities, and create lasting opportunities. His legacy of leadership, generosity, and community impact continues to inspire the mission of the Lucchino Foundation.
Inaugural Director
Dr. Charles Steinberg will serve as the Institute’s inaugural director. Steinberg, who began his career as a 17-year-old Orioles intern, worked alongside Lucchino for 45 years. Across his career he served as a senior executive with the San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers. As president of the Pawtucket Red Sox, he was instrumental in the effort that brought the team to Worcester. His decades of collaboration with Lucchino and experience across professional baseball will help guide the Institute’s development and connect its academic mission with the people, ideas, and opportunities shaping the sports industry.
