The main I topics I blog about on a regular basis are focused on Sports, Education and Philanthropy.  I’ve written frequently about how much I enjoy teaching at Georgetown University … both in our graduate program — Sports Industry Management — as well as the Sports Marketing course in the undergraduate program.   Here’s an edited piece from this week’s Sports Business Journal (the go-to publication in the sports industry).  It’s written by SBJ veteran, Bill King —

Inside the Classroom with…

Published August 23, 2010 : Page 17

Jimmy Lynn

When Jimmy Lynn began spending Monday nights teaching sports marketing at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business five years ago, he was running the sports division at America Online.

He enjoyed teaching, but he rarely felt like he could devote enough time to it. Since departing AOL to start his own consultancy last year, he has been able to give in to the pull of campus he first felt in those early days.

“I took one sick day in 14 years,” Lynn said. “I was the corporate guy, so when I taught before, interaction with students was limited. Now, I schedule coffees, lunches, dinners and take groups of students to games. I’m on campus two afternoons a week and I meet with students all the time. I love teaching and I love helping talented people get where they want to go.”

Lynn still teaches a class in the B-school, but his deeper role is in Georgetown’s master’s program in sports management. Lynn has worked closely with the program’s architect, Matt Winkler, for years on other projects. As he has found time, he has broadened his participation in the program.

He co-teaches a leadership class and participates in the capstone projects that students work on in their final semester. He also recruits other instructors and pitches in as an overall adviser, providing needed help in a program of 75 students.

“I probably meet close to 50 percent of the students, mostly offering career advice,” Lynn said. “They need help learning how to break into the business. They need advice on how to handle things they encounter doing internships or pursuing jobs. I enjoy providing what I can.”

Lynn is a big fan of Georgetown’s co-teaching model, which has helped him bring in adjuncts who otherwise would have been scared off by the time commitment.

“They’re attracted to the opportunity to have that Georgetown brand on their résumé, but they worry about whether they can make the time to do it well,” Lynn said. “If you’re working full time and traveling, it helps to know you have someone who can cover for you. Everyone in this business is going to have conflicts. You cover for each other.”

— Bill King