Long Beach State Partnered With Elevate by IMG Academy
The university has secured a new professional development program for its athletics staff.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in People
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Should university athletics departments invest in external professional development for their staff?
Long Beach State Athletics has launched a new partnership with Elevate by IMG Academy to enhance staff professional development. The program will offer both on-site and virtual experiences tailored to the university's specific internal goals.
Why it matters
Long Beach State Athletics sought these professional development opportunities to provide practical, applied learning experiences for their staff. This collaboration is designed to support the internal growth and development priorities of the department.
This marks the third collegiate athletics collaboration for Elevate by IMG Academy. The firm operates within a broader network consisting of 40,000 college coaches.
The players
Elevate by IMG Academy
This organization leverages over four decades of experience to provide leadership and professional development training to student-athletes and athletics staff.
Long Beach State Athletics
This is the primary university department overseeing intercollegiate sports teams at the California-based institution.
The details
The partnership provides Long Beach State with a customized series of professional development modules. These experiences will be delivered through a mix of on-site sessions and virtual platforms to align with the department's identified development priorities.
Timeline
Elevate by IMG Academy announced the partnership on October 1, 2026.
Staff professional development programming is set for the 2026 academic year.
Market Landscape
This collaboration follows a growing trend of universities utilizing external corporate expertise to refine departmental leadership. It positions the program alongside previous collaborations at Eastern Michigan University and Keene State College as the sector adopts private-sector training models.
The partnership focuses on staff development and will not result in direct changes to ticket pricing or public-facing game-day operations. Local supporters can expect a more structured approach to internal staff training throughout the 2026 academic year.
The takeaway
Professional development initiatives are increasingly becoming a staple of collegiate athletics departments looking to improve staff retention and performance. Universities that invest in these external partnerships aim to modernize their internal operations by adopting proven leadership frameworks.
Further reading
Explore more stories about organizational changes and leadership in the People section.
More information
For more information on the firm's training programs, visit the IMG Academy information portal.
Live Poll
Should university athletics departments invest in external professional development for their staff?
