Assumption University Announces Larry Lucchino Institute, Names Charles Steinberg Founding Director
By-Hank Stolz
Graphic-Radio Worcester/Photo-Worcester Red Sox
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Worcester, MA-Assumption University has announced the creation of the Larry Lucchino Institute for the study of sports. It was established through a generous donation by the Lucchino Family trust.
WooSox President Dr. Charles Steinberg, who worked closely for years with Lucchino has been named the founding director.
Exploring Sports Across Academic Fields
According to Assumption University, students will explore sports through business, ethics, management, marketing, and more. Unlike traditional sports management programs, the Institute enables students of all majors—from finance and English literature to ethics and beyond—to explore how sports intersect with their fields of study through courses, lectures, and professional networking opportunities.
Steinberg said by example, “So, one of the things I’ve taught at Emerson for more than 10 years is sports and politics are next door neighbors. They’re not the same, but they are your next-door neighbor and you’re going to need to understand how to work with them just as you see us work with the city of Worcester and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
Industry Connections and a Well-Rounded Education
Dr. Charles Steinberg, founding director and Worcester Red Sox president, will leverage his extensive industry connections to bring professionals, authors, and leaders to campus for seminars and events.
The Institute emphasizes sports ethics, programming, and entertainment as adjacent fields requiring mutual understanding, while promoting the value of a well-rounded education that keeps students intellectually engaged with broader world affairs.
He said that is something Lucchino always talked about, being engaged, through reading, watching the news, “And he said, “You can get dumb really fast if you stop learning. If you get into your one area of widget making,” he said, “You can get dumb fast. We have to keep each other fresh.”
Renewable Scholarships for Lucchino Scholars
The program includes renewable $4,000 scholarships for Lucchino Scholars, supporting students across four years.
This partnership between Assumption and the Worcester Red Sox represents a distinctive model for preparing students for careers in sports or any field where sports can enrich their professional development.
What Does Studying Sports Actually Mean?
A baseball game is also a business, a story, a series of ethical decisions, and sometimes a political issue. Studying sports across academic fields means examining those connections.
At Assumption University’s Larry Lucchino Institute, students can explore how sports relate to their majors. Consider the questions different students might ask:
Finance: How does a team balance ticket prices, player salaries, sponsorship revenue, and the cost of operating a stadium?
Literature: How do writers turn a season, a rivalry, or an athlete’s life into a story about identity, ambition, or belonging?
Ethics: What responsibilities do teams have to their players, fans, employees, and communities? How should organizations respond when winning conflicts with player safety?
Marketing: How does a team build loyalty that lasts through a losing season? What makes a ballpark experience meaningful to families?
Politics: How do teams work with public officials on stadium projects, transportation, public safety, and the use of taxpayer money?
These are examples of the questions this approach can open up, rather than a list of specific courses. The goal is to help students connect their academic interests with the decisions and relationships that shape sports, whether or not they ultimately pursue a career in the industry.
Sources
- Assumption University: Announcement establishing the Larry Lucchino Institute for the Study of Sports, October 20, 2026. Explains its connections to business, ethics, economics, literature, and civic life. Assumption University
- Assumption University: Larry Lucchino Institute overview. Describes the institute’s interdisciplinary approach and leadership.
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