STRATEGY | UA and Browns Partnership
The University of Akron is proud to be The Official University of the Cleveland Browns. The exclusive strategic partnership between UA and the Browns organization brings together a university rich in history and one of the NFL's most storied franchises, strengthening a multitude of opportunities for regional growth.
Partnership Highlights
In The News: Browns' partnership with University of Akron boosts both sides
When the Cleveland Browns and the University of Akron launched their strategic partnership last summer, it wasn’t about hashtags and headlines. In last semester's Material Science of Football course, University of Akron students studied how materials used in the game have evolved over time, highlighting the pivotal role of Akron's rubber technology and Paul Brown’s innovative contributions in Cleveland.
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University of Akron teams up with Cleveland Browns in multi-year strategic partnership
Akron, Ohio – The University of Akron (UA) will kick off the new academic year as "the Official University of the Cleveland Browns." This exclusive strategic partnership brings together a university rich in history and one of the NFL's most storied franchises, strengthening a multitude of opportunities for regional growth.
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University of Akron Cleveland Browns Chalk Talk event
The University of Akron (UA), in partnership with the Cleveland Browns, will host an exclusive Chalk Talk focused on the role of analytics in football. Held at the Jean Hower Taber Student Union’s Gardner Theatre on Wednesday, Feb. 19 from 5–7 p.m., the event will feature Glenn Cook, assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel, and Tommy Rees, offensive coordinator.
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Academic Offerings
Materials Science of Football
Explore the science behind materials through the lens of football. Dive into the history of how materials used in the game have evolved over time, highlighting the pivotal role of Akron’s rubber technology and Paul Brown’s innovative contributions in Cleveland. Each material type – ceramics, metals, plastics, and composites – will be introduced in a “how it’s made” format, featuring examples provided by the Cleveland Browns.
Sport Consulting Project
Students will enhance their ability to navigate and manage team dynamics while tackling complex challenges unique to a sports organization. Launched in 2022, the League’s “Global Markets Program” grants clubs international marketing rights to expand brand awareness and build fandom beyond the U.S. Through collaborative teamwork, students will identify a second international market for the Browns to target, developing strategies to grow fandom, educate new fans about football, and create impactful engagement opportunities.
Business of the Browns
Discover how innovation is changing the game of football. In this dynamic course, students will learn how technology enhances athletic performance, aids in injury prevention, and transforms sport management and fan engagement. From wearables and performance tracking to mobile apps and virtual fan experiences, students will gain insight into the tools redefining the modern sports industry. As part of a unique collaboration with the Cleveland Browns, guest speakers from the organization will share real-world perspectives on strength and conditioning, analytics, scouting, and digital fan engagement. This course is a must for future sport professionals eager to be on the cutting edge of where athletics and technology collide.
Sports Technology
Offered annually, the course integrates topics relevant to the Cleveland Browns organization, providing a unique lens into their operations. Students from various disciplines will gain insights into specialized aspects of the multifaceted professional sports industry. Topics such as technological advancements, athlete branding, the use of advanced metrics for performance analysis, fan engagement strategies, the impact of social media on sports consumption, diversity, and the intersection of sports and society will be covered.
Go Behind-the-Scenes with Students in the Sports
Technology Class
Emergency Management – Public Safety at the Browns CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
This course engages students in real-world security and event management planning — from developing and testing emergency response and crime prevention strategies to analyzing crowd management and cybersecurity systems that support large-scale operations tied to the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus expansion. In collaboration with the Cleveland Browns, students will gain hands-on experience and explore career paths in public safety, risk management, and event operations.
OPPORTUNITY
Experiential learning, a hallmark of The University of Akron, is expanded through this partnership. With exclusive access to certain opportunities and benefits, University of Akron students are at the heart of this collaboration. Through academic courses, community impact projects, tailored professional development events, and more, UA students gain the competitive edge.
To improve their business acumen, professional marketability, hands-on learning resume, and more, University of Akron students will receive inside information and opportunities to apply for internships. All Cleveland Browns internships are paid positions and are available through the Handshake platform provided by UA Career Services. Additionally, current students, alumni, and affiliates will have special access to post-graduation, full-time and part-time employment opportunities. Check the job board for current availabilities.
The University of Akron and the Browns will co-create community-engaged learning for the classroom and beyond. Coursework and co-curricular programming will be designed to give Akron students an advantage to propel their careers. In academic courses spanning UA's comprehensive curricular offerings, students will be able to enroll in exclusive, unique classes designed to jumpstart their industry knowledge.
WORK OR VOLUNTEER WITH THE CLEVELAND BROWNS
