One concern shared by many across college athletics is the growing prevalence of sports betting.
At the NCAA Convention on Wednesday, hundreds of leaders from all three divisions gathered for a panel discussion on the topic. The featured education session focused on the landscape of sports betting in college sports, its risks and practical safeguards for campus leaders to consider.
Moderated by NCAA Managing Director of Enterprise Risk Management Clint Hangebrauck, the session featured a panel of experts: Teresa Fiore, vice president of partnerships at EPIC Global Solutions, which the NCAA partnered with to provide member schools a free sports gambling harm prevention program; Dr. Timothy W. Fong, professor of psychiatry at UCLA and co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program; Jonathan Hirshler, co-founder and chief executive officer of Signify Group; and Mark Hicks, managing director of enforcement at the NCAA. (See below for full bios)
The discussion touched on some of the NCAA's recent efforts in the sports betting space, which include the following:
Additionally, attendees got an early look at the NCAA's "Draw the Line" messaging campaign. The new tag line will launch in March to align with Problem Gambling Awareness Month and March Madness, one of the most popular sports betting events in the country. Â
The discussion
The panelists
Teresa Fiore, Vice President of Partnerships, EPIC Global Solutions
Teresa Fiore is vice president of partnerships at EPIC Global Solutions, a consulting firm dedicated to minimizing gambling-related harms. Fiore's experience within responsible gambling spans the public and private sectors, including stints with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and PointsBet, an online sportsbook.
Fiore earned her bachelor's degree from Massachusetts. She is currently pursuing an MBA through Boston U. Outside of her work, Fiore enjoys exploring her native New England with her family, friends and beloved dog.
Dr. Timothy W. Fong, Professor of Psychiatry; Co-Director, UCLA Gambling Studies Program
Dr. Timothy Fong is a professor of psychiatry at the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. He also serves as the co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, which examines the clinical characteristics of gambling disorder to develop effective, evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies.
Fong also is a member of the Steering Committee of the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids, whose mission is to address the most pressing questions related to the impact of cannabis legalization through rigorous scientific study and discourse across disciplines. He also provides addiction and mental health services for the UCLA Sports Psychiatry Service. Fong earned his Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine degrees from Northwestern.
Clint Hangebrauck, Managing Director of Enterprise Risk Management, NCAA
Clint Hangebrauck is the managing director of enterprise risk management at the NCAA. Among other duties related to risk management, he provides leadership around the NCAA's sports betting harm prevention efforts, including managing the relationship with EPIC Risk Management, the NCAA's sports betting harm prevention partner.
Before his current role, Hangebrauck held quality control and audit-related duties at the NCAA national office. Before joining the NCAA, he served in various risk-consulting roles at a CPA firm and a Fortune 50 company.
Hangebrauck graduated from the Purdue Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. School of Business. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family and friends enjoying the great outdoors.
Jonathan Hirshler, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Signify Group
Jonathan Hirshler is co-founder and CEO of the London-based ethical data science company Signify Group. Hirshler's role draws upon 25 years of experience at the intersection of politics, online messaging and digital strategy.
Since 2019, Hirshler has led the development and rollout of Signify's specialist AI-driven proactive threat detection and protection service called Threat Matrix. Threat Matrix is an initiative to protect players, athletes and high-profile individuals from online abuse. The service works with international federations, national leagues, player unions, clubs, law enforcement and athletes to create real-world action and effective deterrents. Hirshler graduated with a Bachelor of Science in politics and history from Brunel University London.
Mark Hicks, Managing Director of Enforcement, NCAA
Mark Hicks, managing director of enforcement since January 2014, oversees internal operations and enforcement's sport-specific development initiatives, which include football and basketball, baseball, track and field, and enforcement's sports betting focus. He also manages enforcement's certification processes and is active in the NCAA governance process, working with various committees and initiatives.
Before his work in enforcement, Hicks helped create the NCAA Eligibility Center, serving as the director of amateurism (2012-13) and the associate director of high school review (2007-12). He also worked in the NCAA academic and membership affairs department from 2006-07. A veteran educator of almost 10 years, Hicks taught high school English and coached football at the collegiate and high school levels. He has published articles on the issue of academic fraud and NCAA initial eligibility. He is a native of North Carolina and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He earned a Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School.
