Selling the Sales Team

Bradley University has a lot to brag about — our basketball team, our speech team, our sense of community. But one team that shines bright, in every way: our Sales Team. 

So what does a Sales Team do? 

Team members meet four to five times a week to learn everything they can about a company and their offerings, participating in role-playing scenarios, building up basic knowledge to use in competitions. The Sales Team coach, marketing professor Brad Eskridge, explains what training is all about. “We find really good talent with a strong work ethic and we help them develop and grow.”

The team competes in numerous competitions across the country, each sponsored by well-known companies. Notable competitions include the International Collegiate Sales Competition (ICSU), Redbird National Sales Competition (RNSC) and National Collegiate Sales Competition (NCSC). 

“Presentation skills matter. Communication skills matter,” said Eskridge, who has been coaching the Sales Team for 10 years. But before diving into marketing, he was an offensive line coach at Canton High School at the varsity level from 2008-2012.

“I love coaching. I love developing and helping younger people reach their potential,” he said.

When he got to Bradley, he saw the same chance to elevate young people on the Sales Team—and the students prospered. Bradley’s Sales Team has reserved a top 15 spot in competitions since Eskridge joined, and has placed top six in eight of those years.

The Sales Team has even previously won the National Collegiate Sales Championship in 2021 and 2022.

The Winning Formula

So how do you put together one of the best Sales Teams in the country? You work with amazing people. “It’s the right mix of students,” said Eskridge. 

“The Sales Team is more than just a competition. It has challenged me, strengthened my resilience, and prepared me for my future career in ways I never anticipated,” said Jada Less, senior corporate finance major. She said Coach Eskridge believes in his students, and working with him has been an “invaluable experience.”

Less joined the Sales Team her junior year, and didn’t know what to expect. That changed when Coach Eskridge encouraged her to take Marketing 304: Intro to Professional Selling. She took the class and grew to love sales and saw a potential future flourish right before her eyes. “It’s an incredible experience, but it comes with emotional highs and lows. Pushing through those moments and continuing to practice, even when it feels exhausting, is what ultimately leads to growth and success,” she said.

Training for competitions is a demanding task with high-rewards. “We have an opportunity for the best sales talent in the country to come together and practice, learn from each other and grow together,” Eskridge said. “I’m honored and grateful to be working with them.” 

And this dedication pays off for students. “We’ve never had a Sales Team student not get a high-level sales job straight out of college,” said Eskridge. The only exception? An alumna who started her own business, which earns six figures in monthly revenue.

The Sales Team returned from the National Collegiate Sales Competition held from March 7-10 with more good news: Their winning streak continues.

They placed second overall in the nation, Jada Less taking first place individually—earning her the title of national champion. “This competition is what we spend months preparing for. Winning validated all the dedication and long hours,” she said.

Students at Bradley University excel wherever they end up. But with the Sales Team, it becomes evident that our success comes from community, hard work and a really good support system.

—Hermes Falcon, senior journalism and sociology major