BSN Sports: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

BSN Sports traces its history to 1972, when its founder began selling tennis nets and other sporting hard goods out of the back of a car in Memphis, Tennessee. The company grew over subsequent decades into a broader distributor of sports apparel and equipment to schools, and in 2004 expanded into team sport sales through the acquisition of two of the largest independent team dealers in the country. In 2013, BSN Sports merged with Varsity Spirit and its parent company Herff Jones to form Varsity Brands, a combined organization spanning team sports distribution, cheerleading apparel and competitions, and class ring and yearbook products. BSN Sports is headquartered in the Dallas, Texas area, in Farmers Branch.

Today, BSN Sports operates as a division of Varsity Brands, which is owned by private equity firm KKR. BSN Sports serves more than 100,000 institutional and team sports customers, including colleges, universities, middle and high schools, and recreational programs, through catalog, e-commerce, and a large direct sales force of team sales professionals. The company partners with major athletic brands including Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, and New Balance to supply uniforms, equipment, and spiritwear at scale.

BSN Sports' workforce includes sales representatives who work directly with coaches and athletic directors, customer service and account management staff, warehouse and distribution employees, and corporate functions supporting its large vendor network. The company manages end-to-end distribution logistics for hundreds of vendors, which requires significant operational and supply chain staffing.

Company culture and employee programs: BSN Sports emphasizes direct relationships with coaches and athletic directors as central to its business model, and positions its sales force as problem-solvers who remove logistical hassles from team sports programs. As part of the larger Varsity Brands organization, BSN Sports employees may have access to broader corporate resources and career paths across Varsity Brands' various business units. Benefits, scheduling, and advancement opportunities can vary by role and location, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the sporting goods distribution industry, including BSN Sports, are legally permitted to conduct pre-employment background checks on job candidates, provided they comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

BSN Sports is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, which is standard for companies in sales, distribution, and warehouse operations, particularly given the company's extensive work with schools and youth sports programs.

The hiring process for roles at BSN Sports typically includes an application, one or more interviews with hiring managers, and a background check prior to a final offer. Sales roles may involve additional interviews focused on relationship-building and territory management experience.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-employment background check for a sales or distribution role may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though state laws may extend or restrict this timeframe depending on the type of record and jurisdiction.

Hiring decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to the role, particularly for positions that involve regular access to school campuses or interaction with youth. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what BSN Sports may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to BSN Sports or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.