Having just finished Dr. Rich Cellini’s Leadership and Critical Thinking class, Cohort 35 has hit the ground running in pursuit of success within the sport industry. From Alaska and Puerto Rico, to Georgia and Arizona, the USF Sport Management Program’s newest collection of students is as diverse in their present career opportunities as they are in their individual backgrounds. In the midst of good-natured bantering over Jayhawks vs. Sooners, or Crimson Tide vs. Bulldogs, Cohort 35 has already been crafting its future in a persistent and dedicated manner.
Members of my cohort have been exposed to a variety of opportunities and are in the midst of many accomplishments. We’ve landed internships with the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, UC Berkeley, USF, the Pac-12 and Stanford to name a few. Others are working part-time or full-time jobs while juggling internship or volunteer opportunities. Along with building our professional résumé, we’ve had the good fortune of exploring and adapting to a new city together. Our cohort has had the chance to attend SF Giants and Oakland Athletics games together, work internships, attend fundraising events put on by professionals within the industry and have quickly interacted with members from other cohorts.
With a desire to pursue a career in the sport industry, members of Cohort 35 came into the program with high expectations. Discussion over internships dominated conversations at our opening night of orientation. The dedicated nature of the internship program is the reason why most of us took on the challenge of attending USF. Orientation was the start of something very special, primarily because our expectations of what we could accomplish have been raised to another level. Through Dr. Cellini’s classes and the support of classmates and faculty, we are well aware of the potential opportunities to be earned. Because of these unique opportunities, students at the San Francisco and Los Angeles campuses have already made noteworthy sacrifices in pursuit of internships.
Corey Butler, a graduate of the University of Georgia came into the program with a degree in microbiology while playing for the Georgia Bulldogs basketball team. With an opportunity to attend medical school, Corey turned down an opportunity in the medical field in order to attend USF.
“My passions are in two very different fields,” notes Corey. “I love basketball, but I also love studying petri dishes in a lab. But being in sport management, I believe it will open more doors and allow for a multitude of opportunities. I believe I made the right decision and I can't wait to see what the industry has in store for me.”
The industry has a lot in store for Corey. He has already taken a position as an intern with the Stanford basketball program. Corey works directly with the coaching staff on a daily basis and deals with matters related to recruiting.
Like Corey, Craig Nelson, a member of Cohort 13 in Los Angeles has been in the position to see both the Southern California and Bay Area sports market. After nailing down a game day internship with the Oakland Raiders and a weekend internship at the Pac-12 offices in the bay area, Craig landed an opportunity with the Tiger Woods Foundation in Los Angeles.
Even though he is living in the L.A. area, Craig has found the energy to pursue as many opportunities as possible. He commutes to the Bay Area on weekends to work for the Oakland Raiders and the Pac-12. Luckily for him he’s found some friends for the road.
“I actually have had requests for a few weeks down the line from friends and cohort members who want to travel with me because they have friends and family in the Bay Area,” explains Craig. “I think I’m going to have to make a calendar to keep up with who I’m traveling with each week.”
Over the next two years in this program I hope to bring to you more stories like these. Regardless of my setting, I will provide you a glimpse into the lives of USF Sport Management students in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Hopefully it will be an insightful look into how we embrace the challenge at USF!
