Are you interested in a career in sports? Behind every successful game, event, or team lies a dedicated team of professionals. Recently, we had the privilege of hosting a panel featuring three remarkable Denison Alumni: Logan Agin ’20, who serves as Communications Coordinator for Racing Louisville FC; Abby Scully ’21, in Group Accounts with the Columbus Blue Jackets; and Christopher Chao ’23, who works in Inside Sales for the New Jersey Devils. From Denison to pivotal internships and current roles, their journeys offer insights into the multifaceted nature of careers in sports. In this blog post, we delve into their experiences, daily responsibilities, the importance of networking, dispelling misconceptions, and their favorite moments in their respective roles.
What did you do at Denison that made you want to take this on as a career path?
Abby:
Abby was Initially drawn to sports medicine, but wanted to avoid physics. Instead, she focused on the sports realm through her roles at Denison Sports Network. There, she compiled statistics across various sports, maintained and updated website content and athlete profiles, and delved into archival research. Her time at Denison’s athletics office further deepened her understanding of the intricacies of the sports industry. Finally, a directed study under her advisor fueled her research into innovative approaches within the sports landscape, solidifying her passion for this dynamic field.
Christopher:
While his passion for sports was evident from his time on the Denison football team, for Christopher, pinpointing a specific career path was difficult for him as there are many different options. Volunteering with special needs children offered invaluable experiences, ultimately shaping his career trajectory. Recognizing his affinity for connecting with people, he gravitated towards sales within the sports industry, so he could continue to focus on giving people valuable experiences.
Logan:
As a former member of the Denison women’s soccer team, she was determined to integrate her love for the sport into her postgraduate life. Logan also worked for the Denison Sports Network and contributed to broadcasts, video creation, and on-court interviews. Through this, she honed her skills and passion for the behind-the-scenes aspects of sports. An internship at ABC 6 solidified her desire to work within sports teams rather than as an outsider. In addition, she leveraged her Denison connections and secured an internship with the Columbus Crew, a pivotal stepping stone that ultimately led to her current position.
What are the day to day responsibilities/tasks?
Abby:
Abby’s role involves coordination with nonprofits, schools, and other organizations, facilitating meetings and correspondence. She oversees diverse teams, including marketing, field staff, and security, ensuring seamless coordination for events. From planning logistics such as arena access and parking to managing load-in/load-out processes, Abby orchestrates the intricate details of event execution.
Logan:
In her role, Logan has three main focuses. One focus is on communication and PR, where she spearheads press release distribution, curates and prepares stats packets for media and broadcast partners, and coordinates interviews. Her primary responsibility lies in managing social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, maintaining consistent updates and strategizing larger initiatives to drive ticket sales. Additionally, Logan oversees website management, including content creation, story writing, and schedule updates.
Christopher:
Christopher works on event coordination and new business development. Through cold calling, emailing, and innovative outreach strategies, he seeks to expand the organization’s clientele. Collaborating with marketing teams, Christopher orchestrates email campaigns targeted at new businesses, offering guided tours of the arena to attract more attendees. His role allows him to explore various avenues of growth and opportunity within the organization.
How important is networking in landing your job?
Christopher:
Christopher emphasizes the impact of networking, describing it as arguably one of the most important factors in finding a job and advancing. He emphasized the importance of making connections, especially in competitive job markets where standing out is crucial. Christopher credits networking for his internship with MLB, citing it as the catalyst for numerous opportunities that followed.
Logan:
Logan’s career trajectory shows the power of networking and perseverance, particularly during challenging times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Facing adversity in the job market, especially within the sports industry, she dedicated 5-6 months to networking and conducting informational interviews to expand her contacts and visibility. Initiatives like starting a podcast proved instrumental in forging connections as well.
Abby:
Abby stresses the value of leveraging both LinkedIn and personal connections in navigating career opportunities. She highlights that while reaching out to new people is important and great, it can be extremely helpful to reach out to people you already know, even if you don’t have a clear career path in mind. Abby’s approach led to her opportunity with the Blue Jackets, which served as a springboard for other opportunities in her career.
What is a misconception of working in sports?
Logan:
Logan acknowledges the unconventional and demanding nature of working in the sports industry, emphasizing the irregular and lengthy work hours. She embraces the need to adapt to diverse tasks and a roll up your sleeves mentality, given sports organizations are often understaffed.
Abby:
Abby challenges the perception that sales roles within sports lack significance, the value of your experience is determined by your dedication and effort. Every opportunity within the sports industry holds potential for growth and impact, regardless of the perceived level of the position!
Christopher:
Christopher highlights the potential for meaningful connections and opportunities within sales roles in the sports industry. Commitment and passion for sports is extremely important, and success is achievable through hard work and perseverance. He also encouraged that sometimes unexpected opportunities open up.
What has been your favorite memory in your current role?
Christopher:
Christopher’s favorite moment was when the Devils acquired Timo Meier from San Jose, only for him to quickly have an injury at the same time as a coaching change. However, in Meier’s first game back, he scored four goals. Christopher described the crowd as electrifying and something he will never forget.
Abby:
Abby discussed the time she had the opportunity to work for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and collaborated with notable figures such as Orlando Pace. She worked on special ticket offers and orchestrated ceremonial puck drops and meet-and-greets. This allowed Abby to witness firsthand the strength of the relationships she worked hard to grow.
Logan:
Logan’s favorite moment was when she worked with players on the team who played in the Women’s World Cup. Five players from Racing Louisville FC represented five different countries. Their team was also the first in the league to have players from six of the seven continents (excluding Antarctica). Leading the World Cup marketing campaign, Logan oversaw initiatives including photoshoots, giveaways, and tracking players’ journeys. Fun fact: Racing Louisville FC scored the second most goals among all clubs worldwide!
A special thank you to:
Logan Agin ’20 | Communications Coordination | Racing Louisville FC
Abby Scully ’21 | Group Accounts | Columbus Blue Jackets
Christopher Chao ’23 | Inside Sales | New Jersey Devils
Keep an eye on the Knowlton Center’s website for more opportunities or schedule an appointment with a career coach!
