To my students and former students who want to work in sports, especially:
1. It’s never too late to start.
2. The timing of your first break or internship does not matter. I did my internship with the 76ers, which led to more than six years and a promotion there, almost 18 months after receiving my undergrad degree.
3. In this business in particular, hustle, grind, and ask what else you can do above any job description. Get noticed and don’t let anyone outwork you.
4. Ask questions, be curious and I don’t care what position you are working toward, sharpen and improve your writing and content skills.
5. Network and don’t be afraid to ask for help. When I worked for the 76ers, Pat Croce once told me something I never forgot: “if you don’t ask, the answer is ‘no.’” It’s the equivalent of “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” and it’s absolutely true.
6. If you want to work in PR, social media, be a coach or whatever, find your way into a sports organization any way you can, even if it means doing something that may not align with your long-term goals. For example, I spent two and a half years in the ticket office, which allowed me to learn that side of the business, how a sports team is run and I interacted with everyone in the organization because everyone needs tickets.
#sportsbiz #sportsbusiness #networking
Before he worked in sports, Brad Holmes was renting cars at Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
He had just graduated from North Carolina A&T, hoping to get a job in the NFL.
Instead, he spent days in a training position with the Atlanta Hawks and nights back at Enterprise.
He eventually landed an internship with the Rams, worked his way up through the organization, and became the Detroit Lions GM in 2021.
Brad Holmes was just named NFL Executive of the Year.
#TheComeUp
