The Locker Room Podcast

Season 4, Episode 14 of the Locker Room Podcast features Rich O’Reilly, the content and marketing manager of FC Bayern Munich. Rich takes us through his journey with the club, as well as his overall journey through the sports business world.

00:00-00:25: Intro

00:26-01:32: How Rich found his passion for sports marketing

01:33-03:18: Rich’s work with the Brooklyn Nets and side projects

03:19-05:30: The landscape of European soccer in America

05:31-07:06: Rich’s journey to Bayern

07:07-08:48: How Rich’s role has evolved and changed over the years

08:49-11:15: Rich’s favorite projects while working at Bayern

11:16-14:25: Bayern’s challenges in a foreign market

14:26-17:03: Opportunities for Bayern in upcoming international tournaments

17:04-19:51: How team success impacts sports marketing

19:52-22:43: Rich’s advice to his younger self

22:44-24:51: Maryland Minute and Wrap Up

Season 4, Episode 13 of The Locker Room Podcast features Sarah Cookingham-Hollis, Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer at USA Track & Field. She has also spent time working with FOX, Time Warner Cable, and ESPN. In this episode, Sarah and LRP host Sam Benning sat down at the 2024 Maryland Sports Business Conference to discuss her vast experiences throughout her career. Sarah talked a lot about the shift to digital media and how she has kept herself and her organizations ahead of the curve in an ever-changing industry.

0:00-0:32 Intro

0:33-3:59 An unconventional beginning: Sports medicine to sports business

4:00-8:02 Pioneering digital media in the early 2000s with the MLS and ESPN 

8:03-9:38 How to break into the sports industry (it hasn’t changed!)

9:39-11:26 First mover vs. entering a solidified market - which is better?

11:27-16:00 Sarah’s role at USATF - many different hats

16:01-17:54 Starting the ad/sales/sports marketing team at FOX

17:55-19:31 Excitement about the 2024 Paris Olympics

19:32-22:08 What’s next + the future of Women’s sports

22:09-24:15 Advice to aspiring professionals

24:16-25:51 Maryland Minute/Speed round

25:52-26:25 Outtro

Season 4, Episode 12 of the Locker Room Podcast features Christian Henze, Chief Strategy Officer for the PLL. In this episode Christian talks about the growth of both lacrosse and the PLL and talks about the next steps the league is taking to expand.

0:00-0:29      Intro

0:30-3:02      Initial beginnings of the PLL and recent expansions

3:03-5:38      Developing strategy for a brand new sports league

5:39-9:50      Growing lacrosse nationally and internationally

9:51-12:13    Next steps for the PLL

12:14-14:51  Advice for students pursuing opportunities in sports

14:52-15:00  Outro

Season 4, Episode 11 of the Locker Room Podcast features Tristam Osgood, Baseball agent at WME Sports. In this episode, Tristam talks about what it takes to be an agent, gives us insight into a day in his life, and talks about some of his own personal achievements and goals in the industry.

0:00-0:30        Intro

0:31-3:09        Purpose of a baseball agent and day to day responsibilities

3:10-5:51        Finding a passion in the sports industry

5:52-8:33       Finding a mentor throughout your career

8:34-11:28      Transitioning from being a scout to an agent

11:29-14:34     Process of recruiting of players to join an agency

14:35-16:22     Working with talented stars in baseball

16:23-20:00    Impact of recent blockbuster baseball deals

20:01-23:43    Skills necessary to succeeding as an agent

23:44-25:49    Advice for succeeding as a new agent

26:50-28:05    Favorite moment as an agent and future agent

28:06-28:35    Outro

Season 4, Episode 10 of the Locker Room Podcast features Jack Urquhart, director of partnerships sales at Penn State Enterprises. In this episode Jack gives insight on what it means to work in partnerships, what his job entails, and gives advice on getting into the sports business industry.

0:00-0:32       Intro

0:33-1:36       What are sports partnerships?

1:37-3:04       What led you to the sports business world?

3:05-7:10       Career timeline and explanation of Play Fly sports

7:11-9:38       Advice on getting your foot in the door of sports business

9:39-12:15     Transitioning from UMD to Penn State 

12:16-14:11    Reality check moments from working in sports

14:12-16:43    Importance of passion in work

16:44-18:58    Effect of performance on selling partnerships

18:59-20:41    Work life balance

20:42-22:38    Final piece of advice

22:39-22:59    Outro

Season 4, Episode 9 of the Locker Room Podcast features Hunter Lochmann, CMO of Monumental Sports. In this episode Hunter gives us insight into how he paved his way in the sports world and gives his best advice for people trying to break into the industry. 

0:00-0:27   Intro

0:28-3:08   Finding a passion in sports and turning it into a career

3:09-7:35    Expanding skills with an organization like Monumental Sports

7:36-11:45    Ways to grow in the sports world

11:46-14:30  Adjusting to D.C. being a transient city and its effect on the fan base

14:31-16:56    Advice for breaking into the sports world

16:57-17:34    Sign-off

Season 4, Episode 8 of the Locker Room Podcast features April Taylor, the owner of the SVE Firm, a sports marketing and event agency. April has been in the world of sports business for almost 20 years at both the collegiate and corporate levels, such as SMU, George Mason, Under Armour, and now her own business. April gives her backstory and shares her career journey in sports business.

00:00-01:36: Introduction to the SVE Firm

01:37-05:17: Experience as a Collegiate Player and Transitioning to the Business Side

05:18-06:39: Traits that allowed April to transition from athlete to business woman

06:40-10:45: Issues in college athletics that April wanted to make an impact on

10:46-18:03: Lessons learned from April’s experiences in collegiate athletic departments

18:04-20:03: April’s transition to Under Armour

20:04-24:18: Inspiration behind the SVE Firm and its initial challenges

24:19-28:41: April’s favorite SVE Firm events

28:42-30:18: The future of the SVE Firm

30:19-33:59: Maryland Minute and Wrap Up

Season 4, Episode 7 of The Locker Room Podcast features Harrison Keim, marketing coordinator at Rubicon Talent. Harrison is also the founder of the Locker Room Podcast which he used to springboard his career in sports. Harrison takes us through what it is like starting to work in the sports industry and gives advice on how to break into the industry, grow, and adapt to a career. 

0:00-0:28       Podcast Intro

0:29-1:12       Harrison Intro

1:13-2:25       Starting and Growing the Locker Room Podcast

2:26-3:43       Finding what you want to do in sports

3:44-5:18       Connecting with people who helped you find a path to pursue

5:19-8:21       Tips for creating strong connections that can lead to opportunities

8:22-10:00     Adjusting to a career in sports out of college

10:01-12:31   Day in the life working at an agency

12:32-14:16   Getting able to work with a number of players and on multiple projects

14:17-15:40   Memorable moments on the job so far  

15:41-17:45   Growing in current role and career as a whole

17:46-20:04   Advice for students interested in sports

20:05-21:56   Maryland Minute

21:57-22:32   Sign-off

Season 4, Episode 6 of the Locker Room Podcast features Nick Geraci and Jimmy Miller, two of The Locker Room Podcast’s hosts/producers, both who are UMD sophomores. These two Terps sat down together to preview the upcoming NFL postseason and coaching cycle, as well as business trends in the NFL world. 

00:00-00:28: Locker Room Podcast Intro

00:29-01:06: Episode Intro

01:07-39:49: Preview of the Wild Card Games

39:50-44:19: Trends in NFL Viewership

44:20-51:33: Discussing the increase in streamed games

51:34-01:00:33: Josh Harris acquiring the Commanders

01:09:34-01:13:35: Discussing the Upcoming NFL coaching cycle

01:13:36-01:14:09: Episode Outro

Season 4, Episode 5 of The Locker Room Podcast is a special edition Terps Talk episode featuring two of our own, Andrew and Eric, who share their experience interning for Maryland Athletics. Andrew and Eric detail what a sports internship entails, how it has helped them set the groundwork for their career, and how they hope to build on their internship in the future. 

Timestamps:

0:00-0:28 Podcast Intro

0:29-1:28 Episode Intro

1:29-8:02 Getting started in the internship

8:03-12:28 Responsibilities of the internship 

12:29-14:50 Favorite experiences

14:51-19:28 Challenges encountered in the internship

19:29-25:33 Skills learned

25:34-36:01 Future aspirations and plans

36:02-37:27 Sign-off

Season 4, Episode 4 of The Locker Room Podcast features Michael Mirskiy, who started the Next Network, a sports broadcast channel that he runs with his friend Josh Berman, which has amassed over 150k followers on social media. Michael takes us through what pushed him to start the Next Network, how he has grown the show, what goes into each broadcast, and the opportunities it has given him.

0:00-0:28       Podcast Intro

0:29-0:58       Michael Intro

0:59-2:16       Idea to start the Next Network

2:17-4:00       Starting a social media page

4:01-5:55       Adjusting to a world without sports during Covid

5:56-12:08     Going viral for the first time

12:09-18:06   Preparing for broadcast

18:07-23:04   Future plans in the world of sports business

23:05-27:20   Advice for people who want to get involved in sports social media

27:21-28:09   Sign-off  

Season 4, Episode 3 of the Locker Room Podcast features Nick Geraci and Sam Benning, two of The Locker Room Podcast’s hosts/producers, both of whom are UMD sophomores. These two Terps sat down together to preview the upcoming/ongoing NBA 2023-2024 season. In this part (part 2), they evaluate some off-the-court additions to the league, including the NBA’s new In-Season Tournament and the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the league and the players association. 

Timestamps:

00:00-02:10: Introduction for Part 2

02:11-02:39: Podcast Intro

02:40-08:46: Discussing the NBA’s new In-Season Tournament

08:47-26:30 Discussing the implications of the new CBA

26:31-27:25 Outtro

Season 4, Episode 3 of the Locker Room Podcast features Nick Geraci and Sam Benning, two of The Locker Room Podcast’s hosts/producers, both of whom are UMD sophomores. These two Terps sat down together to preview the upcoming/ongoing NBA 2023-2024 season. In this part (part 1), they cover their on-court predictions for all 30 NBA teams, including standings, playoffs, and award predictions. 

Timestamps:

00:00-01:04 Episode Overview

01:05-01:33: Podcast Intro

01:34-02:40: Sam and Nick Intro

02:41-24:11: Previewing the Wizards, Pistons, Hornets, Raptors, and Bulls

24:12-43:08: Previewing the Nets, Magic, Hawks, Knicks, and Pacers

43:09-57:48: Previewing the Heat, 76ers, Cavaliers, Bucks, and Celtics

57:49-1:07:59: Previewing the Trail Blazers, Spurs, Rockets, Jazz, and Mavericks

1:08:00-1:21:32: Previewing the Grizzlies, Clippers, Pelicans, Lakers, and Timberwolves

1:21:33-1:32:05: Previewing the Kings, Warriors, Thunder, Suns, and Nuggets, and Playoffs/Finals Predictions

1:32:06-1:33:51: Predicting NBA Regular Season Awards

1:33:52-1:40:03: Predicting Breakout Players and Teams

1:40:04-1:40:37: Part 1 Outtro

Season 4, Episode 1 of the Locker Room Podcast features Steve Marino, the Director of Sales Development for the Washington Wizards. Steve has been in the world of sports business for over 10 years, working for The Aspire Group, Comcast Spectacor, Legends Global Sales, and now the Washington Wizards. Steve gives his backstory and shares his journey through his career in sports business.

00:00-00:28: Podcast Intro

00:29-00:57: Steve Marino Intro

00:58-04:48: Finding a passion for sports business at the University of Arizona

04:49-07:36: How Steve made himself marketable as an undergraduate

07:37-11:20: Steve’s job at The Aspire Group and how he grew within the company

11:21-16:35: Location changes and networking affecting Steve’s career development

16:36-21:03: Steve talks about working as a Ticket Sales Manager for Legends at SoFi Stadium

21:04-25:00: Steve’s journey to working for Monumental Sports and the Washington Wizards

25:01-29:07: Job change to the Director of Sales Development

29:08-31:15: Looking retrospectively on Steve’s career

31:16-34:15: Maryland Minute

34:16-34:41 Podcast Outro

In this episode, SBS members Sam Navarro and Parker Leibowitz discuss their CFP predictions for this upcoming year and also discuss how conference realignment will impact the college sports business landscape.

Timestamps:

00:00-00:28: Podcast Intro

00:29-00:46: Sam and Parker Intro 

00:46-12:45: Playoff Predictions

12:45-13:48: Sleeper Team Predictions

13:48-20:16: Conference Realignment Impacts on Business

20:16-27:33: NIL Impacts on Business

27:34-27:45: Podcast Outro

Season 3, Episode 18 of The Locker Room Podcast features Alex Wood, coordinator of the tennis division at Octagon, where she works with tennis players and agents to make sure players can get through their tournaments smoothly. Alex takes us through her path in sports, highlighting many of her experiences while she was at Maryland like being Testudo and also taking us through her current role.

0:00-0:28       Podcast Intro

0:29-1:06       Alex Intro

1:07-2:49       Thinking about sports as a career option and exploring different options

2:50-6:00       Adjusting to a lack of internship opportunities and being involved other ways

6:01-9:05       Covid impacting college experience and still affecting work

9:06-12:18     Experiences as Testudo while at UMD

12:19-17:09   Advice for students interested in getting sports experience while in school

17:10-21:49   Day to day responsibilities at Octagon

21:50-22:37   Dealing with day-to-day ambiguity and learning many skills to succeed

22:38-25:30   How does NIL affect Tennis and what does the future look like?

25:31-30:33   Challenges of adjusting from college to corporate life

30:34-33:32   Making yourself valuable within a company

33:33-40:31   Keeping options open to progress through your career

40:32-50:13   Maryland Minute    

50:14-50:36   Sign-off 

Season 3, Episode 17 is the final of ten special edition episodes that we recorded at the 2023 Maryland Sports Business Conference in April. This episode features Dan Crowley, executive vice president at the Best is Ahead Foundation, which is the NIL program for the University of Maryland football team. Dan takes us through his rise in the sports world, first as a football player at Towson and now involved with Maryland’s football program. 

0:00-0:28   Podcast Intro

0:29-1:09       Dan Crowley Intro

1:10-2:50       Playing days at Towson and winning championships at the CFL

2:51-4:28       Finding a way into sports and starting a professional career

4:29-5:59     What is the Best is Ahead Foundation and why is it important?

6:00-9:38     Ways that the Best is Ahead Foundation gets players involved

9:39-11:20    Understanding the NIL landscape and building your personal brand

11:21-12:58    Dealing with the uncertainty and ambiguity of NIL

12:59-14:32   Advice for students who want to make a difference in sports

14:33-14:54   Sign-off

Season 3, Episode 16 is a special edition episode recorded at the 2023 Maryland Sports Business Conference in April and features Nnamdi Egbuaba. Nnamdi is a former UMD football linebacker (2014-2018) and current District Sales Manager at PepsiCo. In this episode, he shares his athletic roots from growing up in Nigeria, his highlights from his Maryland experience, and how athletics have applied to his professional life. Nnamdi has an amazing story and lots of Maryland pride...Maryland has a lot of pride for him, too!

0:00-0:28 Intro

0:29-2:54 From basketball to football, from Nigeria to the US

2:55-5:06 Why Maryland?

5:07-6:35 Life outside of football at UMD

6:36-8:37 The ups and downs of UMD football

8:38-10:06 What it means to put in work

10:07-11:29 Connecting football to life

11:30-13:52 Leading a team – Nnamdi’s work at PepsiCo

13:53-14:37 Sticking with sports after college

14:38-15:35 Maryland Minute

15:36-16:01 Outtro

Season 3, Episode 15 is a special edition episode recorded at the 2023 Maryland Sports Business Conference in April. This episode features Joanne Pasternack, a current executive in the Social Responsibility/Social Justice side of sports. She is and the both President and CEO of Oliver+Rose and Co-Founder of Athletes' Voices. In this episode, Joanne takes us through her career, including what it means to be a female in sports, shares experiences working with the most talented athletes like Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid to help them succeed outside of sports.

0:00-0:28 Intro

0:29-2:00 Joanne's background in sports

2:01-3:07 Finding her inspiration while working with the Special Olympics

3:08-6:11 Building her career locally and nationally through the Golden State Warriors, San Fransisco 49ers, and Oliver+Rose

6:12-10:35 Working with Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid - "What it means to use your voice"

10:36-11:46 Golden State Warriors response to being uninvited to the White House

11:47-13:48 The importance of authenticity when speaking

13:49-15:42 Differences between the NFL and NBA

15:43-17:10 Oliver+Rose - working with all athletes

17:11-19:52 Alex Smith and Jeremy Boyd's connection - a favorite story of Joanne's

19:53-23:29 Working in a male-dominated industry - normalizing having self-pride

23:30-24:36 The future of social responsibility in sports

24:37-26:21 Maryland Minute

26:22-26:43 Outtro

Season 3, Episode 14 of The Locker Room Podcast is a special edition episode recorded at the 2023 Maryland Sports Business Conference in April. This episode features Brandon Gassaway, director of social responsibility, player programs, and diversity and inclusion communications for the NBA. Brandon takes us through his rise into the sports world as well as how he is able to help players make a difference in their communities. 

0:00-0:28 Podcast Intro

0:29-1:16 Brandon Intro

1:17-3:20 Transitioning from government to the NBA

3:21-5:18 Encouraging athletes to use their platforms and make a difference

5:19-6:53 Giving athletes the tools to make a difference

6:54-7:44 Advice for students

7:45-8:08 Sign off

Season 3, Episode 13 of The Locker Room podcast is a special edition episode that was recorded at the 2023 Maryland Sports Business Conference in April. This episode features Wayne Kimmel, who is a UMD alum and is now the founder and managing partner of SeventySix Capital. Wayne shares with us his deep passion for what he does and speaks on his experience in starting/growing his company from the ground up in the ever-changing field of sports business. 

0:00-0:28 Intro

0:29-1:44 Wayne’s time at Maryland

1:45-2:37 What is SeventySix Capital?

2:38-6:42 The gamification and development of sports in recent years

6:43-7:45 How Wayne differentiates his brand

7:46-10:12 Business and investment strategies

10:13-15:28 What the future of sports looks like/Wayne’s career advice

15:29-20:37 Maryland Minute/Memories of UMD

20:38-21:10 Outtro

Season 3, Episode 12 of The Locker Room Podcast is a special edition episode that was recorded at the 2023 Maryland Sports Business Conference and features Anthony Pecorella. “Pec” (his nickname at the University of Maryland), was a punter on the UMD football team from 2019-2023 and will be punting in the fall at Stony Brook University in New York. Pec is a Long Islander with a big heart and tells some great stories from his childhood sports to the ins and outs of his life at UMD. He also talks about his mental health struggles and how he found himself while also helping others by founding Healthy Minds, which is a mental health service for student-athletes. 

0:00-0:28 Intro

0:29-1:50 Pec’s background/childhood in sports

1:51-3:19 Becoming a punter

3:20-4:02 Why Maryland?

4:03-4:58 Finding himself as a punter at UMD

4:59-5:54 Day-to-day as a punter

5:55-8:16 Highlights at UMD

8:17-12:07 Mental health scare and the creation of “healthy minds”

12:08-15:00 What does “toughness” truly mean?

15:01-16:40 Pec’s mental health advice to others

16:41-17:31 Maryland Minute

17:32-17:56 Outtro

Season 3, Episode 11 of the Locker Room Podcast is a special edition episode recorded at the 2023 Maryland Sports Business Conference with Justin Polkowitz. Justin worked for Topps and helped create digital trading cards backed by the Avalanche Block Chain. Tune in to hear about this revolutionary development in the world of sports collectibles and to better understand how this side of sports is continuing to grow.

Introduction

0:00-0:28       Podcast Intro

0:29-0:53       Justin Intro

College Experience

0:54-2:08       Finding interest in sports as a kid and turning it into a major

2:09-3:41        Breaking into the sports world and creating a path to a career

Working for Topps

3:42-5:18       Explaining digital trading cards backed by blockchain technology

5:19-6:28       Understanding the rise of digital collectibles 

6:29-7:08      Advantages of digital collectibles vs traditional cards

7:09-8:34     Growing up as a card collector and then working for Topps

Sign off

8:35-9:58       Advice for students who want to break into the sports world

9:59-10:23     Sign-off

Season 3, Episode 10 of the Locker Room Podcast is a special edition episode that was recorded at the 2023 Maryland Sports Business Conference with Shawne Merriman. Shawne formerly football at UMD and had an 8-year NFL career where he was a 3-time pro bowler and was the league's sack leader in 2006. He is now the CEO of Lights Out Xtreme Fighting, an MMA organization, which he started in 2019. Shawne dives into his career on and off the field and shares some of his greatest stories and advice for others.

0:00-0:28 Intro

0:29-1:32 Why Maryland?

1:33-2:21 How Shawne got the nickname “Lights Out”

2:22-3:21 The NFL Draft Process

3:22-5:01 Handling stardom at a young age

5:02-6:31 Starting a second career after the NFL

6:32-7:52 What is the Lights Out brand?

7:53-9:25 Shawne’s passion of giving back - the coat drive

9:26-10:23 Shawne’s advice to others

10:24-12:43 Maryland Minute

12:44-12:59 Outtro

Season 3, Episode 9 of the Locker Room Podcast features Drew Meyer, senior coordinator of community relation for the Baltimore Ravens. In this episode, Drew highlights his rise in the sports world and his experience working within the Baltimore community. Tune in to hear how Drew got to where he is today and the advice he has to offer younger listeners!

Introduction

0:00-0:28       Podcast intro

0:29-0:55       Drew Intro

College Experience

0:56-2:05       Early internship experience in college

2:06-3:02       How to position yourself for internships

3:03-4:43       Learning skills through multiple different roles and choosing community relations

4:44-6:00      Challenges and benefits of interning in different sectors

6:01-9:40       Advice for navigating the sports industry as a student

Roc Nation

9:41-10:44    Reason for joining Roc Nation

10:45-12:10   Working for an entertainment company vs. a sports company

12:11-15:33    Working with famous celebrities

Ravens

15:34-17:18   Transitioning to the Ravens

17:19-19:52   Community relations day-to-day

19:53-22:41   Sticking out during Ravens internship

22:42-24:29   Favorite events to host

24:30-26:54   Player involvement in community

26:55-30:29   Dealing with ambiguity of NFL rosters

30:30-36:46 Seeing player’s power in the community

36:47-39:48   Favorite memories

Closing

39:49-40:25   Sign-off

Season 3, Episode 8 of the Locker Room Podcast features Dante Trader Jr., UMD two-sport athlete. Dante talks about his experience playing both football and lacrosse for UMD over the years and goes into life as a D1 athlete. He also discusses his experience with NIL and the impact that it has had his career. Tune in to hear how Dante has grown himself as a student-athlete and as a person throughout his time at Maryland!

0:00 – 1:01 – Introduction

1:03 – 2:11 – What made Dante pursue being D1 

2:35 – 4:44 – Transferring to McDonough and the changes that came with it

4:57 – 6:55 – Talking about transferring and the mindset to work harder

7:29 – 8:42 – What made Dante choose Maryland for D1 athletics

8:47 – 10:15 – What was the biggest change going from high school to college and especially in terms of athletics 

11:00 – 12:25 – Day in the life as a D1 football player at UMD in the offseason vs during the season

12:52 – 14:36 – What is something behind the scenes that is vital to the success that’s seen on the field

15:30 – 17:51 – The biggest lessons he’s learned being a D1 athlete (Having Fun)

18:26 – 20:50 – Does having a big name add any pressure

21:10 – 23:51 – What separates Maryland’s football program from other programs

24:30 – 27:06 – What winning the bowl game felt for Dante and the team

27:52 – 28:56 – How is NIL affecting Dante and building his own brand

29:32 – 30:58 – The best ways to market himself and how to connect

31:24 – 32:38 – Advice to other athletes to stand out as a recruit 

33:20 – 35:10 – What’s the transition between the football season to the lacrosse season

35:33 – 37:00 – Is there a big difference in being in shape for football to being in shape for lacrosse

37:20 – 38:56 – What’s the mindset going into the 2023 lacrosse season

39:20 – 41:16 – What made Dante choose to play both football and lacrosse, being a 2-sport athlete

42:00 – 43:55 – What’s the pros and cons of being a 2-sport athlete and how to get back into playing lacrosse

43:56 – END – Ending Remarks and Maryland Minute

Season 3, Episode 7 of the Locker Room Podcast features Jyoti Krishna, who works for OneTeam, a company that specializes in licensing for both professional and college athletes. Jyoti talks about her path from UMD to Morgan Stanley to the sports world, connecting many facets of the corporate world as she tells us about her journey to where she is today. She also talks about what it is like growing up with a company from day 1. Tune in to hear how Jyoti built her career in the sports world and the advice she offers listeners!

Introduction

0:00-0:28      Podcast Intro

0:29-1:00       Jyoti Intro

College Experience

1:01-1:52       Interest in the sports world as a career

1:53-2:34       Getting a job at Morgan Stanley

2:35-3:20      Transferable skills from Morgan Stanley to the sports world

3:21-4:42       Going back to get an MBA from UMD

Early Career

4:43-5:38       Transition from college into the corporate world

5:39-7:34       Transitioning careers after getting an MBA and breaking into the sports world

One Team

7:35-8:41       Transitioning from Morgan Stanley and the NFLPA into a new company

8:42-9:50      Adjusting to new roles inside a growing company

9:51-10:57     Working with various professional players associations

10:58-11:49   Working with the changing landscape of college NIL vs professional sports

11:50-12:20   Preference for professional sports vs college sports

12:21-13:02   Strategy and opportunities presented by college NIL

13:03-14:08   Marketing a player and understanding the school they come from

Maryland Minute

14:09-14:49  Favorite place to eat on campus

14:50-15:21  Favorite spot on campus

15:22-16:47  Favorite memories

16:48-17:45  Favorite class

17:46-19:24  Advice for Incoming students

Sign off

19:25-20:06  Closing

Season 3, Episode 6 of The Locker Room Podcast features Mike Slonina, CEO, President, and Founder of A Shot For Life (ASFL). ASFL is a sports-based nonprofit organization that fundraises for cancer and other health research initiatives. Mike and his team raise hundreds of thousands of dollars each year through various competitions and events across New England. Mike shares his amazing origin story, breaking a World Record by shooting a basketball for 24 hours straight, and dives into how he and ASFL have grown over time.

0:00-1:14 Intro

1:15-5:02 Mike’s childhood obsession with sports/basketball

5:03-7:50 The tragic end to Mike’s basketball career

7:51-11:55 Keeping his hopes alive with basketball in high school

11:56-27:33 Mike’s Mom - The beginning of ASFL/Breaking the World Record

27:34-37:18 The growth of ASFL 

37:19-40:09 A day in the life

40:10-46:53 The impact of ASFL on Mike/Key moments in his career

46:54-49:36 The realities of Mike’s career

49:37-51:34 What drives Mike

51:35-54:28 Looking back and forward - the future of ASFL

54:29- 56:26 Mike’s life advice

56:27-57:28 Maryland Minute

57:29-58:04 Outtro

Season 3, Episode 5 of the Locker Room Podcast features Rob Stecklow, SVP Program Marketing, Sports & News at Paramount+. Rob has a ton of experience within the sports and entertainment industry and discusses his various roles and career path. He then goes on to talk about his experience at Paramount+ and talks about his opinion on the landscape of streaming sports and TV shows. Tune in to hear about Rob's journey in the industry and how his experiences have helped shape his career!

0:00 - 0:25 Intro

0:27 - 2:32  How Rob got into the sports industry and what he did prior

2:35 - 4:57 How Rob was able to find a job in the Sports Industry after deciding to transition               into the industry

5:09 - 8:31  Rob Stecklow’s time working in the NFL

8:44 - 9:19 Talking about how the NFL now is a 365-day cycle instead of a traditional offseason to during the season

9:20 - 12:29  Rob's time working with Verizon as the Head of Sponsorships

12:32 - 16:34 Rob's experience working with DAZN and the competitive nature of the streaming industry, especially in Sports Streaming

16:42 - 17:57 The “Start-Up Mentality” with comparing working with Verizon and DAZN

18:00 - 21:30 Talking about Rob Stecklow’s current role as Senior VP of program marketing with Paramount+  

21:31 - 24:14 Talking about Paramount+’s announcement about being the home streamer Super Bowl 58 and what it means for Paramount+’s engagement with customers

24:25 - 26:05 Talking about the future of streaming and especially with sports streaming becoming more popular

26:08 - 30:42  Rob Stecklow’s favorite memory of his career so far and Outro

Season 3, Episode 4 of the Locker Room Podcast features Myles Levin, Sr. Director Merchandise experience for the Washington Commanders. Myles has had a long career both within and outside of the sports world, and details his experiences throughout his different ventures. He then goes on to talk about his experience doing creative work for clients and how he optimizes partnerships in his role with the Commanders. Tune in to hear about Myles' journey in the industry and how his experiences have helped shape his career.

0:00 – 0:38 – Introduction

0:50 – 4:38 – Myles Levin Career Recap

5:05 – 7:24 – Advice from Myles Levin about having a “hungry” attitude

8:02 – 8:45 – Understanding where you want to be from and how to connect with Levin

9:20 – 11:30 – Talking about working Levin’s connections through his tenured career

13:05 – 15:18 – Differences in marketing within the sports industry compared to outside the sports industry

16:00 – 18:55 – Explaining the process of having an idea for a product and going through to the product making it to store shelves

18:56 – 21:12 – How to stay original when making new products and how to keep a future perspective

22:04 – 25:28 – Rundown on Stella and how it came to be

26:44 – 28:44  – Having the creative freedom to work for clients that are more freelance than traditional corporations and companies

30:40 – 32:58 – How Myles Levin started working with the Commanders 

34:35 – 36:38 – Talking about the vision of the Commanders wanted in regard to branding and marketing

36:54 – 40:52 – The challenges with attracting new and old fans to the rebranded team of the Commanders

41:42 – 45:07 – Talking about the partnership with local DC brands and the impact of local collaboration

46:05 – 49:03 – How to create a story with branding and how to connect to fans on a personal level 51:00 – 52:58 – Talking about brand loyalty and how it connects customers to brands

55:10 – 56:02 – Talking about the similarities in the competitiveness in sports and business

56:50 – END – Maryland Minute and Ending Remarks

Season 3, Episode 3 of the Locker Room Podcast features Matt Monroe, Associate AD for the annual giving and ticket operations with the Terrapin Club at the University of Maryland. Matt has been in the world of sports business for nearly 25 years, primarily working with ticket sales for the University of Pittsburgh, Marshall University, and now the University of Maryland for almost 15 years. Matt gives his backstory and shares his wonderful journey to where he is today. He detailedly pulls back the curtain, highlighting what it is truly like day-to-day in sports business.

0:00-0:28 Podcast intro

0:29-1:00 Matt Monroe intro

1:01-2:19 Why sports business?

2:20-5:42 The college sports business experience

5:43-7:21 Why college sports?

7:22-9:20 Matt’s “olden” days of ticketing at Pitt

9:21-12:15 Moving up in the ranks at Marshall

12:16-14:20 Finding your place at UMD

14:21-18:35 Matt’s growth alongside UMD

18:36-21:22 Gameday at UMD

21:23-22:34 No offseason in college athletics

22:35-24:46 Uncovering the realities in sports business

24:47-26:26 Sports management at UMD

26:27-28:02 What it takes to be successful in sports business

28:03-29:02 Maryland Minute

29:03-29:33 Outtro

Season 3, Episode 2 of The Locker Room Podcast features Coach Reggie Barlow, an NFL alum and current head coach and general manager of the XFL's D.C. Defenders. Coach Barlow played in the league from 1996-2003 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a part of the Super Bowl XXXVII championship team in Tampa. Following his time playing, Barlow jumped into coaching. He coached Alabama State, his alma mater, from 2005-2014, and coached Virginia State from 2016-2021 before taking the Defenders' head coaching job in preparation of the return of the XFL. Coach Barlow walked us through his playing and coaching career and provided us with a preview of the Defenders' preparation for the season and the XFL's return from COVID. Thanks for tuning in!

Timestamps

Introduction: Beginning-0:56

Coach Barlow's College Career: 0:57-2:38

Coach Barlow's Coaching Career: 2:39-7:29

Coach Barlow's NFL Career: 7:30-10:14

Coach Barlow's Current Role in the XFL: 10:15-15:22

Maryland Minute: 15:23-16:50

Closing: 16:51-17:20

Season 3, Episode 1 of The Locker Room Podcast features Tom Nagle who has worked with many notable sports organizations including the Washington Redskins, Washington Capitals, Monumental and Ripken Baseball. He has held roles such as director of ticket operations, director of digital strategy and director of CRM and analytics throughout his time in the sports world. Nagle walks us through how he charted his path, using sports as a way to find his strengths and passions that have led him to a successful career, even outside of the sports world. As an alumni, he also touches on some of his favorite memories from College Park, including watching the Terps win the March Madness tournament. 

Introduction

0:00-0:28      Podcast Intro

0:29-1:06       Nagle Introduction

Time In College

1:07-2:38       Finding a career path through childhood interests

2:39-3:29      Sports Business learning at UMD

3:30-4:39      Entering the Redskins organization through an internships

4:40-6:33      Importance of internships and getting real world experience

Redskins

6:34-7:53      Working for a team you grew up watching as a kid

7:54-11:37     Keys to getting promoted and finding your niche inside an organization

11:38-13:37   Transitioning to the Capitals and then back to the Redskins to specialize in CRM

13:38-15:04   Memories of working with the Redskins: Joe Gibbs’ Return

15:05-16:41   Memories of working with the Redskins: Flying with the team

Ripken

16:42-18:48   Adjusting from the NFL to a smaller company like Ripken Baseball

Monumental

18:49-20:32   Re-entering professional sports in D.C.

20:33-21:23   Working for the hometown team growing up as a basketball fan

Post-sports Realm

21:24-23:04  Lessons from the sports world that have helped in the greater world of business

Wrapping up

23:05-29:16   Maryland Minute

29:17-29:43   Sign off

Season 2, Episode 13 of The Locker Room Podcast features Brian Pressman who has worked with many notable sports organization including the NFL, WWE, and PFL. He has held multiple high level roles in each of these organizations and is currently the Vice President of Global Sales and Partnerships for the PFL, one of the fastest growing sports leagues in the world. Pressman walks us through his career path in this interview giving helpful advice for anyone who is wanting to work in the sports world one day. He also talks about some of his favorite moments in his career and tells us a little bit about his time here in College Park. 

Introduction

0:00-0:28    Podcast Intro

0:29-1:12       Pressman Introduction

Time In College

1:12-1:56       Charting your path in college and finding what you want to do

1:57-3:04     Making connections for eventual career

3:05-3:52    Expanding your horizons past your major

3:53-5:12     Importance of internships, mentors, and being professional

5:13-6:01      Advice for college self and current students

Early Career

6:02-7:35      Finding your fit after college

7:36-8:49     Difficulty of changing companies and second guessing decisions

8:50-9:24     Making the most out of opportunities and growing your network through early jobs

9:25-10:43    Learning from early jobs that helped later in career

NFL

10:44-12:54  Getting promoted in large, successful, and competitive companies

12:55-13:25   Benefits of working with the NFL

13:26-15:33  Day to day tasks working with the NFL

15:34-17:04  There is no offseason

17:05-19:10   Best Gameday Moments

WWE

19:11-22:45      Business similarities between WWE and NFL and working with the WWE fans

22:46-24:05   Reason for moving from NFL to WWE

PFL

24:06-27:41   Going from huge, established sports organizations to one that is still growing

27:42-29:35   Difference in doing business with WWE and PFL both being combat sports

29:36-31:20   Challenging yourself to innovate with a quickly growing league

31:21-33:41     Preparing for the world championship event

Wrapping up

33:42-35:46    Favorite sponsorship landed throughout career

35:47-41:11       Maryland Minute

41:12-41:44      Sign off

Season 2, Episode 12 of The Locker Room Podcast features Michael Crotty, former Williams College basketball star, professional basketball player, Director of Player Development for the Boston Celtics, and now Director of the Middlesex Magic AAU basketball program. Crotty talks about his college basketball journey, gives insight into his career path through the Celtics, and his life as the director of the Middlesex Magic program. He shares many great stories and takeaways that he has gained inside and outside of basketball. 

0:00-1:17 Intro

1:18-4:13 College basketball decision-making process

4:14-13:43 What does losing mean/The Williams basketball experience

13:44-16:19 Takeaways from college

16:20-20:03 Crotty’s rise within the Celtics organization

20:04-24:02 The Celtics and a recipe for success

24:03-25:44 Working under Doc Rivers

25:45-28:43 Moving on from the Celtics

28:44-31:28 The culture behind Middlesex Magic

31:29-37:40 The growth of Middlesex Magic

37:41-41:00 Pat Connaughton/The Magic legacy

41:01-43:23 Duncan Robinson’s origins and growth

43:24-44:23 The future for Middlesex Magic

44:24-46:23 What drives Crotty as a leader/director

46:24-47:40 Speed round/Fun questions

47:41-48:09 Outtro

Season 2 Episode 11 of the Locker Room Podcast features Jessica Stark, Director of Marketing at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena. In this episode, she talks about her career path into marketing, the importance of networking, working in the DMV sports industry, and more!

Intro: 0:00-1:10

Background- New England, college, etc.: 1:11-4:10

Post-college jobs and shift into sales and marketing: 4:11-8:30

Working in New England v. Baltimore: 8:31-10:10

What is OVG: 10:11-12:03

Working in Baltimore on a college campus: 12:04-13:30

Kind of events they do: 13:31-14:47

Biggest challenge in bringing in fans during today’s times : 14:48-15:50

Shifting marketing strategies since pandemic: 15:51-16:54

Relationship between marketing and sales: 16:55- 18:06

Network is your Net Worth-Value in relationships in sports industry: 18:07-20:34

Misconceptions in Marketing and sales: 20:35-22:59

Biggest challenge and reward in working in marketing: 23:00-24:59

Fun questions: 25:00-26:59

Outro: 27:00-27:19

Season 2 Episode 10 of the Locker Room Podcast features UMD alum Peter Raskin, Founder of Rubicon Talent. In this episode, he talks about his experience founding his agency and what he has learned about sports business. Peter also details his experience working with clients across professional sports and the lessons that he has taken away from these opportunities.

Season 2 Episode 9 of The Locker Room Podcast features UMD alum Lauren Foundos, Founder and CEO of Fortë. In this episode she talks about the journey of starting a new company and how she used her experience as a UMD field hockey player to fuel her. Lauren also details her growth as a female founder and how she was able to get to this point in her career.

In episode eight, we feature Christopher Korte while he talks us through his many different jobs worldwide in the sports industry. Chris gives insightful answers about what it means to network and advance to the next dream job and describes his time at Maryland.

Timestamps

0:00-2:57 Preparation from UMD

2:57-6:06 Comfortability networking 

6:06-9:17 Getting used to the sports industry 

9:17-15:25 Living in Germany

15:25-20:05 European sports industry 

20:05-25:30 Voyce Now with Zack Steffen 

25:30-31:12 How to adjust to different jobs

In season 2, episode 7 of the Locker Room Podcast, Anthony Reed joins the show. Anthony is a manager specializing in-suite sales and premium hospitality for the Aspire Group at the University of Maryland.  We sit down and discuss his journey in sports, the challenges, rewards, misconceptions of sales, and so much more!

Intro: 0:00-0:52

Interest in sports and sales, involvement during college: 0:53-6:32

Working different jobs around the country: 6:33-11:44

Pitching to potential clients and the importance of culture: 11:45-14:10

Significance of relationship building: 14:11-17:00

The misconception of Sales: 17:01-19:05

Creating a unique game-day experience during today’s times: 19:06-24:09

Relationship with UMD: 24:10-26:14

Ten years from now: 26:15-27:46

Dream client: 27:47-28:56

Advice for aspiring sports professionals: 28:57-30:35

Maryland Minute: 30:36-33:24

Conclusion: 33:25-33:49

Season 2 Episode 6 of The Locker Room Podcast features Mitchell Seninsky, a current Risk Analyst at Dapper Labs. Mitchell talks about his time at UMD working for the baseball team and his time at the MLB preventing sign stealing. He also describes his experience at Dapper Labs growing the blockchain and NFT industry through services like NBA Top Shot!

Intro 0:00-0:30

Experience/Major at UMD 0:31-1:31

Interest in working in sports 1:32-3:21

Working for the UMD baseball team from 2013 to 2015, when they won Regionals 3:22-7:35

Experience as a part-time video monitor for the MLB at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field 7:36-11:38

Working as a Fraud and Risk Supervisor for Fanduel 11:39-15:17

Getting started with Dapper Labs and what they do 15:18-19:25

Current role as a Risk Analyst at Dapper Labs 19:26-22:12

Outlook on blockchain and NFT’s 22:13-26:44

The biggest takeaway has been from his role so far, 26:45-28:20

Maryland Minute 28:21-32:21

Conclusion 32:21-32:46

Season 2 Episode 5 of The Locker Room Podcast features LaRhonda Burley, the Vice President of Business Operations for the Motor City Cruise. LaRhonda talks about her time at UMD and her journey working with Kirk Cousins and Monumental Sports. She also describes her experience growing the Cruise before the inaugural season! 

Timestamps:

0:27-3:17 Introduction and UMD Experience

3:18-6:30 Working with Kirk Cousins and an individual rather than a brand

6:31-9:52 Time at the National Fitness Foundation, created under President Barack Obama

9:53-15:17 Starting her career in the early days of Monumental Sports

15:18-26:47 Involvement in the creation of the Motor City Cruise

26:48-30:47 Current role with the Motor City Cruise

30:48-32:10 Favorite memory with the Cruise

31:11-34:25 Biggest takeaways from her role so far

34:26-37:56 Maryland Minute and Conclusion

Season 2 Episode 4 features Ilana Avergun, the senior manager of events and brand experiences with the New York Yankees. Ilana talks to us about her experiences with the Yankees and her work in Washington. She was also fortunate enough to work in Maryland's bowl game at Yankee stadium. In addition, Ilana is a UMD grad, and we talk about some of her favorite things during her time at Maryland. 

Timestamps:

0:00 - 1:43 - Intro and background

1:43 - 2:40 - The difference between Washington and New York

2:40 - 4:58 - Working in college/how to get your name remembered

4:58 - 9:40 - The Pinstripe Bowl

9:40 - 10:59 - Other events at Yankee stadium

10:59 - 14:12 - MLB lockout

14:12 - 15:45 - Tech vs. sports industry

15:45 - 18:34-  Career in college

18:34 - 22:12 - Maryland Minute

In today’s episode Marc Ratner, vice president of regulatory affairs in the UFC talked to us about what it is like to work in the sports industry. More specifically, Marc goes into detail about his wild experiences and what he did as a trailblazer for combat sports. Marc is a member of both the UFC hall of fame and the boxing hall of fame. Before his time with Dana White and the championship, Marc spent 20+ years in the Nevada State Athletic Commission and was director for 13 years.

Timestamps:

0:00 - 1:07 - Intro

1:07 - 2:25 - Marketing to the younger generation

2:25 - 6:37 - Violence in the UFC

6:37 - 7:04 - Scouting in the UFC

7:04 - 8:56 - Talking about MMA in New York

8:56 - 10:14 - The pandemic and UFC

10:14 - 13:25 - Crazy times in NAC

13:25 - 16:24 - College advice

16:24 - 17:31 - Impact of officiating 

17:47 - 18:48 - Sports outside of UFC

18:48 - 20:27 - What to do after college

20:27 - 22:52 - International UFC

22:52- 24:24 - What is next in the UFC

Season 2 Episode 2 of The Locker Room Podcast features Herb May, the head of partnerships at eFuse! In this episode, Herb talks through his time working in sales and gives helpful advice for those looking to enter the sports world through that avenue.

00:47 - 5:17 - Time with the Ravens

5:18 - 6:56 - Learning persistence from emailing Eric DeCosta

6:57 - 8:07 - Life is in the follow up

8:08 - 16:22 - Selling Super Bowl tickets

16:23 - 18:57 - How selling has changed

18:58 - 22:02 - Selling personality vs. selling skill

22:03 - 24:37 - What is eFuse

24:38 - 28:09- The goal of eFuse

28:10 - 30:12 - The pipeline project

30:13 - 33:07 - Differences between selling tickets and sponsorships

33:08 - 36:52 - Educating businesses on gaming

36:53 - 40:44 - How to create genuine relationships in sales

40:45 - 44:22 - Advice for people getting into selling

Season 2 Episode 1 of The Locker Room Podcast kicks off with Co-Founder of Brand U Sports Richie Frieman. In this episode, Richie discusses how to create your own brand, what changes are needed in the NIL space, and even his history as a professional wrestler! 

1:02 - 10:02 Background

10:03 - 14:04 Creating your own brand

14:05 - 17:47 Benefits of NIL for athletes, NCAA, and schools

17:48 - 20:41 How athletes deal with money

20:42 - 23:57 How Brand U sports help athletes

23:58 - 30:03 Matching companies with athletes

30:04 - 32:57 Guidelines needed in the NIL space

32:58 - 35:22 How state laws/different markets affect NIL and recruiting

35:23 - 37:17 Is NIL quantity over quality?

37:18 - 43:07 Using school logos

The last episode of Season 1 for The Locker Room Podcast features Washington Nationals’ Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Finance, Ted Towne, who discusses his unique role, advice for students and young professionals, and the 2019 World Series run.

In this episode of The Locker Room Podcast, Harrison Keim is joined by UMD alumni and NFL Director of Security Services and Investigation, Billy Langenstein. During this episode, they discuss Billy’s journey to where he is today, his experience at UMD, as well as useful advice to a student trying to break into sports. Billy also talked about his current role working for the NFL and what his experience has been like.

Episode 33 of The Locker Room Podcast features Benjamin Eidelberg, Manager of Basketball Strategy and Analytics for the Washington Wizards. Benjamin is also an Adjunct Lecturer at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism. In this episode, Benjamin talks about how analytics has changed basketball, how you can stand out in your sports internship, and some of his memories as a student at the University of Maryland.

Episode 32 of The Locker Room Podcast features Ed O’Brien, who is the SVP of Business Development & Strategy for Fanatics. Ed talks about his role, Fanatics’ V-commerce business model, some of his experiences at the University of Maryland, and much more.