From Being an Intern to Catching Ninjavitis, How Some of the Best Got Their Start

By: Adam White, @FOSAdam

Ever wonder what your first job in sports may be? Do you want to be an agent? Or maybe a marketing executive? Regardless of what you want to do, there have been countless others before you with similar aspirations. Some of them went according to plan, some of them didn’t, but in sports your first job doesn’t define your career, it just begins it. So whether or not you have aspirations of becoming the next Leigh Steinberg or head of marketing for adidas, check out where some of the best and brightest in the industry today got their start.

Some Started as Interns…

So many unpaid internships before #NOLA as Inside Sales for Hornets making a big time $17,500. Wouldn't trade it. #MyFirstSportsJob

— Charles L. Reynolds (@33Chipper) April 29, 2016

An early #tbt to share #MyFirstSportsJob as a #sportsPR intern w/the @theARFoundation in 'o5 while a @UMSoC student! pic.twitter.com/Y4L5QT9XvX

— Natalie P. Mikolich (@npmikolich) April 27, 2016

@frntofficesport #MyFirstSportsJob I was an intern with the @SpiritHockey. This is where I learned about ticket operations and sales.

— Temeka D. Samuels (@Ferrhocious1922) April 27, 2016

@frntofficesport #MyFirstSportsJob was an internship with the @erie_seawolves, amazing experience especially for a French!

— Hugo Boutin (@HugoBoutinFr) April 27, 2016

@frntofficesport #MyFirstSportsJob was game ops intern for ABL SJ Lasers. Learned a ton! Devastated when ABL folded.

— ilisa Kessler 🌈 ⚽️ (@ikessler) April 27, 2016

https://twitter.com/morrisewhite3/status/725159369596264448

#MyFirstSportsJob was working Super Bowl Committee Internship from 2009 to 2010! Still an experience I lean on pic.twitter.com/3WKEF2zIjL

— Sports (@MiamiXSports) April 26, 2016

#MyFirstSportsJob was as a Media Relations intern for @loucityfc with @StevenPeakeJr in their inaugural season in the @USL. Great experience

— Joey Gardner III (@jegardner3) April 26, 2016

@frntofficesport Internship with the @Cavs – great experience. #MyFirstSportsJob

— Bob McKamey (@BobMcKamey) April 26, 2016

https://twitter.com/mdmccaine/status/724720444658458625
https://twitter.com/RailBirdRodney/status/724647239432335360

Some were Student Assistants…

#MyFirstSportsJob -student worker at @StJohnsU w/ @MexCarey. The rest is history! Like osmosis, one thing led to another:) @frntofficesport

— Chevonne Mansfield (@cmansfield27) April 27, 2016

Misunderstood this. Student worker in the Redbird Ticket office at Illinois State University. #MyFirstSportsJob https://t.co/zWC0TNuco9

— Big Slim (@otstarks) April 27, 2016

#MyFirstSportsJob
Unofficial: Jack of All Trades w/ Dad as he ran local bsb league
Official: GA for UCM Athletics (& I'm still here!)

— Jeff Mason (@JeffWMason) April 26, 2016

I became a student worker doing play-by-play for @WUEagles Men's and Women's Soccer #MyFirstSportsJob

— Johannes Schneider (@jocoolwu) April 26, 2016

@frntofficesport working as a ballboy for the programs at my soon-to-be alma mater, Tulane. Became BKB manager, Asst SID. #myfirstsportsjob

— OGhoopsprguy (@exhoopsPRguy) April 26, 2016

https://twitter.com/mattwellsey/status/724782789560700930

A student worker in the LSU Ticket Office. Ventured out after graduation and now I'm back again #MyFirstSportsJob https://t.co/odCEleXDAD

— Garrett J Thibodeaux (@gthib) April 25, 2016

I worked as a student intern in the Athletic Marketing and Promotions Department at the University of Alabama. #MyFirstSportsJob

— Morgan Plott (@MoPlott28) April 25, 2016

#MyFirstSportsJob Student Assistant – @GoDucks Sports Info, running stats to media during timeouts and coaches at halftime. Back in 2008!

— Bryan Beals (@beals_bryan) April 25, 2016

.@frntofficesport: Sports Info Student Assistant at @GoThunderWolves. Thankful to have spent college on press row. #MyFirstSportsJob

— Lynnea Phillips (@LynneaPhillips) April 25, 2016

Some Took On Sales…

#MyFirstSportsJob was an Inside Sales Rep for the Memphis Redbirds. Eager to earn another job once I graduate in August with my Master's!

— Patric Howie (@Patric_Howie) April 27, 2016

#MyFirstSportsJob was doing a little of everything -Marketing, PR, Sponsor Sales, Development- at @BryantAthletics https://t.co/wW85Xox1zz

— Mark A. Hodgkin (@Mark_Hodgkin) April 25, 2016

Undergrad: @RiverKings game ops & @StLouisBlues sales internships. Postgrad: @indianaice media/hockey ops intern. #MyFirstSportsJob

— David Schmoll (@dschmolly) April 25, 2016

https://twitter.com/ticketchick/status/724624570095796224

Ticket sales/promotions/ /mascot/emergency back-up PxP voice at the @NAHLHockey’s Texas Tornado.#MyFirstSportsJob pic.twitter.com/KiBPQmKFQn

— Jesse Ghiorzi (@jesseghiorzi) April 25, 2016

Undergrad: Tix Sales Intern w/@Pirates; Post-Grad: Marketing + Promotions Intern w/@ERAUAthletics #MyFirstSportsJob #SportsBiz

— Nicole Cost (@NicoleICost) April 25, 2016

.@frntofficesport #MyFirstSportsJob was Sales Assistant for @wmwhitecaps. Learned a lot about generating revenue and business of MiLB.

— Jason Brower (@JaBrow) April 25, 2016

#MyFirstSportsJob was an Account Exec selling/servicing sponsors for PGA golf events for Synergy Sports Marketing ⛳️

— Windy Dees (@getDeestweets) April 25, 2016

Some Worked for Food…

#MyFirstSportsJob – in ECHL Louisiana I made 17K a year and could bring home the leftover pizza post-game. I think I ate 17K in pizza too.

— Ryan Stanzel Checkmark (@rstanzel) April 25, 2016

#MyFirstSportsJob was sitting next to my dad on the bench & keeping his scorebook while he coached. I was eight, & he paid me in nachos.

— Josh McDaniel 📷 (@TheRealJoshMAC) April 25, 2016

And Some Even Got Ninjavitis…

#MyFirstSportsJob: @BowieBaysox Marketing Asst. dressed as a ninja & got beaten by a man dressed as a toothbrush during a game #ninjavitis

— Ryan Sakamoto (@SyanRakamoto) April 25, 2016

If you would like to join in on the conversation, use the #MyFirstSportsJob and tag us on Twitter!

You can find the rest of the responses to #MyFirstSportsJob here!