Allow me to introduce myself!

Meet Ethan Reilly (me).

My sports career journey starts at Clemson University in the fall of 2018, as I stepped onto campus with aspirations of becoming an Orthopedic Surgeon, ultimately becoming a team doctor for an NBA team. Ha. I switched my major to economics with a double minor in psychology and athletic leadership by the time sophomore year started.

While my major choice was questionable at best, one decision I did nail freshman year was joining Central Spirit - Clemson’s premier student-led sports organization. Joining the organization and quickly stepping into a leadership position opened doors for me to not only meet athletic department staff and coaches but showcase to them the value I could provide.

My involvement with Central Spirit snowballed into a marketing internship with the athletic department which then led me to the highlight of my collegiate career, my role with the Men’s Soccer team.

My role with the soccer team was not one that had previously existed - which gave me the flexibility to grow my responsibilities throughout my time at the team. It took significant leg work to secure the opportunity, but the experience I gained with the team has propelled the start of my career.

My initial responsibilities were a continuation of the work I had started with Central Spirit and the marketing team but eventually grow to include operational and player personnel responsibilities. After my final season with the team ended in a National Championship, I was certain I had found my dream career - player personnel and soccer operations.

I networked hard that final year, arranging opportunities to chat with staff members from the majority of MLS clubs (shoutout LinkedIn), and was advised to apply for the role of academy administrator after graduating. It was the entry role for many of the leagues executives who didn’t have high-level playing experience and would provide insight into both the business and soccer side of the team - Sold.

I applied for the 6 or 7 open academy administrator positions after graduating in 2022, interviewed for a handful of openings, but to my surprise, didn’t receive an offer.

A common pain point emphasized in the feedback I received was my lack of professional- level experience. The candidates who were getting hired had already worked within an MLS organization, or at least another professional team - something I had not done (my one and only regret about my college experience).

I was pointed towards Octagon, an agency where one of the hiring executives had started his career, as a way to continue to build my resume and experience until the position opened again.

Contrary to popular belief, most sports agencies offer more than just talent representation, they also offer consulting services to brands who are investing within the world of sports. Agencies serve as experts for the brands, supporting their sponsorships from strategy through execution. Experiential marketing, digital strategy, client services, sponsorship measurement, events - the list is long.

There are opportunities for employees to work in any of the above areas, and more, across any sport of your choosing. The flexibility and diversity of opportunities make agencies the perfect place to launch or grow your career, especially if you are interested in a variety of sports and specialties.

I started as a trainee at Octagon in August of 2022, flying northeast from Charlotte to stay in a hotel for four weeks while supporting a key clients marquee golf sponsorship. What I thought was a steppingstone quickly became an alternate path that I hadn’t yet considered.

The people were incredible, the work was energizing, and there was a promise of flexibility and balance that I had previously thought unattainable within the sports world. After my trainee position concluded, instead of reapplying for opportunities within soccer, I applied for a full-time role with Octagon. The rest, as they say, is history.

Over the past three years at Octagon, I have worked across four verticals (experiences, hospitality, events, and client services), supported more than a dozen clients, and gained experience across hockey, soccer, and golf.

The variety has helped me narrow in on my passions, discover my strengths, and ultimately develop an expertise in a corner of the sports business I previously didn’t know existed. I couldn’t be more excited about what’s to come.

Q. If your background was originally in soccer operations, how were you able to land your first position at Octagon?

A. In my role at Clemson, I wore many hats - we liked to call it a “do anything” job. This meant that I had gained basic levels of experience in a wide range of responsibilities - marketing, fan experiences, events, hosting and hospitality, team operations, soccer operations, and administrative work. When I applied for jobs after school I would read the job descriptions, understand what they were looking for, and then highlight my experiences that best aligned with each specific role.

A. Communication and Attention to Detail. Agency work involves operating in the middle of a number of different stakeholders - clients, partners, properties, vendors. Effective written and verbal communication is essential to delivering a polished final product. Similarly, working closely with these different parties means that your work is highly visible. Nailing the details will elevate your work and build trust with your teams internally and externally.

A. “You have to work hard before you work smart.” This was a lesson that I struggled to wrap my mind around at first. I wanted to jump right in and make an impact. What I’ve learned is that the best way to make an impact at the entry level is to just show up and work hard. Trust your managers, learn from them, and identify the best ways to support them. Crush the tasks you are responsible for, even if they seem rudimentary at first. Be proactive in your support and ask as many questions as possible - learn the why. That’s how you build trust, and trust is what will grant you additional opportunities.

A. For brand consulting - and for every role within the sports industry - the more experience you can build while in college, the easier it will be to land your first position. Seek out opportunities through the athletic department at your school and with the professional teams in the nearest city. Opportunities in marketing, events, operations, and partnerships will all be highly relevant. Do your research on the agency landscape - there are dozens. Connect and reach out to employees so you are in the loop on opportunities they might have for you while you are still in school. If you have already graduated and are struggling to break in, taking a position in non-sport hospitality or events is a great way to begin developing transferrable skills. Network & Experience!

Experience and Network > Degree:
I majored in economics but gained valuable experience in the world of sports. That is what landed me my position after graduation.

Nail the Details
With your resume and eventually your work - focus on the details. They are what makes you stand out.

Cast a Wide Net
Even if you think you know exactly what you want to do within the world of sports, keep yourself open to a variety of opportunities. The space is vast, and you never know where your best opportunity will come from.

A heartfelt thank you for reading through this very first edition of So You Want to Work in Sports… It means the world to me.

If you have any feedback, a guest recommendation, would like to be featured yourself, or have any questions, please email me at [email protected].

My go to apparel for on the course and at work - Turtleson

-Get yours here.

My favorite podcasts:

-Modern Wisdom

-The 505 Podcast

-Sports Management Podcast