Being able to host something, especially at a place like UConn, to create connections and opportunities for sustained relationships is something that’s really special. — Danielle DeRosa, Neag School assistant professor-in-residence and SBA advisor<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very rewarding to see it all come together,\u201d she says. \u00a0\u201cA lot of those skills that you would probably want to have for a job in the future, you definitely pick up or further develop by organizing the conference.\u201d<\/p>\n Jeff Price, the founding chief executive officer of the Heisman Trophy Trust, kicked off the event as the first keynote speaker. The trust awards the Heisman Trophy annually to the top player in college football and supports youth development programs in underserved communities.<\/p>\n Price received his master\u2019s degree from the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at the University of Massachusetts and his bachelor\u2019s degree in American history from Bates College. He previously held roles at the Professional Golfers\u2019 Association of America, the NBA, The Sporting News, Gatorade, and Sports Illustrated.<\/p>\n In the interview-style talk moderated by DeRosa, Price advised attendees not to fear non-linear career paths, to develop mentor-mentee relationships with intention, and to be open to opportunity. He also told the audience that a career in sports should be motivated by a genuine interest in helping others.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve always recognized that there\u2019s tremendous good that can come from sport,\u201d Price said. \u201cAnd if you can unlock that good, people\u2019s lives can be improved. Entertainment can be created. Values can be restored in society.\u201d<\/p>\n DeRosa hopes Price\u2019s words help students recognize that they can succeed while staying true to their core principles.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s strategic about what he’s doing, and he\u2019s moving in a way that aligns with his purpose,\u201d DeRosa says. \u201cYou can lead with purpose, and in doing that, you can have a successful career.\u201d<\/p>\n Along with his knowledge and expertise, Price also brought a Heisman Trophy, which garnered excitement and attention from conference attendees.<\/p>\n \u201cThe environment he brought with the Heisman, I was so thankful for that,\u201d says Jack Freitas ’26 (BUS), SBC\u2019s outreach director. \u201cI\u2019m watching five people do the Heisman pose with it, and I think that\u2019s just so fun.\u201d<\/p>\n The second keynote speaker was Bryant McBride, a board member of USA Hockey. He was also a producer of the award-winning documentary films \u201cWillie\u201d and \u201cBeyond Their Years.\u201d McBride received his bachelor\u2019s degree from Trinity College and his master\u2019s degree in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School. McBride previously served as the vice president of business development at the National Hockey League.<\/p>\n Find out what you love and then get involved. There\u2019s always opportunity here. — Noam Watt \u201922 (ED)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Many students found McBride\u2019s speech, filled with actionable career advice, inspiring.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a really motivational speaker,\u201d Emma Hall \u201926 (ED) says. \u201cIt was really helpful to us students because he talked about interview tactics and mixed his own anecdotes with advice. It just made me more excited and less overwhelmed.\u201d<\/p>\n Eight panels were offered throughout the day in analytics, broadcast, business administration, communications, marketing, operations, and law. Panelists from various organizations, including ESPN, NBCUniversal, Connecticut Sun, Boston Red Sox, and the FIFA World Cup, answered students\u2019 questions and networked with them in small groups.<\/p>\n One broadcast panelist was Neag School alumnus Noam Watt \u201922 (ED), the assistant director of broadcast and video services at UConn Athletics.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nice to be able to see what the future looks like and see some people who are going to be coming through the ranks in the coming years,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Working in live broadcasting, Watt is accustomed to fast-paced situations where mistakes are inevitable and cannot be corrected.<\/p>\n \u201cAll you have to do is move on to the next thing, and I find that really gratifying,\u201d he says. \u201cDuring a two-and-a-half-hour hockey broadcast or a three-and-a-half-hour baseball broadcast, you might make a dozen mistakes, and it\u2019s all about how you respond and move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Watt said his experience in the Neag School\u2019s sport management program taught him how to get involved in sports and consider how sports can impact people\u2019s lives. The program also empowered him to explore opportunities on campus and get involved, including in UCTV Sports and interning with UConn Athletics. He encourages current students to do the same.<\/p>\n \u201cFind out what you love and then get involved,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s always opportunity here.\u201d<\/p>\n The SBC continues to be an uplifting experience for many students, increasing their confidence and career outlooks.<\/p>\n \u201cNow that we\u2019re all seniors, it\u2019s really nice to hear that there are choices, and there are different paths, and your path doesn\u2019t have to be linear, and that all of our conversations are helping us in some way,\u201d Hall says.<\/p>\n The conference being open to students from other schools also means aspiring sport business professionals across the state can take advantage of some of the resources UConn has to offer.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a junior in high school, this helps me get a better understanding,\u201d says Cam Thomas, a student at Avon Old Farms. \u201cIt\u2019s a head start above everyone else in my grade, at my age.\u201d<\/p>\n While the SBC is hosted by UConn\u2019s sport management program, the annual conference welcomes people of all ages, majors, and experience levels looking to discover or deepen their passion for sports.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is for anyone who wants to work in sports,\u201d Alicia Rodriguez-Monge \u201926 (CLAS), SBC\u2019s chief of promotions, says. \u201cWhether you\u2019re starting out in your freshman year or you\u2019re a grad student or postgrad and you want to switch it up, I think it\u2019s really great to see how diverse we\u2019ve become.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"UConn](\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771278821367-300x200.jpeg\")
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