Sports was an important part of my life growing up and ultimately helped shape who I am. I loved being part of a team, the thrill of winning a big game and lessons learned from the tough losses. Going into high school, I was a soccer player, and right around my junior year I got burnt out with it and decided to pursue being a goalie in hockey. When looking for a college, I wanted something that was close but far enough from Chicago that I’d get a good college experience. I ended up choosing St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota. It was a great fit for me because I had family in the Twin Cities as well that I could visit on weekends if I wanted to get away. I went up there for hockey but ended up spraining my knee in ice tryouts and lost the ability to advance in tryouts. With the team’s goaltenders already established for my sophomore year, I decided to try and walk on to the men’s soccer team. I played my final three years of college and was awarded Mr. Intensity my junior and senior years.
I graduated college with a BA in criminal justice, but my love of sports drew me away from my major. I was fortunate enough to land a marketing internship with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2002-2003 season. It was a great experience, and it help me immerse myself into the sports world. After the Blackhawks, I was the enrollment director for a company that ran youth camps for professional football teams. I moved on to working for an NFL agent for five years doing marketing and endorsements for his players. Realizing that I wanted to get back into the root of why I loved sports, I found myself at NCSA and haven’t looked back. Helping student-athletes navigate the complex recruiting process has really been the most fulfilling job I have had in my career. I wake up every day knowing that we have a positive impact on student-athletes’ lives, and there is nothing more rewarding than that.