This is my introductory post to SportsAgentBlog.com. I am very excited to be a part of this team, and contribute, as well as learn throughout this process. I would like to first say thank you to Darren for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this great site.
Some background information on me: I am currently half way through Spring Quarter at Ohio University in Athens. I am a triple major in Sport Management, Marketing, and Business Law. I am a founding member of the recently created Ohio University International Sports Agent Organization, or ISAO for short. I currently work for Ohio University Intramural Sports Program as a Program Assistant. I also officiate regional flag football tournaments throughout the country and have been to five different tournaments in the past two years. As you can see, between my three majors, ISAO, and work, along with a healthy social life, I keep pretty busy.
I am already taking steps to prepare myself for a career in athlete representation, or for the newly founded title of, ‘athlete advocate,’ which I am growing fond of. ISAO is a great start for me to learn. The organization already has some big things going on, even in its developmental stages. We have had pleasure of hosting Ron Shapiro, just after the negotiation of Joe Mauer’s most recent contract with the Twins. Along with our meeting with Mr. Shapiro, we have met with the Ohio University Compliance Director, which was a huge help in clarifying some issue about working with NCAA athletes.
I recently attended Ohio University’s Pre-Law Day. It was very helpful in easing my mind on numerous issues, and had many questions answered. The event had several different panels each hour. I went to three different panels; “Landing Your Dream Job,” “Law School Advice,” and “Law School Admissions.” None of the panels, or members of the panels, specialized in sport law. However, some of the visiting universities have sport law programs. One very lucrative program that I am considering is through Capital University and Ohio University where you can receive your J.D. from Capital while working towards a Master of Sport Association from Ohio University. This joint degree is catered specifically to sports agents. Click here for more information.
I would like to invite you to follow along with me on my journey through my last two years at Ohio U and into law school. I look forward to sharing the early steps that I am taking towards a successful career as a sports agent. Please feel free to comment, ask questions, and share advice.
10 replies on “The New Kid On The Block”
I find this introductory very interesting. I am excited to see how your journey through your college years goes. I think it is a brilliant idea to have someone share their thought process and experiences with everyone else who might need help or questions answered. Keep up the good work!
Hey great start to your blog!
I’m also a sports management student hoping to get into athlete representation, however I’m in Australia. I will be following your journey as I take my own and hope to learn alot from you. All the best
Thank you both for the comments. Simon, what year are you in now?
Congratulations!!! I like it
Hey Doug,
It’s nice to see someone my age getting invloved with this blog. I am finishing up my sophomore year at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. I am majoring in Marketing and Finance and also hope to break into the athlete representation business. I am curious to hear about how you started ISAO. My friend and I have had talks about starting some type of sports business organization on campus.
Mike,
Thanks for the comment as well as the compliment. I am a founding member of ISAO, not the founder, please note that there is a difference between the two. I did not create the group, a faculty member that was a former NFL agent created it. As a founding member, I have a say in a lot of the initial decisions. For example, ratifying the organization’s constitution, voting on the logo, letterhead, colors, and directions for the future of the group. Again, please do not confuse the two. However, I would say the best route to starting a similar organization would by contacting faculty in your Sport Management Program (if one exists), Business Law, and in the College of Business in general. Try to find someone with experience in athlete, or entertainment law experience/ representation. Go from there, and see where it will take you. If you do not find any faculty member with experience, then you will have to start from scratch. Good luck, and keep me posted.
I’m just into my third year at the moment. Do you recommend law school after this degree? also do you have a twitter account I could follow you on
Simon,
In my opinion, in order to give yourself the best advantage in the agent industry, you should pursue education beyond a typical four year degree. In fact, for the NFL, you have to have a post graduate degree (J.D., MBA, etc.), or substantial experience in negotiation. What area of study you choose is up to you. I have alway been fascinated with law in general, a love for business, and added with being a football player for years, law school is the route for me. I do recommend law school though, because you are working with legal documents, and if you did not have a law degree, you may often times find yourself consulting (and paying) an attorney for assistance. Eric Wiesel makes a good case for this in his “Interview With The Agent.” (https://sportsagentblog.com/interview-with-the-agent/eric-wiesel/) Check out the interview, and then browse around the others to see what they have to say about educational backgrounds, and you might see what course will fit you best.
As far as a Twitter, it’s in the works right now, look forward to a link coming soon. I’ll also leave it as a comment here. Thanks for the questions.
Hey Doug,
An interesting and exciting opening blog.
Can you elaborate more on the ISOA.
It sounds very interesting and I am thinking of starting it in my university in Israel.
Thanks
ND,
Thank you for the compliments. ISAO is a student organization on campus that focuses on preparing and guiding future sports agents. It is supervised by Michael Pfahl, who used to be an NFL agent before becoming a professor. We hold weekly meetings, and come together with interesting topics related to sports law, and sports agents in general. As I said, ISAO is still developing and growing, and should have a lot of big things going on in the near future.