Front Office U

Hosted by Front Office U

Business Careers

Website RSS feed

Episodes

239

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

About the show

A podcast meant to help college students and young professionals interested in the sports industry learn about networking in sports. Front Office U is hosted by 6 young professionals in the sports industry. Tune in as their experiences and advice will be shared to help navigate others toward their dream career in the sports industry.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 21, 202644 min

Andre Luck | Four Leaf Marketing, Co-Founder

Front Office U welcomes Andre Luck. Andre Luck is the Co-Founder of Four Leaf Marketing & Consulting, where he works with organizations to develop their sales, marketing, and business strategies. Before launching Four Leaf, Andre built an extensive career in professional and collegiate sports, working his way from an entry-level ticket sales role at Arizona State University to leadership positions with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, and Miami Marlins. Andre’s career is a great example of how putting in the work, developing your skills, and taking advantage of opportunities can create a path through the sports industry. From learning the fundamentals of ticket sales at Arizona State to leading sales and service departments in Major League Baseball, each step of his career provided new experiences and lessons that helped shape his approach to leadership and business. In this conversation, Andre shares his journey through sports sales, what helped him stand out early in his career, and how his experiences at the collegiate and professional levels prepared him to eventually become an entrepreneur. He also discusses the transition from working inside professional sports to co-founding Four Leaf Marketing & Consulting and offers advice for students looking to break into sports marketing and sales. Connect with Andre on LinkedIn

August 20, 202644 min

Throwback Thursday | Greg Pai - Red Coat

Greg Pai, founder of Red Coat, has packed years of growth into just twelve months by consistently putting himself in the right rooms, learning from industry leaders, and staying relentlessly curious. His journey reflects the power of betting on yourself, surrounding yourself with a strong support system, and showing up even when you’re still figuring things out. Greg now pays that forward, offering grounded advice to young sports professionals and entrepreneurs: believe in your ability to build something meaningful, stay adaptable, and keep investing in relationships that elevate your growth.

August 14, 202632 min

Jagr Rinehart | Athletic Communications Assistant, University of Minnesota

Front Office U welcomes Jagr Rinehart. Jagr Rinehart is an Athletic Communications Assistant at the University of Minnesota, where he works in sports information and communications, helping tell the stories of Golden Gopher student-athletes and programs. His work sits at the intersection of social media, communications, and the day-to-day responsibilities that go into supporting a college athletics department. Jagr’s journey in sports has taken an unconventional path. After initially pursuing a career in the industry, he made the decision to step away from sports before eventually finding his way back. Along the way, he learned the importance of building relationships, taking initiative, and being willing to reach out—even when the opportunity isn’t obvious. His willingness to send an email to Minnesota ultimately helped open the door to his current role. In this conversation, Jagr shares what led him to leave the sports industry and what ultimately brought him back, how working in social media and sports information has shaped his career, and why having a low-ego, high-output mindset can make a difference in the sports industry. Connect with Jagr on LinkedIn Jagr's Email: rineh055@umn.edu

August 7, 202646 min

Bre'onna Raymo | Director of Group Sales, Grand Rapids Griffins

Front Office U welcomes Bre’onna Raymo. Bre’onna Raymo is the Director of Group Sales for the Grand Rapids Griffins, where she leads group ticket sales and works with corporate partners, hospitality clients, and fundraising organizations to create memorable experiences around Griffins hockey. Bre’onna’s journey in sports has been shaped by a willingness to put in the work, learn through experience, and take ownership of her career. From being nervous about making her first sales phone call to eventually leading a group sales department, she learned how to develop confidence, embrace adversity, and recognize that success in the industry comes from consistently putting in the effort. She also credits her experience at Grand Valley State University and the lessons learned throughout her internships and career for helping shape the professional she is today. In this conversation, Bre’onna shares what has kept her with the Grand Rapids Griffins for so long, how working in different areas of the business has helped her become a better manager, and why being a people person is so important in leadership. She also discusses how aspiring sports professionals can discover whether sales is the right career path for them, why interns should approach every opportunity as if it were a full-time job, and how mistakes and adversity can ultimately become some of the most valuable experiences in a career. Connect with Bre'onna on LinkedIn

July 31, 20261 hr 1 min

Jeremy Marshall | Partnership Services Coordinator, Falcon Sports Properties at Learfield

Front Office U welcomes Jeremy Marshall. Jeremy is the Partnership Services Coordinator with Learfield's Falcon Sports Properties, where he works with corporate partners to activate sponsorships and deliver value through creative, fan-facing experiences. His journey through the sports industry has included internships with the University of Pittsburgh Athletics marketing department, Visit Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and NASCAR at Daytona International Speedway. Growing up in Pittsburgh, Jeremy played soccer and originally envisioned a career in business and marketing outside of sports. That path shifted as he discovered opportunities to combine his passion for sports with marketing, leading him to pursue internships that exposed him to everything from game-day promotions and corporate partnerships to sports tourism and major event hosting. Along the way, he learned the importance of staying curious, embracing every opportunity, and realizing that every career path looks different. In this conversation, Jeremy shares how each internship helped shape his career, why comparison is the thief of joy, and how students can maximize every internship by focusing on learning instead of titles. He also discusses what he learned working with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Visit Pittsburgh, and NASCAR, offers practical interview advice for aspiring sports professionals, and explains why being adaptable and willing to move can open doors throughout the industry. Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn.

July 24, 202641 min

Alan Ledford | Director of the Master of Arts in Sport Administration / Associate Professor, Wittenberg University

Front Office U welcomes Dr. Alan Ledford. Dr. Ledford is the Director of the Master of Arts in Sport Administration program and an Associate Professor at Wittenberg University, where he mentors the next generation of sports professionals through classroom instruction, experiential learning, and industry connections. Throughout his career, he has built sport management programs, guided countless students into internships and full-time roles, and created opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience at events like the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff, Final Four, and Little League World Series. Growing up in southwest Ohio, Dr. Ledford played baseball at Wilmington College after starring as a pitcher and center fielder in high school. While competing, he discovered a passion for the business and operations side of sports, leading him to pursue coaching, recreation management, entrepreneurship, and eventually higher education. Along the way, he even competed on a national travel wiffle ball team and built a real estate business. In this conversation, Dr. Ledford shares the lessons he's learned from building successful sport management programs, mentoring students, and overcoming adversity throughout his career. He discusses why coaches can't care more than their players, the importance of pushing those who are willing to improve, and how aspiring professionals can separate themselves by building meaningful relationships and treating every opportunity like their own personal pro day. Connect with Alan on LinkedIn

July 17, 202645 min

Cooper Rowe | Athletic Communications Student Assistant, University of Minnesota

Front Office U welcomes Cooper Rowe. Cooper is a student at the University of Minnesota and has quickly built an impressive resume in athletic communications and sports media. He currently serves as a Lead Social Media Student Intern with Gopher Athletics while also gaining experience with organizations including the Minnesota Vikings, USA Basketball, Northwestern Athletics, Snapback Sports, and Everything College Hockey. Through these roles, Cooper has developed expertise in social media strategy, live event coverage, athletic communications, and digital storytelling across collegiate and professional sports. Cooper's passion for sports media began early and has led him to pursue opportunities across nearly every level of the industry. From covering NCAA championships and Big Ten tournaments to creating content for international basketball events and professional sports organizations, he has embraced hands-on experiences that have allowed him to build a diverse portfolio while still in college. In this conversation, Cooper shares how he has intentionally sought out opportunities to accelerate his career, the importance of networking and saying yes to new experiences, and the lessons he's learned working with some of the biggest brands in sports. He also discusses balancing multiple internships, creating engaging digital content, and why versatility has become one of the most valuable skills for aspiring sports professionals. Connect with Cooper on LinkedIn

July 10, 202644 min

Dan Wallace | Co-Author, The Physics of Brand

Front Office U welcomes Dan Wallace. Dan is a strategist, writer, and marketing advisor who has spent more than four decades helping leaders make sense of complexity and uncover new opportunities for growth. As the founder of Idea Food LLC, he works with entrepreneurial leaders on strategic thinking, marketing, talent searches, and organizational challenges, drawing on decades of experience, deep research, artificial intelligence, and systems thinking. He is also the co-author of The Physics of Brand , published by Simon & Schuster, and has advised more than 100 organizations, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, including General Mills, Honeywell, IBM, Target, Hormel, Land O'Lakes, and the Science Museum of Minnesota. After earning his marketing degree from Arizona State University and an Executive MBA from the University of St. Thomas, Dan began his career in advertising before launching his own marketing agency and eventually building a consulting practice centered on curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning. He has also shared his expertise in the classroom, teaching marketing at both the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, where he helped students connect marketing theory with real-world business strategy. In this conversation, Dan discusses why curiosity is one of the most valuable traits a leader can develop, how systems thinking helps solve complex business problems, and the ways artificial intelligence is reshaping strategy and decision-making. He also shares lessons from advising organizations across a wide range of industries, explains why asking better questions often leads to better outcomes, and offers practical advice for professionals looking to build adaptable, purpose-driven careers. Connect with Dan on LinkedIn

July 3, 202633 min

Joe Fitzhenry | Sports Information Director

Front Office U welcomes Joe Fitzhenry. Joe is a Freelance Sports Information Director who has spent the past eight years working in collegiate athletics. Since launching his freelance career in 2024, he has supported more than 400 games across multiple institutions, providing game statistics, media relations, game recaps, website updates, and other essential communications that help tell the story of college athletics behind the scenes. Growing up in Saratoga Springs, New York, Joe developed a passion for sports through newspaper box scores and league standings, becoming a sponge for statistics and sports information at an early age. While attending Marist University, he gained hands-on experience as the baseball team's equipment manager before joining the student newspaper, where he initially pursued play-by-play broadcasting. Along the way, he discovered sports information and media relations, ultimately finding a career that combined his love for storytelling, statistics, and supporting athletic programs. In this conversation, Joe discusses his path into sports information, the evolution of media relations in college athletics, and what it's like building a successful freelance career across multiple schools. He also shares insights into game-day operations, the growing importance of media days and digital content, why aspiring professionals should remain open to opportunities outside of broadcasting, and the value of gaining hands-on experience early in your career. ⁠Connect with Joe on LinkedIn. Email: jfitzhenry17@gmail.com

June 26, 202641 min

Tanner Hoops | Broadcaster, Gopher Sports Properties

Front Office U welcomes Tanner Hoops. Tanner is a broadcaster for Gopher Sports Properties and the Director of Broadcast & Media Relations for the Sioux Falls Canaries. With experience spanning collegiate athletics, junior hockey, baseball, radio, and digital media, Tanner has built a career centered on storytelling, audience engagement, and connecting fans to the games they love. Tanner discovered a passion for sports broadcasting at an early age and pursued opportunities behind the microphone throughout high school and college. While attending Buena Vista University, he gained experience in radio, television, and digital media, laying the foundation for a versatile broadcasting career that has taken him from local radio stations to collegiate athletics and professional sports organizations. In this conversation, Tanner discusses his journey through the sports media industry, the importance of embracing opportunities and building relationships, and the skills required to thrive in today's evolving digital landscape. He also shares insights from calling games across multiple sports, balancing broadcasting with media relations responsibilities, and creating meaningful connections with athletes, coaches, and fans through storytelling. Connect with Tanner on LinkedIn.