By: Director of Athletic Communications & Public Relations, Kevin Ruple
BEREA, Ohio – In the midst of another National Basketball Association (NBA) post-season run for the Cleveland Cavaliers, senior sport management major Ryan Sosic (Olmsted Falls) has made the most of his professional basketball experience.
BW Has a Strong History with the Cavs Media Relations Office
Sosic has been the Cavs game day intern all season. He is the current BW student in that position in a long line of successful students who have a positive Cavs game day experience. A year ago, it was Eric Kwiatkowski '17, who is now an intern in the Mid-American Conference office in downtown Cleveland. Prior to Kwiatkowski, Dan Rolinc '12, Josh Gresh '13 and Kevin Hulsmann '16 all served as game day interns for the Cavs.
Sosic Has Utilized the Opportunity Well
Sosic has been successful because he has taken advantage of every opportunity that has come his way. He was led the water and drank from the fountain of opportunity.
The Cavs position also is just one of a number of experiences that Sosic. has had at BW. The sport management major already knows where his next internship will be – working the National Football League (NFL) training camp for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from mid-July until BW starts classes in late-August for the second straight year.
So, how did Sosic get these two gigs?
The BW athletic communications/ sports information office as well as the professors in BW's Sport Management program have an outstanding relationship with the Cavs, Browns, Indians, Monsters, Gladiators and other Cleveland area sports teams, organizations and groups. But that's just a part of it.
In addition to the Cavs and Bucs, Sosic has already volunteered at two Super Bowl's a BCS National Championship Game, worked with the Cleveland Browns in their equipment room during the 2017 season and worked two Browns Draft parties, interned for the Greater Cleveland Football Coaches Association (GCFCA) East-West All-Star Football Game and spent his first three years assisting BW Sports & Media Information Director Jeff Miller as a key member of his student staff.
In terms of the Tampa Bay internship, Sosic took advantage of his trip to the BCS National Championship Game, set up by professors Chuck Campisi and Tony Dick, to volunteer, meet and network with the right folks. He also displayed a strong work ethic and the passion needed to impress the equipment staff at the Bucs. That also is a reason they are bringing him back again this summer.
"I got the opportunity to work at the Tampa Bay Bucs training camp based on the networking and work that I did at the 2017 BCS Championship Game in Tampa," said Sosic, who came to BW as a defensive end on the football team. "This will be a great opportunity to show that I am mobile and am willing to go and do whatever I need to do to be successful.
"My experience in Tampa last year was great," continued Sosic. "Everyone in the Bucs organization, specifically the equipment group, was welcoming and taught me a lot about the dynamics of a professional football team's equipment room during training camp and the preseason. In the short time I was in Tampa, I cultivated many great relationships and I am excited to continue this experience again."
The Responsibilities
On a game day, you might catch a glimpse of Sosic on Fox Sports Ohio, ESPN or TNT as he makes his way to the media with statistics or notes during the game. Before the Cavs hit the floor, he is responsible for checking media credentials. After the game, he can be found in the visitors' locker room gathering quotes from players and then transcribing them for sports reporters.
The BW Advantage
"This is one of the main reasons I chose to come to BW," said Sosic. "The opportunities that the BW sport management program and sports information office offer to students is outstanding. It sets us apart from other sport management majors at other schools when we are out competing for a job in the real world."
"Next fall, I will spend a lot more time working in the sports information office to help manage the football press box during home games," said Sosic. "I will help manage the official game statistics and assist some of the younger BW sports information student assistants. Plus, in January, I will have another opportunity to work a third BCS Championship Game and fourth Super Bowl.
"What BW told me when they were recruiting me is absolutely true," said Sosic. "It is the BW Advantage. I knew I couldn't play football for the rest of my life, and this preparation will make me extremely marketable for the rest of my life."
Are You Thinking About Taking Advantage of the BW Advantage?
If you are a current high school student or attending another two or four-year institution and are interested in knowing more about the experiences that Ryan Sosic is having, please call BW any time at 440-826-2222 or visit the BW Admission web site at its site for sport management.
