Finance to the Field: Breaking into Sports in Orange County

Born and raised in Chino Hills California, Christopher Marquez ‘25 worked in finance focusing on real estate, but knew something was missing from his professional career.  Chris completed an internship with Orange County Soccer Club (OCSC) as a Partnerships Intern which sparked his decision to make a career switch into the sports industry.  Chris started exploring graduate programs in sports management. Marquez knew that staying in Southern California would provide access and opportunity to break into the sports industry and build his career. Chris notes, “I think there is a vastness of opportunities throughout SoCal that really sets it apart from anywhere else in the world. Whether you want to work at CIF in high school sports, college athletics in the NCAA, or any of the 5 major sports leagues and their feeder leagues, there are so many places to get your foot in the door, especially at the beginning of your career. The opportunities are endless. ” USF’s MS in Sport Management program in SoCal was the perfect fit for Chris to take the next step in his sports career.

In Dr. Cellini’s Leadership & Critical Thinking course, Chris uncovered his “why” helping him identify areas within the sports industry he wanted to work and how to network with professionals in those areas. Drawing on his Finance degree from the University of San Diego, Chris identified three areas to pursue: finance/accounting on the team side, athlete asset management, and partnerships. Chris had some experience working in corporate partnerships from his internship at Orange County Soccer Club (OCSC), a USL team. Through that internship, he recognized how many different hats people wore to execute a sporting club at a smaller organization. From OCSC, Chris took a part-time role at the LA Galaxy as a Premium Concierge.  Working on the customer-facing side of the business, and an MLS club, was an opportunity for Chris to get some new professional experience to grow his network. In May, Chris was hired into a full-time role with the Anaheim Ducks as an Inside Sales Representative selling season tickets and ticket plans. Chris was immediately able to implement what he was learning from Dr. Manning’s Business Development and Sales course into his new role. Being able to integrate classroom concepts into a real-life work setting, living and breathing sales for a few months, made his transition with the Ducks seamless.

Balancing graduate school, a full-time position with the Ducks, and a part-time position with the Galaxy has kept Chris busy. However, he’s been able to balance all three because the Galaxy role is primarily on weekends, and USF classes are only one night a week, “It sounds like a lot, but all of the schedules mesh with each other.” The Sport Management program has helped Chris establish his ability to network and build connections in the sports industry. Chris notes, “From the get-go, the resources and people genuinely want to see you succeed, being a part of a community like USF has re-emphasized the importance of being curious about other people and building genuine relationships.” In August, Chris was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Richard E. Walden Scholarship, recognizing a student in the Southern California program demonstrating academic excellence. Chris’ work, in and out of the classroom is reflective of the grit and dedication of the USF Sport Management community. To learn more about career and scholarship opportunities for the MS in Sport Management program in Southern California, read online.