UWO Office of Continuing Education and Extension

Careers in Sports

Presentation and biographical information

You Don't Have to be a Professional Athlete to Work in Professional Sports

In this discussion, Mark Schiefelbein will clear up some of the misconceptions people have about working in the sports industry. He will share some of his career highlights, talk about his background and offer tips for students who would like to work for an organization like the Green Bay Packers.

Mark Schiefelbein is the Director of Administrative Affairs for the Green Bay Packers. His current responsibilities include team travel, oversight of community relations, family programs and corporate travel. In addition, he is responsible for negotiating the team's airline contract, dealing with the Club's alumni and assisting the Green Bay Packers' Hall of Fame with their fundraising efforts.

Mark had oversight of the Packers' front-office operations for Super Bowls XXXI and XXXII. Last year, he was asked by the Seattle Seahawks to assist with their Super Bowl operations. Mark, who has 17 years of NFL front-office experience, initially began his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1990.

In 1992 he came to the Packers and has held a number of different positions until being promoted to his current role in February of 1999. A 1990 graduate of UW-Oshkosh with a degree in communications and a minor in journalism, Mark received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from UW-O in 1992. In December of 2001, he earned a master's degree from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee.

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Job Opportunities in Collegiate Athletics

From the NCAA national office to member colleges and universities across the country, job opportunities are out there and growing for individuals interested in working with collegiate athletics. Jobs can range from academic advisors to sports information directors, ticket or facility managers to athletic directors.

Athletic departments are expanding everyday, and the number of jobs in this field will continue to grow and are a vital part of the collegiate environment. The governing body of collegiate athletics, the NCAA, has its headquarters in Indianapolis and employs over 350 individuals to help support the values and initiatives of collegiate athletics and the membership.

This presentation will provide information on the areas of employment within the NCAA national office and also look at the number and variety of job opportunities on a college campus.

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Working in Sports: You Can Do That for a Living?

With the world of sports integrated into American culture like never before, professional sports franchises are no longer a hobby or a part-time job, they are big business. As with any successful business, getting the right people in place to run the organization is essential. Learn how to become one of those people and land the job of your dreams.

Rob Zerjav is the president and general manager of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the class A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Zerjav is in his eleventh season with the club where he got his start as an unpaid intern. He previously worked in group sales and baseball operations before being promoted to his current position in 2003. Zerjav is originally from Green Bay and a graduate of Ashwaubenon High School and the University of Wisconsin Whitewater.

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Dr. Gary Karner is in his 11th year as the commissioner of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), a Division III conference consisting of nine institutions from within the University of Wisconsin System.

His first major undertaking as commissioner was to merge the former Wisconsin State University Conference and Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, which had functioned as separate men's and women's conferences for over 25 years, into the WIAC. During his tenure as commissioner, the WIAC has solidified its status as the premier Division III conference in the country as evidenced by the 34 NCAA National Championships the conference has captured over the past ten years.

Karner also has directed a number of highly successful initiatives including the establishment of the WIAC Corporate Partner Program, a conference web site, a comprehensive sportsmanship program, as well as events such as the "Border Battle" and the men's and women's postseason basketball tournament.

Most recently, Karner achieved another milestone by brokering an agreement to have selected WIAC events televised on a regional sports network-the first-ever such agreement in the history of Division III athletics.

Prior to becoming the commissioner of the WIAC, Gary spent nearly eight years with the NCAA national office as a compliance representative. During his tenure with the NCAA, Gary played a key role in the development of the institutional compliance review process as well as the NCAA Division I Athletic Certification Program. He also served as a NCAA liaison to a number of NCAA committees, the PAC-10, Big Sky, WAC and Big West conferences, and the College Football Association (CFA).

Gary also spent nearly 13 years in public education as a teacher, coach, and administrator in Wisconsin and Colorado. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1975 and his master's and doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1978 and 1984, respectively. Gary has served as the president of the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators as well as on the executive committee of the NCAA Division III Commissioner's Association, the NCAA Interpretations and Legislation Committee and the NADIIIAA Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Committee.

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Bottom of the Ladder: Getting Started and Moving Up

Lori Warczak will discuss her journey and describe how it provided her with the opportunity to work for a professional sports team. She will highlight the importance of volunteerism, internships and networking which can open many doors that are closed for other applicants. Since starting with the Milwaukee Bucks four years ago, she has had four job titles and three promotions, demonstrating how many opportunities there are in professional sports and the NBA.

Warczak is finishing her fourth season with the Milwaukee Bucks and first year in Community Relations. She started in a competitive summer sales campaign where she was offered a position as an account representative. After a year in Season Ticket sales she was offered a position in the Group Sales department. Lori was promoted to the Community Relations-Player Development Department. Lori Joined the Milwaukee Bucks after graduating from Western Illinois University with a degree in Communication Studies and Marketing. She developed a passion for sports while participating in youth leagues in her hometown of Lemont Ill.

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Careers in Sports