The sports industry is not just about what happens on the field. A lot of it depends on relationships, communication, and how well organizations connect with their audience. For this assignment, I wanted to reach out to someone within ODU Athletics who represents leadership and growth. I connected with Ryan Parncutt, the Director of Athletic Marketing and Social Media at Old Dominion University, to build a professional relationship for the semester.

In her role, Ryan helps lead the marketing efforts for ODU Athletics and oversees social media strategy. She works on promoting athletic events, increasing fan engagement, and making sure ODU’s teams are represented well across digital platforms. Her position plays an important part in shaping how students, alumni, and the community experience ODU Athletics, especially on game days and online.

Ryan joined the athletics marketing department in 2023 and moved into her current director role the following year. Along with working full time, she is also pursuing a master’s degree in sport management at ODU. Before moving into marketing, she was a student athlete at the university, which gives her a strong understanding of athletics from both the athlete and administrative side.

When I reached out to her, I made sure to introduce myself clearly and explain the purpose of the assignment. Reaching out to someone in a leadership role can feel intimidating, but I wanted to take initiative. She responded positively and agreed to serve as my professional contact throughout the semester.

This experience showed me how important it is to be confident and professional when building connections in the sports industry. Networking is not just about meeting people. It is about creating real relationships and learning from others’ experiences. I am looking forward to learning more about athletic marketing and gaining insight into how ODU Athletics continues to grow its brand and engagement.