Austin Hodges was a member of the UO Sports Product Management program’s inaugural cohort. Prior to joining the program in fall 2015, Hodges played college basketball while obtaining a theology degree at Multnomah University. He worked for the Portland Trail Blazers, Nike Elite 24, and Multnomah University as the school’s head assistant basketball coach.

Once in the Sports Product Management program, Hodges worked on a product creation team focused on a men’s basketball shoe for the Chinese market and spent the summer of 2016 interning for adidas Basketball Marketing, which then offered him a full-time position.

Why did you choose the University of Oregon Sports Product Management Program?

Before I entered the program, I was stuck in a catch 22. I was unsuccessful landing the position I desired without experience and I couldn’t gain experience without the position. I saw this program as a way to gain this experience while giving me an in-depth view of every function along the 18-month product timeline.

What was your favorite part of the program?

The opportunity to build product plans from scratch and pitch my creation to investors.

What are you doing now?

I am the Global Sports Marketing NBA Corporate Partnerships Manager for adidas Basketball.

Do you have any advice for candidates?

If you’re serious about wanting to succeed in this industry, be a part of the SPM program. Once in it, don’t look towards your future career. It will come soon enough. Soak in as much as you can and retain as much as possible. The knowledge raises your ceiling tremendously.