The Spotlight Shines On Two As We Look At Our Other Editor In Chief, Mac Steckler

Let’s meet our second Editor-in-Chief, Mac Steckler!

By: Hailie Cadeau

Q: How did you get into sports?

A: I was first initiated, as one may say, into sports at a young age. One of my best friends growing up was a couple of years older than me and he introduced me to baseball. Not many of my family played sports but as I spent more time with him I started to love the sport. I would spend hours looking at statistics and practicing. Soon I found my love for sports, starting with baseball and moving to football and basketball and my passion for sports grew from there. 

Q: Who is your role model in the sports industry?

A: My role model growing up was Willie Mays with his ability to be himself in such a harsh environment and period. Going from there it has extended to players like James Harden and Russell Wilson. Harden with his ability to block out the hate and play phenomenal basketball while Russell Wilson has taken advantage of his fame while building a brand and something more than football. 

Q: What made you want to work in the sports industry?

A: When I was younger I wanted to play baseball like most young kids but as I got older I realized that playing was not going to be my role in sports. I had started playing this game called Out of the Park Baseball where I could really invest in building a baseball team in a true simulation game. I learned many different aspects such as the financial and operations side. From here I realized I wanted to go into sports in either the contract side through law or operations side. 

Q: What is something you wish you had known about going into the industry before college and applying to internships?

A: It would have been nice to learn more about all the different arenas of sports. Some just look at the sports industry as just the major sports and making a successful team but there is so much more. You have operations, marketing, the legal aspects as well as the financial side of sports. It has been important for me to research the different areas to get a greater understanding of the industry. 

Q: What experiences do you have working in the sports industry?

A: In high school, I did a lot of work in coaching as well as working with a youth flag football organization. I learned both about scheduling as well as creating an inclusive program for children of all ages. I was able to learn a lot about youth sports through working in the youth organization. My freshman year, I worked in the capital one arena in the suites department which was interesting to learn about sports from a different perspective. By working in the department I was able to learn about more of the operations aspect of sports.

Q: What are you doing this summer?

A: This summer I have been focusing on volunteering with different organizations as well as taking online summer courses. With corona-virus it is important to help those that have been put in a rough position and try to do anything I can to help in this area. I am also focusing on getting some classes down for my major so that I can spend the time in the fall and upcoming semesters working on internships and networking. 

Q: What motivates you?

A: I am motivated to help the lesser fortunate as I was given many unique and special opportunities, and I want to be able to pass that on to others. I want to use the resources I have been given to help others. 

Q: What is something people should know about you?

A: I always want to build connections and I am always willing to have a conversation about sports, life or anything in between! 

Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: I love skydiving and want to go to the highest skydive in the continental United States in Hawaii.