Koby Altman

Name: Koby Altman
Student Status: 1 Year MS
Alma Mater: Middlebury College
Undergraduate Major: Sociology Major, Education Minor
Previous Work Experience: Licensed Commercial Real Estate salesperson; Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Xavier High School; Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Amherst College
Career aspirations: To work in the front office of a professional basketball team, general management, player personnel, player development
Dream job: General Manager for the Brooklyn Nets
Why UMass?: Tremendous alumni base, proximity to NYC and its assistantship program that allowed me to be a grad assistant with the Division III National Champion Amherst Lord Jeffs
Person most admired in the sports industry and why: The late Red Auerbach. The man ran everything. He was the best coach and the best GM. He also ran the ticket sales department and even the concession stand sales.
Last book read, non-textbook: Juicing the Game by Howard Bryant

Luke Bonner

Name: Luke Bonner
Student Status: 1st yr Sport Management MS
Alma Mater: UMass-Amherst
Undergraduate Major: Management
Previous Work Experience: Sneakers and Speakers Charity, Rockfest – cofounder/
Executive Director
Career Aspirations: Play professional basketball, run charity events, and make
the most of my life to be successful and happy.
Dream job: Make an NBA roster, president of a charitable foundation
that incorporates sports and music.
Why UMass?: Excellent program to develop my skills to help an
organization to succeed in the industry.
Person most admired in the
sports industry and why: Sean Elliot. He has overcome so much, and was able to be
a world-class champion. He has successfully been able to
segue his basketball career into a broadcasting career.
Great guy all around, who remains a key player in the
industry.
Last book read,
non-textbook: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Foer.

Chris Bowles

Name: Chris Bowles
Student Status: 1 Year MS
Alma Mater: Trinity University
Undergraduate Major: Business Administration – Finance and Management
Previous Work Experience: Enterprise Rent-A-Car (4 Years); Trinity University Recreational Sports
Career aspirations: To obtain a sales/marketing position in an athletic brand or organization
Dream job: General Manager of the Chicago Cubs
Why UMass?: The success the program has in preparing its students to excel in the sports industry.
Person most admired in the sports industry and why: Theo Epstein for his success at an early age and Billy Beane for his ability to change the game of baseball.
Last book read, non-textbook: Moneyball

Tom Bresnahan

Name: Tom Bresnehan
Student Status: 1 yr MS
Alma Mater: BS – Worcester Polytechnic Inst.; MBA – UMass
Undergraduate Major: Mechanical Engineering
Previous Work Experience: Project Engineer, Jacobs Vehicle Systems and Hamilton Sundstrand
Career Aspirations: Intercollegiate athletics and administration
Dream Job: A.D. for a major D1 school
Why UMass?: Program reputation, success of alumni and alumni
network, Western MA
Person most admired in the
sports industry and why: Hank Aaron, for his strength, dignity, and respect for the
game.
Last book read,
non-textbook: Game of Shadows

Yu Chien (Phil)

Name: Yu Chien (Phil)
Student Status: 1 Year MS
Alma Mater: George Washington University
Undergraduate Major: International Business, Finance
Previous Work Experience: In-house translator, Eurasian Publishing Group; E.F.L teacher; Corporate Banking Division, Chinatrust Commercial Bank.
Career aspirations: Marketing, international operations and development, for a professional baseball or basketball league.
Dream job: Commissioner of an Asian Professional Sport League
Why UMass?: Program reputation, experienced faculties, and a very strong alumni network.
Person most admired in the sports industry and why: David Stern. For all the work he has done with the NBA, especially in branding and global outreach.
Last book read, non-textbook: The Lazy Way to Success by Fred Gratzon.

Francis Connelly

Name: Francis Connolly
Student Status: 1 Year MS
Alma Mater: Middlebury College
Undergraduate Major: American Literature
Previous Work Experience: New England Patriots (Patriots.com/Patriots Football Weekly); Baseball Info Solutions (Advance Scouting); Boston College Athletic Department (Media Relations)
Career aspirations: Basketball Operations/ Charitable Foundation
Dream job: Professional/International Basketball Operations
Why UMass?: The reputation is second to none, and I have had the opportunity to work with several very impressive alumni.
Person most admired in the sports industry and why: Andre Tippett, New England Patriots Charitable Foundation, for his tireless dedication to the community that supports the Patriots organization.
Last book read, non-textbook: The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama

Melissa Marchionna

Name: Melissa Marchionna
Student Status: 1 Year MS
Alma Mater: Boston College
Undergraduate Major: Psychology
Previous Work Experience: Boston Bruins Media Relations Department; Springfield Falcons; New Britain Rock Cats; TRACS Sport Marketing, Boston Marathon
Career aspirations: To work as a director of Media Relations for an MLB or NHL team
Dream job: General Manager of the Boston Bruins
Why UMass?: For its reputation producing key players in the sports industry, as well as the internship opportunities available to students and graduates.
Person most admired in the sports industry and why: Kim Ng because she has been able to work her way up through the front office in MLB despite being female in a very male dominated industry.
Last book read, non-textbook: The Lovely Bones

Marissa O'Neil

Name: Marissa O’Neil
Student Status: 1 Year MS
Alma Mater: Bowdoin College
Undergraduate Major: Sociology
Previous Work Experience: Ice and Field Hockey Coach – St. Anselm College; Assistant Athletic Director – Middlesex School; Assistant Ice and Field Hockey Coach – Amherst College
Career aspirations: Coach at the college level then a move to administration to become Athletic Director
Dream job: NESCAC Athletic Director
Why UMass?: Prestigious Sport Management program, provides hands-on experience and highly accomplished faculty with varied interests in the industry.
Person most admired in the sports industry and why: Bill Belichick. He shapes his players (often selfish and arrogant) into a team who shares a common goal and executes through selfless desire and dedication. He is a leader who is respected by friends and enemies alike for his intelligence and willingness to do the leg work not just expect it.
Last book read, non-textbook: Endurance

Kairon Serrette

Name: Kairon Serrette
Student Status: 1 Year MS
Alma Mater: University of West Indies St. Augustine
Undergraduate Major: Environmental Management
Previous Work Experience: NIHERST, National Petroleum
Career aspirations: To work in different areas of sport industry and establish athlete management firm
Dream job: CEO of a sports management conglomerate
Why UMass?: Top Sports Management program in the US, top faculty, good location
Person most admired in the sports industry and why: Shaka Hislop. Former national goal keeper and Premiership goal keeper who is now devoting his time towards rights for footballers in Trinidad and Tobago.
Last book read, non-textbook: Changing Minds

Jonathan Tosches

Name: Jonathan Tosches
Student Status: 1 Year MS
Alma Mater: University of Massachusetts Amherst
Undergraduate Major: Finance
Previous Work Experience: Fidelity Investments; Boston Red Sox; Orleans Cardinals and Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League
Career aspirations: Baseball Operations for an MLB club
Dream job: On the PGA tour – handicap gets in the way of this
Why UMass?: Faculty and alumni reputation
Person most admired in the sports industry and why: Tiger Woods. Focus and determination. Admire his competitiveness but also his ability to be a down to earth celebrity.
Last book read, non-textbook: Juicing the Game by Howard Bryant

Anthony Tynan

Name: Anthony Tynan
Student Status: 1 Year MS
Alma Mater: Ohio University
Undergraduate Major: Broadcast Journalism
Previous Work Experience: WOUB-TV and Radio; Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing; Rotowire.com
Career aspirations: Possibly Baseball Operations, Sports Media, College Athletics, Fantasy Sports
Dream job: General Manager for the Cincinnati Reds
Why UMass?: The chance to be part of an elite program, distinguished alumni
Person most admired in the sports industry and why: Charles Alexander, Baseball History professor, Ohio University
Last book read, non-textbook: Fantasyland