2023 Graduate Josh Tata Finds Success in the Sports World

Josh Tata, a sport management major with a minor in integrated marketing communications, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Dean College in December 2023. We recently caught up with Josh to discover how his experience at Dean shaped him and what he’s up to now.

Q: What initially drew you to Dean?

The academic partnerships with Kraft Sports + Entertainment (New England Patriots/Revolution) and the Providence Bruins were extremely interesting to me. I was also very impressed by Prof. John Rooke, the Center for Business, Entertainment and Sport Management, and the amazing sport management curriculum at Dean.

Q: What made you choose the sport management major and integrated marketing communications minor?

I have always been an avid sports fan and was a student-athlete and knew I wanted a career in sports. I also developed a passion for marketing and business when I took an honors marketing class in high school and joined the DECA club. This business major and minor combination was the perfect launching pad for my career in sports marketing.

Q:  Where are you working now and what is your title?

I am currently working for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I started as an intern on the corporate partnerships marketing team and have now moved to working in event operations. I just started working part-time in sales and operations for the Vinik Sports Group (VSG) and for Legends. I am also working part-time in a marketing role for the Tampa Bay Sun FC soccer team.

Q: What are the key responsibilities at your job?

In my position at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I have a wide variety of responsibilities, including guest experience, marketing, sales promotions, ticket sales customer service, guest and member relations, community relations, events, and corporate partnerships. 

The Vinik Sports Group (VSG) owns the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team, the University of South Florida Athletics, Amalie Arena, Yuengling Center, and Tampa Bay Sports. I am working in a part-time role for VSG in sales and operations at all of the above organizations.

Legends is a global company specializing in providing premium experiences in the sports and entertainment industry. I am working in sales and operations for Legends at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, where I will be working with the New York Yankees during spring training and for the Tampa Bay Rays during he regular MLB season.

At the Tampa Bay Sun FC, I help plan and execute grassroots marketing promotions throughout the Greater Tampa Bay community. I also lead data acquisition for the go-to-market strategy and future sales efforts at all events.

Q:  What are you most proud of in your career so far?

I am really proud to be working in the NFL, as that has always been my dream. To make this dream a reality, I had to gain experience through internships on a much smaller scale. My first internship was unpaid for Summer Collegiate Baseball, and that led to Minor League Baseball and Minor League Hockey until I was finally able to work for the New England Patriots and now for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Q:  Where did you intern during your time at Dean?

I was fortunate to complete many internships and sports jobs while at Dean. My first internship was as a marketing and promotions intern with the O’Fallon Hoots, a Prospect League baseball team in the St. Louis area. My second internship was an ambassador role with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (the Toronto Blue Jays’ AA affiliate). My third internship was as a digital marketing intern with MacGyver Marketing in Milton, MA. Concurrently, I also began working for the Providence Bruins (the Boston Bruins AHL affiliate) as a game-day sales and events coordinator.
Dean also had some unique courses that doubled as internship experiences for me, including the Global Sports Business course, during which I worked on marketing plans and corporate partnership proposals for the New England Patriots and the New England Revolution. Dean’s Special Topics in Sport Management course allowed me to work directly with Kraft Sports + Entertainment marketing execs, planning and implementing strategies for the Army-Navy Game at Gillette. In addition, I participated in the Marketing and Sponsorship internship class, organizing the Coaching Symposium at Dean College. 

I also worked as a “Game Day” intern with the Minnesota Twins affiliate in Fort Myers, FL during the summer of 2023 and then as an Event Ambassador for the New England Patriots. I started my corporate partnerships marketing internship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in February 2024.

Q: In addition to your internships, how did Dean prepare you for your career, post-graduation?

Dean College has helped me prepare for my career in many ways. Dean has a four-year approach to career development, as the Dean Career Advantage (DCA) classes start freshman year. That is what inspired me to apply for internships in my very first semester. The partnerships with Kraft Sports + Entertainment and the Providence Bruins were also instrumental in my success in launching my career in sports. Most of the sport management classes that I attended at Dean were very practical, as they were taught by professors with industry experience. The internship classes were particularly valuable.

Q:  Did you have any mentors or professors at Dean who significantly influenced you?

I had some amazing professors and mentors at Dean. Patrick Leary and John Rooke had the biggest impact on my career. Dr. Leary is a very accomplished professor who was an incredible mentor to me. Prof. Rooke also significantly influenced me during my time at Dean. In fact, he was the primary reason I chose Dean in the first place. Dr. Leary and Prof. Rooke also put together the internship classes with Kraft Sports + Entertainment at Dean. These internship classes were probably the most essential and influential classes for my career success. The career planning and internships team were also a huge help as they were always there to advise me at every step of my career development and helped me succeed in the job application and interview process. Many other professors and mentors influenced me significantly when I was a student at Dean.

Q:  What are some of your proudest accomplishments while at Dean?

I played NCAA college football at Dean College and made the All-Academic Team for the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC). I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Dean in 3 years with a 4.0 GPA. I made the President’s List every semester with a 4.0 GPA. I was also honored by being named to the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) and the Golden Key International Honor Society for academic excellence. 

One of my most exciting accomplishments at Dean was finishing 1st Place in the 2023 New England Sport Management Case Study competition. That was the first time that Dean had ever won this prestigious trophy.
I was also a sportswriter for the Dean Daily newspaper and a sales manager for the Dean Daily and the Dean College Power 88 radio station. Additionally, I was a member of the Dean Sport Management Club and the National Sports Media Association (NSMA).

Q:  What are some of your favorite memories from your time at Dean?

I enjoyed making friends and meeting new people from all over the world at Dean. My favorite memories were attending major sporting events in the Boston area with my college friends. I grew up in Phoenix, AZ and had never been to New England. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting all of the New England states during my three years at Dean College.

Q:  What advice would you give to current students or recent graduates looking to enter your field?

Try to get internships or similar job experiences as soon as possible. You don’t need to wait until your junior or senior year to start internships within the sports industry. This is a highly competitive field, so try to get as much real-world sports industry experience as you can while you are still in school. You may have to start with unpaid internships before you get paid internships, but it’s worth it.

Q:  What are your future career and/or personal goals?

I enjoy working on the business side of the sports industry. This has always been my goal, and my career aspirations are to continue to grow as a sports business professional.

Q:  What would you tell high school students who are considering Dean—why should they choose Dean College?  

I chose Dean because I was looking for a smaller private school that would help me launch my career in the sports industry. I picked Dean over the other smaller schools because of the academic partnerships with Kraft Sports + Entertainment and the Providence Bruins. This really gave me a leg up in the highly competitive business of sports. Other schools also talk about their connections in the sports industry, but Dean students have the advantage because of the College’s established academic partnerships and career development curriculum. Another advantage of Dean is its location in Franklin, MA, and its proximity to Foxborough (Patriots and Revolution), Boston (Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics, Harvard Athletics, Northeastern Athletics, Boston College Athletics, and Boston University Athletics), Providence (Bruins, Providence College Athletics, and Brown Athletics), Worcester (Woo Sox, Railers, Holy Cross Athletics, and Bravehearts), Pawtucket (Rhode Island FC), and Brockton (Knockouts). This proximity is really important as it enabled me to do internships during the academic year in addition to summer internships.