A Journey into Sports Management with 2018 Alumnus

Growing up playing and watching sports, Class of 2018 alumnus Michael Johnson II knew his career would involve that passion, and he is now working towards his master’s degree in sports management.

“I always told myself that I wanted to be surrounded by sports and that if I don't get the chance to play professionally, I want a job where I can be around what I love,” said Michael. “Working in sports was always in the back of my mind, and professionally I am interested in either team operations or event management.”

Following Hamden Hall, Michael attended the University of Connecticut where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology, human development, and family sciences. After graduating in 2022, he took two years off before pursuing his master’s degree in sports management at Florida State University. During his time in undergrad, Michael was involved with different sporting job opportunities including being a intramural referee for basketball, soccer, and flag football with the UConn Recreation Department. He eventually worked his way to becoming a student manager for club and intramural sports. Currently, he works part time as a facilities and event volunteer with the Florida State University facilities team.

“One of my favorite parts of attending Florida State is being a part of the facilities and events department,” said Michael. “Being a part of the setup and teardown of collegiate sporting events as well as helping with the logistics of the events has been a great experience. I am excited to continue my career in sports. I also enjoy all my professors. They come to class daily with great energy, and it is easy to tell they love what they do.”

Along with pursuing his master’s degree, Michael is also working as an operations intern with the Tallahassee Reckoning, the first-ever women's pre-professional soccer club. As it is the off-season, his responsibilities include promoting the organization within the community by attending community events for brand awareness. Other tasks include creating timing sheets for both pregame and postgame as a way for the organization to have a clear understanding of what needs to be done before and after games. He noted that once the season gets closer, he will have more operational responsibilities.

Michael maintained that a big part of succeeding in both college and his jobs is the work done outside the classroom. He credited Hamden Hall for the way in which faculty members and the administration encourages students.

“Hamden Hall encouraged students to meet with teachers during free time for extra help with material, which has made me more comfortable when seeking out college professors during their office hours,” said Michael. “Not only are office hours helpful for understanding the class material, but they’re also a great way to build a relationship with your college professors that can be helpful in the future.”

Further reflecting on his time under the pines, Michael recalled that some of his favorite memories have involved sports, specifically football. He noted that winning back-to-back New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Bowl games was a highlight along with summer training camp and being part of the Boys’ Varsity Football Team since eighth grade. Other favorite memories include the sixth-grade musical, camping trips, and watching the Boys’ Varsity Basketball Team beat Hopkins at the last second in 2012.

Being part of an exciting field on its own, Michael said he sees himself professionally down the line in two types of positions: a director of operations for a collegiate or professional sports team or as an event manager for a college athletic department or a sports event management company.