Written by Liv Hernandez
This past Tuesday Andy Clark’s Sports Management class had the pleasure of hearing from the heart of DePaul Athletics, the people that make everything possible for its athletes, students, and fans alike, DeWayne Peevy, Taylor Stapleton, Jill Hollembeak, Matt Menard, Nina Goodhue, and Paul Stromberg. Each speaker offered valuable insight into their roles, experiences, and values that guide the success of DePaul Athletics.
DeWayne Peevy, Director of Athletics at DePaul University, shared his journey to DePaul. He recalled walking through the Lincoln Park campus before his interview, feeling inspired by the community and potential of the university. DeWayne spoke about his personal “why” — the students and youth who drive his passion and purpose. When building his team, he looks for three key traits: a strong work ethic, passion, and the ability to be a great teammate. He also emphasized the importance of perspective, reminding students that losses are inevitable, so it’s essential to enjoy and appreciate the wins and positive moments along the way.
Taylor Stapleton, Executive Associate Director of Athletics, previously worked with DeWayne at the University of Kentucky before joining him at DePaul. Taylor shared his philosophy to “Be a Life Long Learner” stressing that success doesn’t come from being the smartest person in the room but from being the most curious. Curious to ask, and be open to learn and gain experience. His experiences in analytics and revenue strategy highlighted two key lenses: brand building and awareness building. Taylor discussed maximizing returns through pricing strategies and innovative selling platforms, introducing the concept of “distributed commerce” — being present wherever consumers already are — a practice that has since become an industry standard. Stapleton also spoke on the idea of materiality, knowing how to prioritize effort and focus on what truly moves the needle.
Jill Hollembeak, Executive Director of Athletics is regarded in high esteem by DeWayne as someone that balances him out. A first generation college student, Jill reflected on hardworking father and mother, who fought for her future in education and athletics, which instilled in her a “roll up the sleeves and get to work” mentality and work ethic. As an alumni of Illinois State University, she often carries with her the University motto, “Gladly learn and gladly teach.” Jill also reflected on the evolution of women’s athletics, tracing progress from before Title IX to the opportunities available today.
Matt Menard, General Manager of Ticket Sales & Service at DePaul Athletics, shared his career journey, beginning outside of the sports industry and then transitioning into major sports teams. At DePaul, he oversees a dynamic ticketing operation that includes group sales with nonprofits, businesses, and youth programs. Matt emphasized that ticket sales are one of the best ways to break into the sports industry, encouraging students to get comfortable making outbound calls and to shake off the fear by viewing rejection as a valuable learning experience for the next call. Reflecting on his very first sale — to his best friend’s father — he reminded students that every call, whether successful or not, builds experience, confidence, and growth.
Nina Goodhue, a 2019 DePaul graduate and Associate Athletics Director for Marketing, started her journey at DePaul as a Basketball Student Manager. After gaining experience in marketing and ticketing at UIC, an opportunity opened up at her alma mater, DePaul. Nina walked us through her role in operations with DePaul teams, and “show running” — from coordinating tip-off timing to anthem testing and organizing game setups. Nina shared the experience of working to bring the DePaul NASCAR car to life in collaboration with SPIRE. Her work emphasizes the importance of building off the atmosphere to engage fans and create memorable experiences. Nina also encouraged us to take initiative early in our careers, advising us not to wait until five years after graduation to start asking for job opportunities.
Paul Stromberg, also a 2019 DePaul graduate, is the Assistant Athletics Director for Communications. His journey started by working media for lacrosse games. Later he obtained the opportunity to work at the Big East office in New York. When he returned to DePaul, Paul took on a Graduate Assistant role for two years before transitioning into a full-time communications position. He works with the Men’s Soccer and Women’s Basketball teams, managing event communications, updating the website, record-keeping, and conducting interviews. Paul is also responsible for creating scripts and social media content to promote the teams and events.
In addition to meeting with the DePaul Athletics leadership team, we also had the chance to tour the DePaul Sullivan Athletic Center, which was an incredible experience. We’re grateful for the time they took to meet with us, and for giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the hard work and Blue Grit of DePaul Athletics. Thank you to everyone for making this such a valuable opportunity for us as DePaul students!