Student-athlete, now graduate, starts career in high school athletics

Thomas Matthew chose the sport administration program at UC on the recommendation of trusted coaches

A 2024 University of Cincinnati graduate who majored in sport administration heads into the next chapter of his life as the new assistant athletic director at a private high school in Akron, Ohio.

Graduating with a 3.7 GPA, a deep well of leadership experience and a growing professional network, Thomas Matthew says he feels prepared for the role ahead. “Every school is different. There’s no set blueprint, but thanks to UC and the mentors I’ve had, I’m confident I can step in and succeed.”

Matthew started his new job on June 23 at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (STVM) in Akron.

Thomas Matthew on stage with his dipolma and University of Cincinnati branding in the background

Thomas Matthew, 2024 graduate of the CECH sport administration program. Photo/provided by Matthew.

Immediately after earning his bachelor’s degree with a minor in marketing, Matthew enrolled in UC’s online master’s degree program in sport administration. He is on track to graduate in August and has spent the past year working as a graduate assistant with UC Student Athlete Support Services.

“Thomas is a self-starter and was a pleasure to work with in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. I endorsed him highly for the new position he now holds,” says David Kelley, professor and online master’s degree in sport administration coordinator. The program was established in 2017 and is housed within the School of Human Services in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services and Information Technology.

Originally from Wooster, Ohio, about 40 minutes from Akron, Matthew says he is excited not only about the professional opportunity at STVM but also about being near family again. “Both my siblings live here, and I have nieces and nephews in town,” he says. “Being back with family is something I was really looking forward to.”

Why choose UC?

Thomas Matthew, a graduate of Wooster High School, was recruited to the UC Swim Team in 2020. Photo/UC Athletics.

A four-year student-athlete swimmer who was recruited to UC, Matthew credits his collegiate athletic experience with helping him find structure and community on campus, especially during the early isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. “During the pandemic, swimming gave me a routine and people to know,” he says.

He served as team captain for two years and held a pool record in the 200-medley relay, set during COVID-era meets. “It wasn’t a school record, but I’m proud of it,” he said. “It meant a lot to lead by example.”

Matthew knew early on he wanted to work in sports — an interest inspired by his mother, a longtime teacher and coach in Wooster. “I wanted to be just like her. Originally I thought I’d be a swim coach, but there aren’t many full-time roles for that, so I pivoted to athletic administration.”

He says he chose UC because of its highly regarded sport administration program. “I talked to my coaches and an academic adviser, and they all spoke highly of it, because it really focuses on preparing students for athletic director roles, especially in Ohio.”

The cornerstone of UC’s sport administration program is all about real-life application blended with theory.

David Kelley UC sports administration

Internships provide experience

In the spring of 2024, Matthew completed an internship at McNicholas High School, a private school in Cincinnati. He logged the 400 required internship hours under the mentorship of the school’s athletic director, Drew Schmidt, but his connection to the school started much earlier when exploring internships. “I first met Drew in spring 2023,” he said. “By that fall, I was volunteering at Friday night football games and volleyball matches.”

“Thomas was always willing to try and help out in whatever capacity we needed, but also had the wherewithal and social awareness to understand what the process for operations is within our department’s parameters; in essence, he fit right in with our staff and he can probably credit a lot of that to his experience in UC’s sport administration program,” says Schmidt.

Balancing the final season of his swim career with full-time internship hours and academics was no easy task. “There were definitely some long days,” Matthew remarks. “But that experience gave me the confidence I needed” to pursue full-time employment in the field.

Real-world environment

The cornerstone of UC’s sport administration program is all about the real-life application blended with theory, says professor Kelley. “That’s what separates the University of Cincinnati from other sport administration programs across the country.”

Matthew will work under longtime STVM athletic director and UC alumnus Kyle Sasala, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 2018 and ’19 in sport administration from UC.

“Kyle’s been there for years and has a great reputation,” says Matthew.

The Akron high school is known for its rich athletic tradition and offers around two dozen varsity sports. “They pride themselves on handling athletics the right way,” Matthew says. “Student-athlete really means something here — and that’s a philosophy I want to continue.”

Featured image at top of Thomas Matthew's first day on the job. Photo/provided by Matthew.

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