From Classroom to Championship: First-Year Helps Power NCAA Title Atmosphere
By Judith Kelliher
First-year Sport Management major Brady Holzmiller, Class of 2029, brings a certain excitement and joy to the College’s athletic events. Whether as a public address announcer for more than 150 athletic contests, or creating the crowd-pleasing sounds as a DJ in the arena at the April 2026 Division III NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship Tournament, Brady leaned into all the experiential learning opportunities his major offers. Hear from Brady about those experiences.
Q. Can you please describe your experiential learning opportunities at the NCAA tournament hosted on the Springfield College home court?
A. Planning and the technical sides of the event were something new to me. Specifically, how to work with and compromise between the College and the NCAA, preparing signage and transforming the arena, etc. I learned the whole process through all of my great supervisors and classmates. I asked a bunch of questions to see how much knowledge I can grasp! On the DJ side, it was one of the best experiences and the best crowds I have ever worked in front of. I have DJ'd in front of 10,000 people and worked on some of the biggest stages across New England, but I have never worked in front of a crowd like the one I had this past weekend. More than 2,000 fans packed into a small gym and united through a game. It is what makes Springfield College a special place. It is a surreal feeling to have all the energy at my fingertips and ignite the spark in the students through one song. “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond is a great example. It was up to me to decide when the best time to play it. As Springfield College went up 2-0 in the NCAA national championship final, there was no better time for it. Everyone was into it, and I know the players could feel it on the court, which is just as important. Watching everyone sing “Sweet Caroline,” or even hearing their own songs or requests, is a joy.
Q. How did serving as the DJ for the volleyball championships tie into your Sport Management major?
A. Heavily! As Sport Management Associate Professor Heather Gilmour says, “It's all about turning one from a sport fan to a sport professional.” To me, it's all about providing those experiences for sports fans and creating memories to look back on for all those involved. This event was the prime opportunity to incorporate that mentality and give the fans an unforgettable experience.
Q. How did this event impact what you hope to gain as a Sport Management major?
A. This event had a tremendous impact on me. Typically, I serve as one of the PA announcers for Springfield College Athletics. Meaning, I am the in-stadium/arena voice for the Pride. I have probably done close to 150 games this year. I even did the first three rounds of the volleyball tournament behind the microphone, but nobody but the team and the Athletic Department knows me by face. This opportunity impacted me personally. Specifically, the fact that my supervisors rely so heavily on my selections and take on a leadership role gives me a new perspective. It is a great honor to provide wisdom and serve as a role model to my classmates and colleagues, and I am very grateful to work with them regularly. Additionally, this impacts me personally because I love to see people come together. Community is the best feeling in the world, and supporting that through what I played is special.
Q. What skill(s) did you learn from your work at the volleyball championships?
A. Communication is the biggest skill. Throughout the tournament, everything felt like a fire drill: very frantic, high-stress, and many rushes of adrenaline. But the best way to get through it all is communication with the communications team, event management staff, and fellow workers.
Q. Where do you see yourself in the future of sport management?
A. In the future, I've always wanted to become a game presentation director or have a role in fan engagement. I am chasing this job because of my love for events like these, and so I can continue to create memories and give fans a great experience. I reflect on my memories of playing and being around sports, and it would be an honor to create those memories for whoever they may be. I've always wanted to work for the Red Sox, whether it be PA announcing, DJing, or just a regular fan engagement position. It is where my first core memory was made, and it has motivated me to chase these dreams and start grinding it out.
Q. What would you say about the experiential learning opportunities in the College’s Sport Management program?
A. It is one thing to learn about what you want to do, but being in the moment, doing it is the best, and it gives you a certain kind of joy that cannot be put into words. Not only is it the best learning experience, but it looks great on your resume. I am excited to see what awaits me based on this experience and the many others I have in the sports world.
Brady’s experience is just one example of how Springfield College students benefit from real-world opportunities at major events. According to Sport Management Program Director Daigo Yazawa, these moments are critical to student development.
“Experiential learning opportunities, particularly at a sporting event of this scale, are extremely important for our Sport Management students. At the Division III Men’s Volleyball Championship on the Springfield College campus, students gained hands-on experience managing sold-out crowds while strengthening their customer service and problem-solving skills. Through opportunities to work with various stakeholders, including the NCAA and Springfield College Athletic Department, they also developed a firsthand understanding of the logistical complexities involved in a national-level competition. This type of experiential learning, combined with what students learn in the classroom, helps set them apart and prepares them for success in the sports industry.”
