George Rodman, B.S. ’02, is a self-described nerd. Growing up, he had passion for both sports and technology, building his own computers and playing basketball in school.
When he moved to Salt Lake City in the mid 1990s as a preteen, the Utah Jazz were on fire. Rodman felt drawn to the NBA fandom as the energy of a successful season became contagious.
It was impossible to live in Salt Lake City during that period and not become a huge Jazz fan,
Rodman said.
Now, Rodman’s life has come full circle as he wraps up his fourth year as assistant coach and vice president of analytics and game strategy with the Jazz, fulfilling his lifelong dream of working in the NBA. Behind his achievement are years of hard work, late nights and the unique ability to combine his passions into a niche skill set in professional sports.
From College to the Court
When Rodman moved to Austin as a teen, he attended Westlake High School, serving as a student manager for the men’s basketball team. When researching colleges, he focused on sport management programs so he could continue working in sports, ultimately landing in the Sport Management program at The University of Texas at Austin’s College of Education.
When I was accepted into UT Austin, the rest didn’t matter,
Rodman said. I just moved forward with Texas without waiting to hear back from anyone else.
He began his journey at COE as a general kinesiology major, since the sport management program was reserved for upperclassmen and required a separate application. During this time, he volunteered with the Texas Longhorns Men’s Basketball office creating recruitment flyers, running basketball camps and organizing buses for the team. His hard work eventually landed him with one of the team’s coveted, limited student manager positions his junior year — the same year he was accepted into the sport management program.
My experience with the UT basketball team showed me that I could work in a field that never feels like work,
Rodman said. Whether I was volunteering in the office or working as a student manager, I was having fun working with good people in the office, on the court and while traveling.
By his senior year, Rodman secured multiple internships including with the Round Rock Express, the Houston Astros and the Charlotte Hornets, ultimately spending a semester in Charlotte, North Carolina, completing administrative work and coffee runs while staying close to his favorite game.
I loved every minute of it because I was around basketball and the team,
Rodman said. I still remember sitting in the video room watching the Hornets’ game and the video coordinator would put the Utah Jazz game on a tiny screen in the corner so I wouldn’t miss it.
A Shot at Living the Dream
When his internship with the Hornets wrapped up, Rodman returned to Austin and began working at a startup teaching himself business analytics. However, it was not long before he got an itch to return to the world of basketball.
Former Texas Longhorns Basketball mentors put him in touch with the San Antonio Spurs, who were in the early stages of developing their operations department as the analytics movement began to take off across the NBA.
I left my full-time job with good benefits, stock options and the perk of wearing flip flops to work to take an internship with the San Antonio Spurs,
Rodman said. My first year there, I had three days off, but I loved every minute of it. The experience solidified that I had made the right decision to get back into the world of basketball.
Two years later, Rodman became one of the Spurs’ first full-time analytics hires. Then, he went on to spend five years with the Orlando Magic, working in scouting, pre-draft evaluation and as general manager of the minor league team.
Next, Rodman returned to Charlotte, where he spent four years, this time on the coaching side with the Hornets.
One day, his old friend William Hardy, who had just been named head coach of the Utah Jazz, reached out and offered Rodman an opportunity that brought his career full circle back to Utah, where his NBA passion began. Hardy asked Rodman to join his team as assistant coach and vice president of analytics and game strategy.
It is incredible to work for a team that I grew up cheering on,
Rodman said, now three years into the gig. Not only is this a team and a city I have history with, but I walked in the door knowing so many people who I love seeing and working with every day.
A Courtside Perspective
Rodman’s favorite aspect of the job is being part of a team. Traveling with a group of about 40 to 45 people, the laughs, memories and mission that they share make the long, late nights worthwhile.
Three nights a week, we all come together with our different roles to pull in the same direction and help one another succeed,
Rodman said.
Looking back, Rodman says the College of Education at UT Austin’s Sport Management program gave him the tools to achieve his dream.
The biggest thing I learned was the importance of remaining agile and flexible when applying to jobs,
Rodman said. You must be willing to take any opportunities because these jobs are hard to come by. The most important thing is to get your foot in the door, rather than getting in the optimal lane first.
He also emphasizes the power of relationship building and how staying connected can lead to new opportunities. And while networking, teamwork and adaptability may secure a job, there is an added layer of maintaining the mental and emotional stamina required for the fast-paced industry.
Professional sports are not for the faint of heart,
Rodman said. It can be emotionally challenging at times and can put pressure on your relationships and families. But if you truly love it, you won’t feel like you have worked a day in your life.
Rodman advises students to set themselves apart by becoming experts in niche areas, such as skills in economics, analysis or law that can be applicable to sports.
Combine technical skills with basketball experience,
he says. Speak the game and add value in an emerging space in sports.
For Rodman, the key to his success has been combining technology and analytics with a lifelong passion for the court, creating a career where both passions thrive.
I was very fortunate to join the league at the moment that I did,
Rodman said. Now, I work with my two passions every day.
