Sometimes it takes doing something you don't like to realize your true calling. That was the revelation that led former State University of New York at New Paltz men's soccer student-athlete Garrett Munro '07 to pursue a career in college athletics.
"Essentially, when I finished my undergrad at New Paltz, I did study abroad and still had an extra semester left," says Munro. "I was supposed to graduate in the spring of 2007, but I ended up graduating in December of 2007. During that summer, I had an internship at KPMG as an account manager. I learned quickly that it wasn't the profession I wanted to go into."
Munro grew up in an athletics-minded family—both of his parents were physical education teachers at one point—so naturally, when his friends started looking at masters programs for sports-related jobs, he followed suit. After looking closer at pursuing a career in college athletics, he got connected with Steve Watson, the director of intercollegiate athletics at NCAA Division I St. Bonaventure University.
"Once I got through my undergraduate work, Steve Watson at St. Bonaventure was really the one who directed me to Ohio [University] for a grad program," says Munro. "He's been really good at helping me out."
While Munro was pursuing his Master of Business Administration and his Master of Sports Administration at Ohio, he interned in various areas of the athletics department. After working in marketing and ticketing, he finally found his calling while interning with the development office.
The area of development generally attracts relationship-building people, those who come from backgrounds in communications and marketing. Munro, who obtained his bachelor's degree in accounting, brought a different dynamic to the profession as a numbers-minded person.
"Having an accounting background has been useful when you get into fundraising and development, especially when you're overseeing the annual fund," says Munro. "The ability to analyze numbers—knowing where you're weak and where you're strong—is crucial. A lot of people in fundraising are relationship people, meaning they like interacting with others, but not everyone has a background in accounting. Number crunching helps in putting strategies together on how to grow an annual fund."
While serving in his two-year graduate program at Ohio, Munro seized an outside internship opportunity for three months during his second fall there, and he spent that time in Bloomington, Ind., working for the Indiana University Varsity Club. That experience—in addition to his time working in Ohio's athletic development office—primed him for his first full-time job as the assistant director of development at Miami (Ohio) University.
Munro spearheaded an important endeavor at Miami—designing, planning and communicating a new donor-based seating model for ice hockey. Men's ice hockey reigns supreme in Oxford, Ohio, with the nationally-relevant RedHawks having made two Frozen Four appearances since their first varsity season in 1978-79.
"Miami hadn't really had a donor-based seating program at that level previously," says Munro. "So it was a long planning process making sure we didn't upset anybody. We knew some people were upset about paying more money, but we wanted to be clear and straightforward in communication. We wanted to be as simplified as possible and wanted to give them options."
Recently, Munro's success at Miami led to yet another rise in the field of development; he was named an assistant athletic director and director of the Army A Club at Army last month. While in that position, he oversees the day-to-day operation of the Army A Club—including management of all administrative and business functions related to staff, budget, tickets, parking and special projects—while also overseeing the department's "Friends Of" fundraising program.
Munro's time at New Paltz was significant, as his senior season in 2006 marked the final year on the sidelines for director of athletics Stuart Robinson. Robinson, a two-time State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Coach of the Year whose career as the Hawks' bench boss spanned 15 seasons, said that Munro was part of a special group in the program's history.
"Garrett was one of the guys," says Robinson. "He was part of a very special group that made it the right time to step away from coaching."
A midfielder from Sidney, N.Y., Munro competed on the Hawks' men's soccer team for four years from 2003-06, seeing action in 58 games. During his senior season, he served as a regular starter, notching one goal and two assists for four points. While he certainly helped the team on the field, it was his commitment to values off the pitch that left an indelible impact on the program.
"He always put the team first and loved being a part of the program," says Robinson. "He would do anything to protect it, and he safeguarded the expectations of the program. Garrett wasn't afraid to challenge those who wouldn't do that."
Munro chose New Paltz largely because of the men's soccer program.
"I chose New Paltz because of soccer and the athletic department," says Munro. "I wanted to continue to play soccer in college. Track was more of my stronger sport, but ultimately, I wanted to play soccer. I visited several schools, but when I visited New Paltz and got to know the team and spend time with them, I enjoyed it. I felt like I fit in as a part of what they were all about. I thought that I could be comfortable with the team and the coach."
The time spent in college is ephemeral. Students find themselves on campus for freshman orientation, and a short four years later, they move on to the professional world with heightened responsibilities. Even still, former student-athletes like Munro are able to rekindle friendships years after graduating because of the bond shared during their time as undergraduates.
"My student-athlete experience at New Paltz was great," says Munro. "Last weekend, I got together with five or six of the guys I roomed with my sophomore year. A bunch of them live in this area. When I was in Ohio for five years, I hadn't been able to be in touch with them as well as they were with each other. But when we got together this past weekend, it was like we were back in our sophomore year again. You pick up those relationships right where they left off."
Eventually, every student-athlete and every college student comes to the realization that life must go on after college. However, the ability to cultivate and preserve others' student-athlete experience remains by pursuing a job in college athletics. Munro believes that plenty of opportunities await for those who are willing to put in the time.
"If you're a college kid and are interested in a career in sports, go to the athletic department," says Munro. "If you're at a smaller school, go to the athletic director, or if you're at a bigger school, go to the specific area that you're interested in. Say, 'Hey, I want the opportunity to volunteer and learn. I want the experience.' The only way you get a job in college athletics is getting the experience. Most people in the profession will tell you they started out with an unpaid internship. The best way to get your foot in the door and build your résumé is to volunteer. Show up every day when you say you will, and if you do what they ask you to, they'll give you more."
Robinson, who oversees a department that has 15 NCAA Division III sports and a dynamic wellness & recreation area, thinks that those who want a career in college athletics can learn from Munro's experiences.
"There's a lot of interest I receive from people who want to work in sports," says Robinson. "There is increasing interest in people wanting to get into college athletic administration. Most students don't know how to go about it. Garrett had great opportunities at Ohio and had exposure to other activities."
