Making an Impact in Amateur Sports w/College Hockey Inc’s Mike Snee

There are many career options within the sports industry. You can choose to work in a myriad of departments, like sales, marketing, and broadcasting, to name a few. There are also many levels within the field, such as professional (major and minor league), college, high school, and youth/club sports. Finally, you need to find the sport you’re most passionate about to build your career around. Today’s guest on the WorkInSports Podcast found hockey to be his calling. Mike Snee is the Executive Director of College Hockey Inc, a marketing and promotions arm for NCAA Division I men’s hockey. Growing up in a hockey-hotbed state like Minnesota, Snee graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 1991 amid his hometown Minnesota North Stars making an improbable run to the Stanley Cup Finals. However, he saw how quickly things could change in pro sports as the North Stars moved to Dallas two years later.

When NHL hockey returned to Minnesota a few years later, Snee joined the Wild in 1998, a year before their inaugural season, as Director of Corporate Sales. He moved on to amateur hockey in 2008, serving as Minnesota Hockey’s Executive Director before joining College Hockey Inc in 2012. On today’s episode, Snee and VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp discuss:

• What challenges he faced getting a new pro franchise off the ground • What drew him to transition to hockey’s amateur levels • What advice he has for young sports professionals looking to find their fit in the industry

Enjoy the full episode, and subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast for more sports career advice. You can also catch additional content on our YouTube Channel!