Former Intern Climbs Ladder to NBA

Former River Bats intern Brent Schoeb (Center) now is at the professional game with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. He is seen here with former Memphis President and current San Francisco 49ers COO Andy Dolich (Left) and current Grizzlies Vice President of Corporate Partnerships Chad Bolen (right).

February 4, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Just a few years ago Brent Schoeb spent his days driving the Batmobile around Dick Putz field as an intern for the River Bats.

Now he surveys the Fed Ex Forum arena from his office, serving as the Manager of Corporate Partnership Sales for the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.

“I am working, living, playing and breathing sports and it is a dream come true,” Schoeb said.

Schoeb now works to generate as much revenue possible in marketing and advertising sales for the team.

“I secure revenue with our corporate partners,” Schoeb said. “I sell them ads for all of the Grizzlies games and the radio and TV broadcasts and just for everything inside the Fed Ex Forum.”

While the Grizzlies play in the winter season, Schoeb finds himself the busiest during the off-season as he tries to establish relationships with businesses and ink deals with them for the upcoming seasons.

“Everyone always wonders what teams do during the off-season, but that is really our on-season when we do all the ground work and leg work that sets up our season,” Schoeb said.

“During the season it is really making sure that we are fulfilling our agreements.”

The adjustment to living in Memphis has been one that he has really enjoyed.

“It is great to put the shovel away; the weather is great here,” Schoeb said. “It is a very unique community that is very historical and cultured and I love living in it.”

Plus he has the satisfaction that sports comprise the majority of his life.

“I have worked really hard to get here and have lost a lot of girlfriends by putting my career first,” Schoeb said with a laugh. “Overall it has all worked out for me.”

The Windom native has always had a life that revolved around sports and he played baseball, basketball and football in high school.

“I have always been an avid sports fan and I remember my mother used to ask me if sports was my life,” Schoeb said. “I would always answer her with a yes.”

Schoeb ended up going to St. Cloud State where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business.

“I loved it there and made some great friends and earned a great degree,” Schoeb said.

It was also the place where he realized his future in the sports industry was in the operations rather than on the field playing in them.

“I tried to walk-on to the Husky baseball team but quickly realized the business part of the game was better suited for my attributes,” Schoeb said.

Schoeb was then referred to interview for an internship with the River Bats by his former Windom baseball coach Dean Jaacks, who was the club’s bus driver at the time.

He was then hired as a Media Relations Intern and for the next three years he was a staple in the franchise’s office.

“He was one of the top interns we have ever had here,” River Bats Vice President Marc Jerzak said. “He used this internship to the fullest and made a lot of great contacts.”

Schoeb gained experience and took a larger role with the club as each season went on.

“I really evolved,” Schoeb said. “Each year I took on more responsibility and earned more respect.”

River Bats owner Joel Sutherland then convinced Schoeb to get his masters at his Alma Mater Ohio University.

At Ohio University he would earn his Master’s but more importantly gain connections with the long list of alumni that had gone on to work in professional sports.

While a student, the connections landed him an internship with the Washington Nationals, where he worked with the club in their inaugural season.

Then after receiving his M.B.A the connections led him to the Memphis job, where he drove 10 hours to interview with the franchise.

He earned the job and has used his days with the River Bats to help him get his work done efficiently.

“It was really a crash course with working so many hours in such a short period of time, but it has made my work now so much more routine,” Schoeb said.

While Schoeb finds himself content at the current moment, he feels down the road he has a chance to reach higher limits.

“I feel like decisions will have to be made down the road, but right now I am happy to be where I am at and just want to continue to grow,” Schoeb said.