Hello, welcome to SportsGrad! 👋 

Here you’ll find interviews with (almost) every job in the sports industry.
We ask people living the dream:
“How did you get your job?” and “What does it actually involve?”
So that you can land a dream job in sports too.

Enjoy!

“I was ready to give up on my dream of working in sport… then I found SportsGrad, took the leap, and never looked back.” - Pat McGregor

Meet Pat McGregor, the Marketing & Communications Manager at Little Athletics NSW.

Pat’s job is to drive engagement, build the brand, and manage all things digital, from social media to partnerships and website strategy. He’s helped grow Little Athletics’ presence across platforms like TikTok, which now boasts 13,000+ followers—an impressive feat for a grassroots sporting organisation.

With previous experience at the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) and St George Illawarra Dragons, Pat has worked with Olympians like Jess Fox and Sam Fricker, produced digital content that reaches thousands, and played a key role in brand partnerships with major companies like Coles and McDonald’s. But his journey to this role wasn’t easy—he nearly gave up on working in sport entirely.

If you’re struggling to break into the industry, unsure about what roles in sport actually involve, or nervous about networking, Pat’s story will give you insights, inspiration, and a clear game plan to get your foot in the door.

🔥 Quickfire Questions

1. What inspired you to work in sport?
   Sports has always been my way of learning. I was never great in school, but ask me about a batting average and I could tell you in two seconds.
   

2. What was your first ever sports-related role?
   An internship in the membership team at St George Illawarra Dragons, which led to a casual role.
   

3. After high school, what extra study did you do?
   I didn’t have an ATAR, so I worked for a year, then did a Diploma of Business as a bridging course to get into university.
   

4. A book or podcast recommendation that's helped your career?
   How to Stop Worrying and Start Living – ironic because I worry 95% of the time. Also, the SportsGrad podcast was a game-changer for me.
   

5. If you could try another job in sport for a day, what would it be?
   Probably a partnerships or corporate role—I enjoy networking and first impressions.

🔥 Quickfire Journey

1. Warehouse Job to Sport – Quit a stable warehouse job with no backup plan but a dream to work in sport.

2. Little Athletics NSW – First marketing & comms role, built their social media from the ground up.

3. NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) – Digital Marketer, worked with Olympians, launched a new website.

4. Back to Little Athletics NSW – Returned in a leadership role, overseeing strategy and branding.

💬 Quotes from Pat

"I was ready to give up on my dream of working in sport… then I found SportsGrad, took the leap, and never looked back."

"I quit my warehouse job with nothing lined up – three weeks later, I was working in sport. Pressure makes you perform."

"The first ‘yes’ is the hardest. Once you get that, the world opens up."

"I never studied marketing, but I learned by doing – faking it ‘til I made it."

"Your first job in sport won’t be perfect, but it will open doors."

"Networking used to terrify me, but once I started reaching out, everything changed."

"I didn’t have an ATAR, so I had to do a bridging course just to get into uni – there’s always a way in."

"At the NSW Institute of Sport, I was working directly with Olympians – something I never thought I’d do."

"Social media was never the plan, but it turned out to be my biggest strength."

"Trust and autonomy are massive for me – I thrive when I’m left to do my own thing."

Career Journey: How did Pat get here?

Leaving Stability for Sport:

In 2021, Pat was working at a warehouse, unhappy and considering giving up on a career in sport. He’d previously worked as an intern and casual employee for St George Illawarra Dragons, but COVID wiped out those opportunities. With a mortgage hanging over his head, he made the bold decision to quit his job with nothing lined up—a risk that paid off within three weeks.

Breaking In at Little Athletics NSW:

Pat landed a role at Little Athletics NSW in marketing & social media, a space he had no formal training in. He quickly learned on the job, growing their digital presence, launching a TikTok account, and improving engagement across platforms. His work didn’t go unnoticed.

Moving Up at NSW Institute of Sport:

His success at Little Athletics led him to a digital marketing role at NSWIS, where he worked directly with top Australian athletes. He built a brand-new website, handled social media strategy, and collaborated with Olympians like Jess Fox and Sam Fricker.

Returning to Lead at Little Athletics:

Despite enjoying his time at NSWIS, Pat realised that autonomy, trust, and work-life balance mattered more to him than a big-name organisation. When the CEO of Little Athletics asked him to return, he jumped at the opportunity to take on a leadership role, shaping the brand’s future.

Role Overview: What does a Marketing and Communications Manager actually involve?

Pat is responsible for the digital presence, communication strategy, and brand partnerships at Little Athletics NSW. His role blends content creation, strategic planning, and commercial integration, ensuring the organisation connects with its audience in an engaging way.

Key Responsibilities:

Content Strategy & Social Media Management: Pat oversees the end-to-end content strategy, including social media, website updates, and email marketing. He played a key role in launching Little Athletics NSW’s TikTok, growing it to 13,000+ followers—a rare feat for grassroots sport. He ensures the organisation remains at the forefront of digital engagement while maintaining brand consistency.

Brand Partnerships & Commercial Activations: Sponsorship integration is a key part of Pat’s role. He works closely with major partners like Coles and McDonald’s, ensuring their activations are seamlessly embedded into Little Athletics’ digital platforms. This involves campaign planning, deliverable execution, and measuring sponsor reach.

Event Coverage & Live Content Production: Little Athletics competitions and state carnivals provide key moments to capture and distribute engaging content. Pat is responsible for on-the-ground event coverage, ensuring the energy and atmosphere of live events are shared across social channels and email campaigns.

Strategic Planning & Digital Transformation: With Little Athletics NSW forming a new partnership with Athletics NSW, Pat plays a leading role in the transition strategy, ensuring both organisations have a clear digital identity while unifying their branding and messaging.

Community Engagement & Audience Growth: Understanding that parents are the primary decision-makers for Little Athletics memberships, Pat carefully tailors messaging to appeal to both parents and young athletes. He uses insights from engagement data to optimise messaging across multiple platforms.

Managing Marketing as a One-Person Department: As a one-person marketing team, Pat juggles multiple roles, ensuring the entire digital presence is managed effectively. To keep up, he leverages low-cost digital tools and efficient content planning to streamline his workflow.

Questions asked by Members

1. How exactly did you break into your first role in sport?

2. What skills do you think are essential for a marketing & comms role?

3. How do you manage multiple social media platforms at once?

4. What was it like working with Olympians at NSWIS?

5. How do you approach networking when you’re naturally shy?

6. How important is formal marketing education vs. learning on the job?

7. What’s your best tip for standing out in job applications?

8. How do you balance work-life commitments in the sports industry?

9. What’s your favourite part of working in sport?

10. If you had to start over, what would you do differently?

Become a SportsGrad Member to watch the full interview