Jon Santer
Asst. Sports Editor
For most seniors, the final semester of college is a time to scramble. Searching for jobs, major internships, or anything to keep them from returning to living at home with their parents is a daily occurrence for the most upper of classmen. It is safe to say that Nate Pinciak, a senior Sport Management major, is not one of those students.
Pinciak described his hunt as an “applying craze,” as he submitted applications, cover letters and resumes to many different venues, looking for a few bites. After a two-month waiting period to hear back from the sites, Pinciak finally received the call he was waiting for.
“It felt crazy,” said the senior. “I couldn’t really tell how I felt. I just asked myself ‘Is this real?’ I just left Boston 12 hours ago.”
Pinciak received news in the beginning of November that he was hired as an intern with the Boston Celtics, working with the game-day operations crew, headed by Senior Director of Game Presentation Sean Sullivan and Game Presentation Manager Jake Wendling.
The next step was the interview. Pinciak put on his “Sunday best” and headed into Boston to try and win over the Human Resources department, forcing them to choose him as one of their spring semester interns.
It didn’t take long for him to hear back from the Boston Celtics, for they called him the next morning with some good news.
“I went in for the interview, and the next day at 8 a.m., they called me and said that I should come by [because], ‘We have something for you,’” said Pinciak with enthusiasm.
What Pinciak received was just what he was looking for, an internship with a well-known company. Even though he does not have a major passion for the sport of basketball, he has some prior experience working the Hoophall Classic, a major high school basketball showcase held at Springfield College, for the Sport Management Club.
During the summer season, Pinciak worked with the New England Revolution as a part-time job, selling tickets and working with the marketing committee. Upon the return to Springfield, Pinciak assumed a position in the Equipment Room, working with the Athletic Department, as well as working part time for the Facilities and Campus Services department.
Initially after his application phase, Pinciak heard from the local American Hockey League team, the Springfield Falcons, and was hired by them for the spring semester and accepted, for he was unsure if he would hear back from his other venues.
A few weeks later, Pinciak was contacted by the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League, followed by the Celtics call. He was then forced with a decision between the two professional sport teams in Boston.
“That internship (Springfield Falcons) was what I was planning on doing because I had not heard from any other place,” said Pinciak. “Then the Boston Bruins contacted me as well, so I had them too. But I had to decide between them and the Celtics, and the Celtics have a season right now, so it was kind of a no-brainer.”
Pinciak’s first day working with the Celtics will be on January 2, 2013. It just so happens that Boston will play host to the Memphis Grizzlies at 7:30 p.m., getting Pinciak started right away.
“It’s tough because they said the spring guys that they hired will be thrown into the fire right away,” exclaims Pinciak. “In the preseason in the fall, the interns can have a few problems and kinks that they mess up, but in the spring, you get thrown right into the fire. It will be tough, but hopefully I can adjust quickly.”