SPS Stories
Alumni Spotlight
From NYU SPS to the Heart of Sports Law
Fast Facts
- Earned his BS in Sport Management in 2017
- Recommends all students complete an internship
- Believes marketable skills are key to career success
<p><span class="p-body">How does a passionate sports enthusiast become an influential legal professional? Eli Nachmany's story is a tale of ambition, dedication, and a creative approach to education. We first met Eli while he was earning his BS in Sport Management at the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport, and he is a shining example of how an NYU SPS education can launch careers that reshape industries.</span></p>
Forging a Path to Sports Law
<p><span class="p-body">Eli came to NYU SPS with a deep love for sports, having been the public address announcer for his high school's baseball team and a football player. However, it was the Sport Management program at NYU SPS that expanded his vision of a career in sports beyond broadcasting and journalism to the legal intricacies that underpin the sports world. </span></p>
The NYU SPS Sport Management program opened my eyes to the many ways that a person can become involved in the sports industry—especially as a lawyer. I decided to pursue the sports law track and I haven't looked back."
<p><span class="p-body">Like many SPS students, Eli's academic career was influenced by his joy for his hobbies and interests. He and his younger brother are currently on a decade-long quest to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums, a journey reflecting his love for sports and family. This adventure, along with his involvement in football at the youth level and his contributions to legal scholarship, showcases the breadth of his dedication to sports and community.</span></p>
Advice to Future Sports Management Professionals
<p><span class="p-body">Eli's insights for those considering a path in sports management are invaluable. Emphasizing entrepreneurship, he advises, "You have to be a bit entrepreneurial. The experience will be what you make of it." He encourages students to leverage New York City's resources, seek diverse internships, develop marketable skills such as coding and sports data analysis, and build a strong community. "Friends and community make these experiences worthwhile, and on a professional level, your peers are going to be tomorrow's industry leaders."</span></p>
Teaching the Next Generation
<p><span class="p-body">Eli's commitment to sports and law led him back to NYU SPS, where he designed and taught a seminar, <i>The NFL Labor Economy Through the Lens of the NFL Draft</i>. Reflecting on this experience, he expresses gratitude: "I am grateful to Dean [Vince] Gennaro, Dr. [Brianna] Newland, and NYU SPS for giving me the opportunity. It was a blast." This course allowed Eli to share his knowledge about the intricacies of the NFL's labor economy, offering insights and fostering a new generation of sports professionals.</span></p>
A Foundation for Success
<p><span class="p-body">The skills and perspectives Eli gained at NYU SPS have been instrumental in his legal career. "The program gave me the tools to reason through complex questions, see all 360 degrees of a problem, and apply my learning in a practical way," he reflects. His education laid the groundwork for a career characterized by a strong work ethic, professionalism, and leadership qualities that have propelled him forward as he prepares to join a law firm in Washington, DC.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">Your journey at NYU SPS may also lead you to the intersection of sports and law. See what <a href="/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/bs-in-sport-management.html">NYU SPS's BA in Sport Management</a> program has in store for you.</span></p>
