Catching up with Cowgirl Soccer. Former Wyoming student-athlete Kelly McShane was a four-year letterwinner and striker for the Cowgirls from 1997-2000. A Second Team All-Mountain West selection in 2000, she still ranks among the top ten in five categories including goals, assists, points, game-winning goals and shots. A two-time Academic All-MW selection, she graduated with a degree in business administration and a minor in geography from UW in 2001. She is currently an Account Executive for the University of Denver Sports Properties. She helps manage the multi-media rights for the DU Athletic Department. Her specific role is to fulfill the various assets for clients ranging from media assets (TV, radio, digital), in-game promotions, signage and hospitality. UW Media Relations recently caught up with her to see what's been going on.
What steps did you take to get into your current career field? I have always been passionate about sports and knew that after my time at Wyoming, I wanted to pursue a career in athletics but I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do. To help get a better understanding of the various fields within sports management. I did an internship one summer with the Colorado Rapids and during my 5th year at UW, I worked under Barbara Burke, the Senior Women's Administrator in the Athletics Department. After graduating from UW, I attended Georgia Southern University, where I received a Master's in Sports Management. From that point on, I have held different sport management roles with stops at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Bank of America, Raycom Sports and now at Denver Sports Properties.
How did your involvement in athletics aid in the path that you chose following graduation? Playing soccer in college opened my eyes up to all of the different roles and opportunities there are within an athletic department. I left UW initially with aspirations of becoming an SWA but after learning more about the sports industry and watching it evolve, even during the time I was in grad school, my path changed.
What piece of advice would you give current student-athletes? Your time at UW goes by so fast. So make sure you are always giving 100% in practice, in games and in school. You want to graduate from UW with no regrets.
What is your fondest memory of playing at the University of Wyoming? There are so many wonderful memories about my time at UW but having to pick one, I would say game days. Game days were always special and what I miss the most was the special vibe in the air, the pre-game rituals, seeing my parents in the stands cheering, the intensity of the competition, and for 90 minutes I got to take the field with my closest friends to compete at the highest level with the chance to do something special.
How did your previous coaches influence you? Coach Anne Moore instilled mental toughness in me which is an invaluable tool. It has application not only on the soccer field but in day to day life.
