Corporate
RMC rookie Brandt leads Paladins’ front line uprising
Throughout the 2017-18 season, U SPORTS sits down with one key athlete, coach, and staff member of each U SPORTS athletic program in our new interview series “Getting to know…”
Name: Joey Sabo
School: Bishop’s University
Sport: Played U SPORTS football at Bishop’s University from 1989-93
Position: Athletic Manager
Previous job/position: Athletic coordinator
Hometown: Montreal, Que.
1. How did you get to your current position, and what do you enjoy most about our job?
I graduated from Bishop’s University and started working right away, at first as a Graduate Assistant football coach and I found my way to the position I hold today.
2. Who has had the most influence on your career?
First and foremost, my parents were hard-working people and great role models for me to follow. Then I received tremendous mentoring, guidance and learned some great things from Bruce Coulter, Garth Smith, Tom Allen, Ian Breck, Eddie Pomykala, Michael Goldbloom and from so many other coaches and athletic administrators from across our country that I have been lucky enough to work with.
I am a “context” person, so learning from our past leaders in sport has always been a “must” and I strongly believe that in order to grow, we must learn from the past.
3. What is your greatest sporting moment or achievement?
Being a part of the 1990 Dunsmore Cup football championship team.
4. How would you define a Bishop’s University student-athlete?
A Bishop’s student athlete is purple-bleeding, overachieving, determined and a grateful student-athlete.
5. What does success look like for the Bishop’s University athletics program?
Success for us is our student-athletes graduating and leaving the university ready and confident to be a leader in their community, workplace and at home.
6. What’s the biggest challenge you face in today’s sports world?
University sport is becoming far too professional and we are forgetting the importance of collegiality.
7. If you could sit down for dinner with one person in the sports industry (athlete, coach or manager), who would it be? Why? What would you talk about?
The different athletic administrators in U SPORTS.
When we had golfing afternoons at our Annual General Meeting (AGM), I used to play with different athletic administrators every year and would learn so much from them in those couple of hours on the course. I would love to get back to those opportunities again at the next AGM on a golf course.
8. What would you say to a sports fan who’s never watched a U SPORTS game/tournament/competition?
If you really want to know if you are a fan of sports, all you need to do is choose an evening and attend any Gaiter or U SPORTS game and see the passion, dedication and commitment that our student-athletes have.
9. What do you enjoy doing when you’re away from work?
Away from work? I enjoy reading eligibility, recruiting and AFA regulations.