Spartans of UD: Bridgette Brandt
Oct 18, 2017 | University Relations staff
Spartans of UD is a new feature that highlights what makes University of Dubuque special – the people who live, work, and study on campus. Bridgette Brandt (C’17) has learned to balance her pursuit of a master of business administration degree at UD with her role as a football operations director graduate assistant on campus.
BRIDGETTE BRANDT (C’17)
Football Operations Director Graduate Assistant
1. How did you choose UD out of high school?
“Just like any other high school senior, I went on a lot of college visits. UD felt like my home away from home. I loved the campus and the area. After meeting with Kevin Cattani, director of sports marketing and an associate professor of sport marketing and management, and hearing about the sports marketing and management program, I knew this was the place I wanted to be.”
2. How did you first get involved with the game of football?
“I actually lived with football players Tanner Bronkema, Mac Mahmens, and Kayman Martens my junior year of college. They asked me if I would be willing to help the coaches show recruits around for one of the game day visits. After doing that, thanks to Head Football Coach Stan Zweifel, and Dr. Cattani, I was able to do a yearlong internship with the football team my senior year. During my internship, I realized that football was a sport I was passionate about and that I could see myself working in for the rest of my life. I knew from a pretty young age that I wanted to work in the sports field, and I’ve been really blessed to get the opportunity to work with such an amazing staff and a great group of athletes.”
3. What is your primary role as football operations director?
“I mainly deal with the recruiting side of things right now. I get in contact with high school players, set up game day visits, and try to make sure the whole processes goes smoothly for the coaches and the players. I also assist in dealing with travel arrangements and coordinating overnight stays when the team has an away game. I try to help the coaches with as much as possible and that can vary from doing paperwork to fixing a helmet or shoulder pads.”
4. With Homecoming this week, what is your favorite Homecoming memory?
“My favorite Homecoming memory would have to be from my junior year. My family came down for the game and we got to meet up with my friends and their parents. We all had a big tailgate before the game. UD beat Wartburg that game 45-13 and the stadium was just electric. It was one of those feelings you never forget!”
5. How have you been able to balance going to graduate school and coaching football?
“It was pretty challenging at first. I was amazed by all the things that the coaches do that you don’t think about. I’ve developed a pretty good schedule now, and that has really helped me create a nice balance between coaching and graduate school.”
6. How have fellow graduates Miles Hookstead (C’13) and Austin Hughes (C’16), who are assistant football coaches, helped you make transition from student to staff?
“It has been amazing having Coach Hookstead and Coach Hughes on the staff. They have become great mentors to me. Whenever I need someone to bounce ideas off of or if I just really need some advice, they are both right there. I can’t thank either of them enough for everything they’ve helped me with. The whole coaching staff has been amazing, too. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect being the only woman on the staff, but they have all taken me in and helped me grow not only as a professional but also as a person.”
7. What are your career goals following graduate school?
“This is a tricky question! I always go back and forth about what I see myself doing in the long run. I know that I want to stay involved with the game of football. I see myself becoming an athletic academic advisor or a director of football operations. I think that whatever job allows me to help student-athletes and to cultivate relationships with a coaching staff is where I see myself ending up.”
