Spires in the Big Leagues

Saint Mary Alumni Building Careers in Professional Sports

Mel Roberts, U’20, grew up going to Kauffman Stadium. In childhood, she watched her hometown team, the Kansas City Royals, in admiration. Today, she’s looking at the Boys in Blue through a different lens.

As a video content producer for the Royals, Roberts now calls “The K” her office. Her projects range from social media content and TV commercials to animations for Crown Vision, the large video display board inside the stadium. She also occasionally travels with the team, including Spring Training in Surprise, Ariz.

“I have pride in the work that I do because I grew up supporting this team,” Roberts said. “When I make this content, it means a little bit more because I was that little girl watching these boys play baseball, and they inspired me. I hope to do that for the younger generation.”

Like Roberts, several University of Saint Mary alumni are paving meaningful careers in professional sports. From the sidelines to the front office, Saint Marians are building their dream careers and amplifying the skills they developed at USM.

Jonathan Dickey, D’16
San Francisco 49ers, Assistant Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer

Jonathan Dickey’s greatest passion lies within the human movement system. As he describes it, he is motivated by “identifying dysfunctional movement patterns and treating the global neuromuscular system.” Essentially, he helps patients retrain their brains to control their body’s movement.

After graduating from the USM Stefani Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Dickey wanted to take this passion to the highest level and set his sights on the National Football League.

Dickey is now in his second year as a full-time staff member with the San Francisco 49ers. His day-to-day responsibilities are as dynamic as the athletes in his care. He provides short and long-term rehabilitation programs for injured players, ensuring they are prepared for a safe and effective return to the field. Additionally, he leads an availability program focused on injury prevention, which involves assessing athletes’ movement patterns and developing personalized plans to reduce the risk of injury.

“I don’t ever like to see guys injured, therefore we like to be as preventative instead of reactive as possible,” Dickey said. “Either way, I love being on the floor and helping the guys. That’s what I’m most passionate about.”

Despite the pressures and long hours, Dickey remains grateful for the education and experiences that led him to this point. The relationships he built with his professors at USM and the clinical skills he developed in the program continue to inform his work today.

“The professors were incredible. They were humble, intelligent, and had real-world clinical experience,” Dickey said. “They weren’t just preparing us to pass our boards – they were preparing us to be successful in the clinic.”

Morgan Conrad Kolenda, U’13, M’15
Kansas City Monarchs, Director of Fan Engagement & Game Day

Morgan Kolenda’s career with the Kanas City Monarchs has come full circle. She started with the former T-Bones team as a part-time employee during her summer breaks at USM. Today, she supervises interns, including University of Saint Mary students.

Her role as the director of fan engagement is multifaceted and requires Kolenda to wear many hats. She oversees the team’s social media and digital marketing efforts – working closely with corporate partners to enhance fan engagement and the game day experience.

“We are in a very high-demand sports area, so there’s a lot of competition,” Kolenda said. “So I mainly focus on how we can stand out from everybody else and what we can offer fans to get people here at the stadium.”

Kolenda was also instrumental in the team’s rebranding from the T-Bones to the Kansas City Monarchs in 2020. The Monarchs name honors the legendary Negro League franchise that played from 1920 to 1965. The current team is committed to supporting the mission of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and a portion of all proceeds are given back to the museum.
“Being part of the rebranding was an incredible experience,” Kolenda said. “We weren’t just rebranding a team – we were bringing a historical brand back to life and educating people about who the original Monarchs were.”

Over the last eight years with the organization, Kolenda has developed meaningful relationships that keep her coming back. Some of her coworkers have become her closest friends, and she loves connecting with fans of the team.

Relationships were also an important part of Kolenda’s Saint Mary experience. She earned a sport management degree in 2013 and then finished the MBA program in 2015. During that time, Kolenda began many lasting friendships and met her future husband, Jake, who played baseball at USM.

“My best friends went to school at Saint Mary. They were in my wedding, and I talk to them every day,” she said. “I love the small-town feel of Saint Mary, and I’m thankful for everything that place has given me.”

Trevor Matifes, U’12
Biloxi Shuckers, Assistant General Manager

Trevor Matifes has found his calling in the world of baseball, serving as the assistant general manager for the Biloxi Shuckers, the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

When he moved to Biloxi, Miss., the Shuckers were a brand-new team and building a ballpark. Construction on the stadium was delayed, so the team played 55 games in locales other than Biloxi. This schedule presented many challenges, particularly for the fresh-faced Matifes, who was responsible for stadium operations.

“That was my first year full-time in baseball, and it was cool to be a part of that craziness,” he said. “It was a unique experience, and I learned so much.”

Nearly 10 years later, the craziness continues for Matifes. As the assistant general manager, he balances a wide range of responsibilities but has a particular focus on sales and stadium operations. Whether it’s overseeing group ticket sales, securing sponsorships, or managing the day-to-day upkeep of the stadium, Matifes is deeply involved in the business side of baseball.

“I think one of the cool things about working in sports is that every day is different,” Matifes said. “You’re not coming in here and doing the same thing every day.”

He credits Saint Mary with providing a strong foundation. The lessons he learned as a sport management major and member of the baseball team continue to influence his work.

“I think being a part of the baseball team and sports in general teaches you a lot,” he said. “You learn to show up every day and finish what you commit to. I learned a lot through the sport management program as well. Touring different facilities and the internship requirement played a pretty big role in why I’m in baseball now.”

Mel Roberts, U’20
Kansas City Royals, Video Content Producer

During the 2023 offseason, Roberts had one of her favorite days on the job.

The Royals were unveiling their QuikTrip jersey patch, and Roberts and her team were tasked with creating an announcement video. A group of players and Royals legends, including George Brett, acted as if they were filming audition tapes to work at the convenience store. Players pretended to welcome customers, share their favorite things about QuikTrip, and slurp out of QT cups. The shoot provided lighthearted opportunities for Roberts to interact with the players and bond with her team.

“Not many people can say their job is fun,” Roberts said. “I often find myself being like, ‘Oh, that was a really fun day.’ I cherish those moments.”
Her time at Saint Mary played a crucial role in preparing her for this career. After an injury sidelined her from playing softball, Roberts discovered a new passion for video production through USM’s digital communications program. She credits mentors like Dr. Laveda Peterlin and Dr. Nancy King for encouraging her to pursue her interests and showing her that a career behind the camera was possible.

“Dr. King always told me, ‘You have a fire inside of you.’ I think that took me a long way,” Roberts said. “They gave me the confidence that I needed to pursue this career. I didn’t really know that I could have a career doing something behind the camera. They helped ignite that little spark inside me and realize that this is possible.”