Eleven years after landing an internship with the NCAA Division I conference, the Elon alumnus takes on a new title and will continue facilitating Olympic sports regular season events and championships.
What began as an internship continues to yield professional success for Elon alumnus Tom Waterman ’11.
Following more than a decade of service to the Atlantic 10 Conference, Waterman was promoted to assistant commissioner, according to a Sept. 6 news release. In his new role, Waterman will continue to serve as the league’s primary administrator for Olympic sports regular season events and championships. Additionally, his responsibilities include scheduling, officiating oversight and championship management and execution, as well as management of conference signage and awards.
The Atlantic 10, widely known as the A-10, is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletics conference featuring 15 colleges and universities stretching from New England to the Southeast and Midwest across 22 sports. Since joining the league in 2011 as the communications intern, Waterman has held several roles, including operations assistant and director of operations. Most recently, he spent the last three years as senior director of championships.
“The most exciting part about the role is the continued opportunity to be able to provide high-level championship experiences to the A-10’s student-athletes and coaches,” Waterman said. “The A-10 has been a great fit for me both personally and professionally. In my 11 years here at the A-10, I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to work in a variety of areas and gain meaningful experience in a profession that I am truly passionate about.”
In the news announcement, A-10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade applauded Waterman’s professionalism, dedication and contributions.
“Tom has worked tirelessly throughout his tenure,” McGlade said. “His commitment to excellence has earned him respect from his colleagues in the A-10 membership, and his positive attitude and teamwork are an asset to our staff. I commend him on this well-deserved promotion.”
As an Elon undergraduate studying media arts and entertainment, Waterman worked extensively in the School of Communications and Elon Athletics, serving as sports director at WSOE 89.3, where he called games for the women’s basketball program. Additionally, he completed a media internship with the Greensboro Grasshoppers minor league baseball organization.
“My experiences at Elon really helped prepare me for the professional world in numerous ways,” Waterman said. “The opportunities afforded to me at Elon through the School of Communications and the different student media organizations I was involved with provided me the ability to pursue my interests and develop relationships and skills that still benefit me today.”
When reflecting on his time under the oaks, Waterman charged current students to take advantage of the school’s programs and initiatives to gain real-world experience – and to not delay the process.
“I would encourage any student interested in pursuing a career in sports in any capacity to get involved early in your academic career and to take advantage of the countless opportunities available at Elon,” Waterman said.