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Pictured above: Natalie Rigatuso (right) learned the athletics communications business by shadowing SID Kelsey Redmond (middle) and graduate assistant Karli Kerrigan (left). In April, the three celebrated an NAIA national championship for Grand View in men’s volleyball.
Natalie Rigatuso makes the jump from student-athlete to full-time SID at Grand View
by Laurie Bollig – College Sports Communicators, Director of Membership Engagement @LaurieBollig
This time last year,
Natalie Rigatuso was lacing it up for her senior season as a women’s basketball player for Grand View University. The Vikings went 25-8 overall last season, posting a 16-3 record in the Heart of America Athletic Conference and an impressive 14-1 home record. The 5-7 guard from Council Bluffs, Iowa, averaged 17 minutes a game and contributed five points per game. This year you’ll find her at the scorer’s table, but she isn’t checking into the game. As a full-time sports information director, Rigatuso is in charge of athletics communications for the school’s 24 sports. She’s an example of a student-athlete who wanted to remain involved in athletics after her career was over. In Rigatuso’s case, athletics communications was the perfect fit.
Natalie Rigatuso prepares to stat a volleyball match for Grand View.
As a student-athlete at Grand View, how did you discover athletics communication?
NR: My story of discovering the SID position was unorthodox. I have always known that I wanted to stay around sports and work with people. My senior year I needed to start an internship for one of my business classes because I double majored in both Business Administration and Sports Management – my head coach at the time, Kelli Greenway, mentioned that Kelsey Redmond, our SID, needed an intern, and eventually a graduate assistant. The only thing I knew about Kelsey was that she was very good at volleyball, and I saw her EVERYWHERE at sporting events. I never knew exactly what she did, but I knew it had to be a lot because she was always working. I met with Kelsey eventually and the rest was history. I started with little tasks like Photoshop work and uploading rosters/schedules/headshots. Eventually learned the ropes of everything between both Kelsey and her GA Karli Kerrigan.
What steps did you take to prepare yourself to transition from student-athlete to full-time SID?
NR: I always tried to learn as much as possible. I'm much more of a hands-on learner than anything else. I spent a lot of time shadowing both Kelsey and Karli at events and eventually worked to a point where I could handle a sport on my own. Both Karli and Kelsey were exceptional to learn from and they are still a great help to me to this day with any questions I have. Karli has taught me that anything I need to learn or know I can always use someone/something else to learn from, there are always resources out there.
What skills do you possess from being a student-athlete that have possibly assisted you as you transition to full time in athletics communications?
NR: From being a student-athlete, I just have that competitive drive. Being an SID can be extremely competitive; you are always trying to meet deadlines or put out catchy content. Being an SID in the Heart is even better. I am surrounded by other great SIDs that have been around for a while, and it’s great that I have people to pace myself with and learn from. I think that also by being a student-athlete and now an employee at my alma mater, I already have great relationships with a lot of the coaches and staff here. I feel as if the coaches feel more comfortable coming to me with any needs because they know me well enough.
Does having the perspective of a student-athlete help you do your job in any way? If so, how so?
NR: Having a student-athlete perspective absolutely helps. I’ve grown up playing sports my whole life, and it’s something that I constantly had to work at to be my best. This holds true as an SID as well, we work a ton of long hours, and I know that sometimes to give the athletes/coaches the coverage and exposure they deserve that I’m having to put in some extra time, which pays dividends knowing that feeling as an athlete.
What advice would you give other student-athletes who may be interested in athletics communications as a potential career after graduation?
NR: I think that the communications role is one that isn’t talked about enough. I play a significant role in ensuring that our great athletic programs are fully functioning. I think that if I would’ve known that this role existed I would’ve had more than a year to fully prepare for my role now. My biggest advice is to just get involved in as much as possible, and always be willing to learn. There are many ways to keep that connection to sport, and I think the role I am in now helps fulfill that side of things.
Natalie Rigatuso averaged 17.0 minutes and 4.5 points her senior year as a guard for the Grand View Vikings.
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