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This story is part of our 360 package for December 2022, to view more stories, click here.

Three Up, Three Down is a Q&A series aimed at highlighting young members of the College Sports Communicators membership, their career paths and what they enjoy in their roles on a day-to-day basis.

Young professionals spotlight: Three up, three down with Dominique Del Prete, assistant director of athletic communications at Union College (NY)

by Lynn Walsh – College of Charleston, Director of Athletics Communications and Creative Content  @_lynnw
Young Professionals Committee member

Dominique Del Prete has found her place. Now entering her second year as the Assistant Director of Athletic Communications at Union College (NY), Del Prete has fulfilled several different roles at several different institutions and organizations. Not only has she found her place, but through her travels has found her people.

From the Manchester Monarchs to UVA Wise, and Ohio University to Union College, Del Prete has exuded her passion for sports and her student-athletes every step of the way.

Now entering your second year at Union, what were some of the highlights from year one?
My first year at Union and full-time in the athletic communications space was a little crazy, but one that helped me grow personally and professionally.
 
Throughout the year, we collaborated with a hockey student-athlete in support of C.O.C.O.A. House, a local non-profit that provides an after-school safe space for inner-city youth. His efforts generated support from both Union alumni and the local community. From that support, he successfully provided resources to help renovate C.O.C.O.A. House and made a substantial donation to their holiday toy drive. It was truly special seeing first-hand the impact this student-athlete created not just for current C.O.C.O.A. House kids, but also for future members of the program.
 
I was also fortunate to gain experience in hosting two NCAA Regionals (DI Men’s Ice Hockey & DIII Men’s Lacrosse) in my first year and take in lessons on what’s required to host and support an NCAA event.
 
Out of everything I’ve experienced this past year, the one moment that sticks out most to me was during Union’s appearance in the 2022 NCAA DIII Men’s Lacrosse Championship Game.
 
As our team was about to take the field for warm-ups, I had a moment to take everything in alongside the people I worked closest with – our Director of Athletic Communications, Steve Sheridan, and our Athletic Communications Assistant, Michael Mason. I don’t remember any of us speaking, but as we stood on the field together, I couldn’t have asked for a better moment to cap off what was a wild and incredible first year.

 

 
Prior to Union, you were first female Manager of Game Presentation & Video Coordinator for the Manchester Monarchs. What does being a female in athletics mean to you?
Being a woman in athletics means a great deal to me. Most roles I held prior to Union had me in situations where I was one of a few, if not the only woman in the room. Even now, I still find myself being the only woman in the room because most of the sports I’m responsible for are men’s sports.
 
My career began at 19 as an intern with the Manchester Monarchs and most of my co-workers were the same age as my father. I had very few female coworkers and no female role model that I could look up to. It wasn’t until almost a decade later that I found my first true female mentor in the industry. While working on my master’s degree at Ohio University, I met Sara Legarsky while volunteering in the Ohio University Athletic Department. Sara took me under her wing and offered me guidance and support as someone who was working hard to break into the athletic communications field.
 
I am very fortunate that over the course of my career, I’ve had male peers and supervisors advocate on my behalf and offer me opportunities that I would not have considered. It’s important that we continue to advocate for more women in sports, especially in college athletics. It’s also incredibly important to lift as you rise, and thanks to individuals like Sara, I now have the opportunity to help champion the next group of women that want to enter this space.
 
What has been the most rewarding part of your career thus far?
Truthfully, there are many parts of what I do that I believe to be rewarding, so it’s difficult to pick just one. As cliché as it is, the most rewarding part of my career has been the relationships I’ve built along the way. Some of those relationships are from previous stops and some formed via social media.  

I’ve been lucky to work with some amazing student-athletes and coaches in my short time at Union. I often joke with my colleagues that I have a bleeding heart because I care so much about the people around me. It’s nearly impossible for me to cross campus without stopping for a chat with someone.

Seeing students succeed on and off the field of play and then after graduation never fails to make my day. Several of my students from last year regularly keep in touch and it’s heartwarming that they want to keep me updated on their lives even after graduation. Things like a random text or asking to take a photo together at senior awards means that I had an impact on their time here which means so much.

This industry is built on relationships: with our student-athletes, our colleagues, and our peers across the country. Being part of a group of individuals that care so deeply about our students and our teams means so much.

 

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