Olivia Trice | FIU Women's Basketball
Hometown/Current City: Dayton, Ohio
Undergraduate Major: Organizational Communication
Postgraduate Field of Study: Master of Science: Global Strategic Communication - Marketing Management
What path did you take professionally after college?
I first pursued a career in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). I worked for 6 months with the University of Michigan with an NIL collective.
I now am a Division I Assistant Coach and Director of Basketball Operations at Wright State University.
How did being a college athlete impact your decision to work in athletics?
After finishing my 5 years as a division 1 athlete, I knew I wanted to build a career around athletics. The discipline and structure as a college athlete was something I knew I needed in my professional career. Working around the sport I love was an easy decision.
What do you enjoy most about your current role or profession?
What I enjoy most is building relationships with young women whose position I was just recently in. Teaching them about basketball but also teaching them about life outside of basketball has been very rewarding.
How did playing college sports shape who you are today?
Playing college basketball helped me find my identity. For so long, college athletes are defined by their sport but as I grew to love my sport and myself more, I realized I was more than just an athlete. The relationships I built while playing college basketball were a huge part in wanting to continue my career in sports. The friends you make and people you meet become your best friends.
What’s your favorite memory from college athletics?
My favorite memories from college all are centered around my teammates. Dancing in the locker room after a win, coming to the gym late with my teammates, beating tough teams, attending other sports matches and games. I can’t come up with one specific memory that is my favorite, but when I think about college athletics, I think about all these developmental times with my teammates.
What advice would you share with current student-athletes?
Learn to love who you are outside of your sport, then you will fall in love with your sport even more. College sports are fleeting but your identity is forever!