Adam Kearney ’25 Turns Practice into a Profession with the New England Revolution

A Career Path That Didn’t Start in Sports

Kearney’s path to professional sports wasn’t linear. Before marketing, sales, and soccer stadiums entered the picture, he explored technical education throughout high school and even considered a career in carpentry. As a first-generation college student, the idea of working in professional sports wasn’t even a thought.

“I didn’t really know how any of this worked,” Kearney said. “My parents didn’t go to college. This was all just learning as I went, figuring it out by doing.” That mindset ultimately became one of his greatest strengths.

Getting a Foot in the Door

While working as a student employee on Curry College’s Career & Experiential Learning (CXL) team, Kearney received an email about a local internship opportunity with the Boston Renegades, a highly successful professional women’s football team. The opportunity stemmed from a connection with Sport and Recreation Management Professor Natalie West, who played on the 2010 World Championship Team. Although he didn’t yet have direct experience in sports, he trusted his instincts and reached out…and it paid off. He landed the internship, which led to hands-on game-day work, marketing projects, and real exposure to the sports industry.

That initial opportunity opened the door to additional experiences with Rhode Island FC and later the Boston Red Sox, where he worked part-time in fan and youth engagement. Across those roles, Kearney learned what he enjoys most about working in sports: interacting with fans, building relationships, and creating experiences people remember long after the game ends. He credits those moments with helping him understand the business side of sports and confirming that this was the industry he wanted to pursue.

Practicing for a Job He Didn’t Have…Yet

One of the most formative moments of his time at Curry came in the classroom, where students participated in mock interviews for real-world roles. Kearney chose to interview for a theoretical sales position with the New England Revolution, his favorite team that he’s followed for as long as he can remember. At the time, it was simply an academic exercise, but it mirrored the exact interview process he would face after graduation. By the time he began interviewing for full-time roles, the process and preparation felt familiar, which proved critical when that practice opportunity became reality just two years later.

Working with the #NEREVS

He joined the New England Revolution organization as an Inside Sales Representative, participating in intensive training, mentorship, and daily outreach to fans and clients. Just months later, he earned a promotion to Account Executive, taking on greater responsibility in managing accounts and building long-term fan relationships, which he has thoroughly enjoyed.

At the same time, the industry requires adaptability, confidence, and a willingness to learn fast, all things he learned in the classroom at Curry and through various internship experiences.

Throughout his time at Curry, Kearney consistently leaned on the Office of Career & Experiential Learning.  Not just for job listings, but for feedback, networking, and honest advice. “Having CXL there for me made a huge difference,” he said. “They helped me prep for interviews, talk through options, and made me feel confident putting myself out there.”

Looking back, Kearney hopes students who dream of working in sports—or any competitive industry—take one thing away from his story:

“It’s possible,” he said. “If you actually sit down, listen, ask questions, and put yourself out there…it’s possible.”