Ask an Alum: Garth Glissman

Garth Glissman (’05, ’09) has experienced many arenas in the professional world: from becoming partner at a law firm to coaching to working in the NBA. Now the associate commissioner for the Southeastern Conference, Garth learned to adapt, compete and lead.

Tell us about your time at Nebraska.

I graduated from UNL in August 2005 (with a double major in history and political science). During my freshman year in 2001–02, I was a member of the Nebraska basketball team (but never played in a game). Beginning in the spring of my freshman year (and through my senior year), I was a backup quarterback on the Nebraska football. I was a letterman on the football team.

I graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in May 2009. While in law school, I was on the Nebraska Law Review. During my final year of law school, I was the live-in “house dad” for the Sig Ep fraternity on UNL’s city campus.

Talk a bit about your career trajectory going from a partner at a law firm to the NBA, and now the SEC.

My career as a college athlete at UNL did not go as I hoped, but my love of sports continued after college. While in law school, I did a lot of local sports radio — regularly appearing on a “sports talk” show and providing color commentary for local high school football and basketball games. In my final year of law school, I served as the head boys basketball coach at College View Academy, a small private high school in Lincoln, Nebraska.

After graduating from law school, I moved to Omaha to work as an attorney at the law firm of Kutak Rock for the next seven years. In the meantime, I continued to be a (volunteer) head boys basketball coach in Lincoln (including three more years at College View Academy followed by four years at Parkview Christian School). By 2016, I was a partner at Kutak Rock and in my eighth season as a head boys basketball coach. The combination of my experiences was unique and led to unexpected outreach from the NBA league office via LinkedIn. The NBA league office was looking for someone with a combination of legal and real-world basketball experience, and I checked both boxes.

In hindsight, my path to the NBA — and now the SEC — taught me the value of doing things for the right reasons. I did not coach small-school, high school basketball in Nebraska for eight years because I thought it would take me to the NBA. That thought never crossed my mind until the NBA reached out to me. I coached high school basketball because it provided an opportunity to positively impact young people. It just so happened to lead me down a career path I would not have anticipated.

Along the way, I have been fortunate to learn from some of the most influential people in the sports industry, including NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and my current boss, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.

What did you take away from your time in the NBA (and even at Kutak) that you’re using with the SEC now?

My NBA league office experience gave me confidence that I could perform at the highest level of the sports industry and under enormous pressure.

Kutak Rock provided me with an incredibly solid professional foundation. It taught me the basics of business and how to advocate for clients. It also honed my research, writing, critical thinking skills and attention to detail.

Talk about your current role with the SEC. What does it entail; what is your favorite part?

I am an Associate Commissioner for the Southeastern Conference (SEC). I oversee men’s basketball and work on other projects that impact all SEC sports.

Working at a league/conference office is a service-oriented job. In my role, I work with a wide range of stakeholders including student-athletes, coaches, athletics directors, other school administrators, media partners and SEC alums.

My favorite parts of working for the SEC are (1) building relationships with young people and (2) traveling to SEC schools for a game (because nothing beats the excitement of game day in a college town).

Can you speak about your passion for collegiate athletics and the opportunities it provides for young athletes?

I grew up on a small farm outside of Lincoln, Nebraska, which is a great college town, and then had the opportunity to be a walk-on student-athlete at my state’s flagship institution. My experiences taught me that college athletics has a unique ability to bring people together and inspire people from all walks of life, and to provide life-changing opportunities for young people.

Are there any goals you are striving to achieve as the SEC Associate Commissioner for Men’s Basketball? What impact do you hope to have on the conference, the sport and young athletes?

My guiding principles are to help (1) ensure a level playing field for all SEC schools, athletes and coaches, (2) preserve the many positive attributes of college athletics for future generations and (3) provide joy and inspiration to all SEC fans.

You were an athlete on both the Husker football team and the Husker basketball team in the early 2000s. How did playing at Nebraska prepare you to work in the sports industry and provide you with the skills to become a leader?

Being on the Nebraska football and basketball teams gave me an understanding of high-level athletics, including the mindset of elite athletes and coaches and what it takes to compete at the highest levels of sports.

I played QB, which is a position that requires leadership, communication and other intangible qualities that I believe have advanced my career in the sports industry. And I had the opportunity to refine many of those skills during my eight years as a head high school basketball coach.

What was your favorite memory at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?

My favorite memories at the University of Nebraska came as a member of the Nebraska football team. I only played in a few games, but I loved competing in football practice. It brought out a boyish enthusiasm in me, and it had a way of putting my mind “completely in the moment.” And I had the privilege to be the starting QB for the White Team in the 2003 Spring Game.

Was there someone at Nebraska that had a big impact on you?

Numerous professors, coaches and other administrators poured into me during my time at UNL and the Nebraska College of Law. To name just a few:

• Professor Pete Maslowski taught Military History but, most importantly, taught me how to write and took an enormous interest in my overall education. We are still close friends.
• Professor Lloyd Ambrosius is a presidential historian who was my advisor on my senior honor’s thesis, “Bill Clinton’s Blackness,” which explored the special relationship between Bill Clinton (who grew up in the segregated South) and Black Americans.
• Coach Frank Solich gave me an opportunity to be on the Nebraska football team (thanks to a recommendation from legendary strength coach Boyd Epley and his son, Jay). I will be forever grateful to all three of them.
• Assistant Athletic Director Keith Zimmer was remarkably kind to me and helped facilitate my community involvement in Lincoln and throughout the state.

What is one thing you learned during your time at Nebraska that has continued to stick with you?

As a scout team QB on the Nebraska football team, I learned I could take a hit and get back up.

If you were to give current students advice on landing a job they are passionate about, what would it be?

The best career advice I can offer is to be a lifelong learner and willing to adapt; think independently and chart your own path; build authentic relationships; give much more than you take; make sacrifices other people are unwilling to make; learn from your mistakes and setbacks; and develop mental toughness.

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