Sean O’Donnell: From fan to ace in the pocket
Miami senior earns coveted spot in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Foundation Class following SCENE
Sean O’Donnell: From fan to ace in the pocket
Sean O’Donnell has deep roots in Cleveland. His father’s side of the family has lived there for generations, and a passion for their city’s sports teams binds its members together as much as their shared ancestry.
So, when O’Donnell was asked “Why Cleveland?” during his interview for an account executive position with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he had an immediate answer.
“I’ve only seen my father cry twice: when his mother passed away and when the Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA Finals,” O’Donnell said. “So, yeah, I’m a Cavaliers fan. The biggest thing that draws me to the Cavaliers is their culture. And, obviously, being close to family is important to me.”
But it wasn’t just O’Donnell’s loyalty to Cleveland that led the Cavaliers to offer him a spot in their June 2026 Foundation Class the day after Miami University’s 2025 Sport Career Exploration and Networking Expo (SCENE) that saw a record-breaking 489 students attend. This senior Entrepreneurship and Sport Leadership and Management (SLAM) double major was seen as an “ace in the pocket” by the Cavaliers because he has made it his mission to seize every opportunity presented to him.
“We’re very excited for Sean to join our team and help him start his long, successful career in sports,” said Kyle Kaminski, manager of The Foundation, Cleveland Cavaliers. “His willingness to put himself in uncomfortable situations, accept feedback, and his passion for sports sales made it a no brainer when we began to extend offers for our June 2026 Foundation Class.”
Incredibly enough, O’Donnell didn’t picture himself working in sales until a year ago. For much of his life, he dreamed of working for a Power 5 college football team in either operations or recruiting. As a freshman, he took on a student employee role with the Miami football team. Though he appreciated his time with the program, he determined he wanted to go in a different direction.
While at Miami, O’Donnell completed internships with BrandRank.AI, CBS Sports, the Dayton Dragons, FanSided, and the Miami athletics communications, broadcast/multi-media, and marketing (ACMB) program.
“These experiences helped me figure out what I do and don’t want to do,” O’Donnell said. “Figuring out what you don’t want to do is just as important as figuring out what you do want to do. The transferable skills I gained from all of my internships played a key role in my landing my position with the Cavaliers.”
As a junior, O’Donnell connected with Bo Li, an associate professor in the SLAM department who mentors the National Collegiate Sports Sales Competition (NCSSC) team. Though only seniors can compete in NCSSC, Li encouraged O’Donnell to attend a training session with the team. Kaminski happened to be a surprise guest, and O’Donnell took the initiative to answer his questions and partake in a roleplay with him.
“I originally met Sean in October of 2024,” Kaminski said. “I recognized him as a top candidate in the group and was disappointed to learn he was only a junior. I thought he would have been a great immediate candidate.”
The next day, O’Donnell saw Kaminski again at the 2024 edition of SCENE. That encounter ultimately led to an invitation to attend the Cavaliers’ Virtual Sales Academy (VSA)—an exclusive program designed to equip participants with the sales skills and strategies needed to launch their sports careers—in May 2025.
“During VSA, I practiced like crazy, giving it 120%,” O’Donnell said. “I wanted to show my leadership so I held Zoom calls for my group once a week outside of VSA time so we could sharpen our skills. I tried to maximize not only what I learned but the effort I put in to show I was a good fit for the organization.”
O’Donnell’s efforts paid off. His willingness to compete and continuously grow helped him stand out from his fellow VSA attendees, a group representing colleges from across the United States.
“Sean caught the attention of many of our ticket sales employees,” Kaminski said. “Following the Virtual Sales Academy, he continued to follow up with all of the team members he met and expressed his eagerness to be a part of our organization.”
By the end of VSA, O’Donnell knew he wanted to work in sales, ideally for the Cavaliers.
“I felt like I had found my purpose,” O’Donnell said. “There’s something about selling an experience that’s different. I don’t remember the Christmas gifts I got as a kid, but I’ll always remember going to football, hockey, basketball, and baseball games with my family.”
When the Cavaliers committed to attend this year’s SCENE, O’Donnell made it a point to virtually connect with Kaminski the week before the event. At SCENE, he secured a next-day interview with Angelo Hronis, the Cavaliers’ director of business development.
“I had my interview at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, and I was nervous,” O’Donnell said. “I remember getting to the Career Center early, and it felt like hours. I was so excited about the opportunity to work for such an amazing organization, and I did my best to remember why it mattered so much to me and why I am the person I am.”
O’Donnell’s interview with the Cavaliers proved “the best (he) ever had.” About half an hour after he left the Career Center, Kaminski texted him to come back at 11 a.m.
“I got called into the room, and Kyle tells me that June is really far away, and that they can’t hire so far out,” O’Donnell said. “But, then, he says, ‘However, sometimes there are exceptions.’”
With that, Kaminski handed O’Donnell his own Cavaliers jersey. O’Donnell, Kaminski said, was a candidate “the Cavaliers couldn’t let someone else get.”
“I almost cried,” O’Donnell said. “At that moment, I felt like I had finally done it. I was a high school kid who barely got into college, who Miami definitely took a chance on, and now I’m going to work for the Cleveland Cavaliers.”
If one thing should be taken away from O’Donnell’s journey, it’s the importance of striving to learn and grow, every step of the way.
“No two routes are the same,” O’Donnell said. “Everyone’s journey is different. There is no right way to do things, but you have to have the hunger to get better and the will to learn. At every stop in college, I was always looking for the next opportunity. I was striving to learn, and I was working hard. I went beyond what was required, and I kept a positive attitude throughout the entire journey.”
