For Penn State alumna Grace Noble, breaking into the sports industry didn’t start with a perfect plan; it started with a risk. 

Before arriving at Happy Valley, Noble was a Division I swimmer at Bryant University. After two years, she made the tough decision to retire from the sport and transfer schools.

“Penn State was the only school I applied to. It was kind of like, if I get in, I’m going. If I don’t, I’ll stay,” said Noble. 

Luckily, Noble got in and immediately began taking advantage of all the opportunities. She decided to interview for a recruiting operations and events position with Penn State Football while in the transfer process from Bryant.

“I just said yes to everything,” said Noble. “I didn’t want to be stuck in my apartment… I wanted the full experience.”

Over the next two years, Noble worked behind the scenes with Penn State Football to help manage the recruitment operations, maintain data for more than 100 prospects, and assist with various game day logistics.

The experience wasn’t just professional; it became personal. “As a transfer, it helped me meet people and build relationships,” said Noble. “It was huge for my social life and my confidence.”

By her senior year at Happy Valley, Noble knew she wanted a career in sports. However, what soon followed was a relentless stretch of applications, networking calls, and setbacks.

“There were a lot of no’s and a lot of ghosting,” said Noble. However, everything changed after connecting with a Penn State alum who worked in the NFL and encouraged her to apply for a post-graduate internship with the Baltimore Ravens.

After multiple interviews, Noble finally landed a marketing and event staff internship for the 2025-2026 season with the Ravens. 

Working for an NFL team really emphasized the massive scale of professional sports. “Penn State football is huge, but the NFL is on another level,” said Noble. 

From coordinating fan experiences like the “Ravens Walk” to navigating the inner workings of M&T Stadium, Noble saw firsthand how much goes into operating a single game.

“There’s so much happening, security, media, fan engagement,” said Noble. “Even underground, there’s constant movement. I didn’t even know half these jobs existed.”

Noble credits her time at Penn State Football for preparing her to step into the fast-paced lifestyle of an NFL environment. This was especially relevant when representing a team’s image and maintaining a high professional standard.

“You’re representing something bigger than yourself,” said Noble. “That always came naturally to me.”

Her work in recruiting operations also helped when it came to the level of detail needed for behind-the-scenes planning. 

“There are so many small NCAA rules. You’re making sure recruits are in the right place at the right time. People don’t realize how detailed it is, so having that experience from Penn State definitely made the transition easier when it came to following NFL rules,” said Noble. 

Outside of athletics, Noble expanded her skills through her work with Penn State’s fashion magazine, Valley Magazine, where she worked with their social media and public relations teams.

“I’ve always loved writing,” said Noble. “That role let me tap into that.”

By creating content across platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram, Noble developed a stronger understanding of brand voice and audience engagement, skills she hopes to carry into her future career.

For students who hope to develop a career in sports, Noble says, “Don’t give up and stay open-minded about post-graduate opportunities.” 

She further emphasized that while you might feel like you should immediately have a full-time job after graduating, internships are also a great place to get your start and meet the right people to help advance your career in the sports industry. 

After completing her internship this past winter, Noble is heading to Wyoming to work on a ranch for six months. These decisions reflect her willingness to embrace new experiences and “say yes to everything.”

Long-term, Noble hopes to transition into a more creative role within sports marketing, potentially focusing on writing or even photography. However, for now, she’s trusting the process. 

“Sometimes the best opportunities come from doing something completely different,” said Noble.