As RPI’s Athletic Alumni Event Coordinator, Caitlyn DeLuca ’25 organizes large-scale events and coordinates alumni engagement with former athletes and coaches. She recently organized RPI’s 50 Years of Women’s Athletics Celebration, which featured keynote speaker Carol Stiff, Vice President of Programming and Acquisitions at ESPN.
Caitlyn DeLuca (right), with RPI Athletic Director, Kristie Bowers (left), and VP of Programming and Acquisitions at ESPN, Carol Stiff (center).
“It was my first major event leading the way,” DeLuca said. “It was an incredible experience celebrating such an important milestone for women in sports.”
DeLuca’s commitment to advancing women in sports took shape at SUNY Brockport, where she observed a significant gender gap in her sport management courses.
“There were several times I was the only female in the room,” DeLuca said. “That pushed me to prove that I belong in this field just as much as anyone else. But my professors always made me feel equal and respected.”
Hands-on learning is a cornerstone of SUNY Brockport’s sport management program. For her senior-year internship, DeLuca joined RPI working under Athletic Director Dr. Kristie Bowers. Impressed by DeLuca’s work, RPI’s athletics department offered her a full-time position after she graduated from her program.
“Use your connections,” DeLuca said. “It might seem overwhelming at first, but every relationship you build can help you in ways you don’t even expect. The people you meet will truly be your biggest supporters.”
As part of her role at RPI, DeLuca traveled to Kansas City to attend the Women Leaders in Sports Conference, an organization dedicated to supporting women working and leading in the sports industry.
“It’s an amazing network dedicated to empowering women in the industry,” she said. “I wish I’d known about it during my time at Brockport.”
DeLuca’s academic experience at Brockport plays a major role in her day-to-day tasks at RPI, which included a course where she psychoanalyzed everyone’s favorite coach – Ted Lasso.
“Professor Bob Schneider was always someone I could go to when I needed guidance,” DeLuca said. “Professor (Mario) Fontana had us watch Ted Lasso and analyze it from a psychological perspective. It made me think differently about what it means to lead people and build team culture.”
“Brockport gave me the confidence and direction I needed. It helped me find my path, and now I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”
Caitlyn DeLuca
DeLuca’s Brockport education continues to guide her work in collegiate athletics and played a key role in leading her to her current career.
“Brockport gave me the confidence and direction I needed,” she said. “It helped me find my path, and now I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”