Patrick Osborne’s Journey Brings Him Full Circle To His Alma Mater Oklahoma State University

2Based on your education and your experience, it seemed like you knew early on that you wanted to work in the sport industry. Tell us how that came about and what has kept you going so far.

I always knew I’d work in sports. I grew up playing a little bit of everything but knew by about middle school I wasn’t going to be good enough to make a living on the field or court.

By high school, I had a choice to make. I grew up in an Oklahoma family – so everyone assumed that was the easy choice (so did I, truthfully).

But there was the other school, Oklahoma State. They had this sports media program I kept hearing about, and I had to see it for myself. I knew about 5 minutes into my tour I was going to be a Cowboy. And from there my path was set.

I wanted to be a journalist. Just like every kid who grew up around sports, I wanted to work for ESPN. It was the dream.

It wasn’t until sophomore year of college that things would change when my future boss, Gavin Lang, came and talked to one of my sports media classes. He wanted to talk athletics communications.

It was the first time I had even heard of an SID. I thought it sounded really cool, but I wasn’t sure I was cut out for it.

I was a shy, not overly confident student who sat in the back and went about his day trying to not be noticed. But sure enough, after class that day my professor emailed me and let me know he thought I should apply.

A day later I did, and two weeks later I was hired to start the fall of my junior year. The rest, as they say, is history.

3Having worked in communications and public relations roles since graduating from Oklahoma State University in 2017, what brought you to this side of the industry (communications and PR) instead of the media side?

The thrill of the job.

I love being part of a team and getting to showcase all the great things about my alma mater and a program (men’s basketball) that means the world to me.

There’s no greater joy in life than the opportunity to help others shine and tell their story.

4If someone wants to be successful in communications and public relations, what do you think are the three most important skills or attributes they need to have and why?

1. They must be humble, never let the ego get in the way. Our job isn’t about the spotlight, it’s about moving the spotlight to others. We work for our student-athletes, coaches, and athletic department. It isn’t about us. Our best days are the days nobody knew we were there. Our success is our team or athletic department’s success, and that’s always been enough for those of us in the industry.
2. They must have an engine. Anyone who works in sports knows it’s not always glamorous. There will be long hours, very few days off at times and lots of assignments thrown your way. Mistakes will always happen, but if your coaches/bosses see you’re giving your best effort, they will never fault you.
3. They must know when enough is enough. The grind is real, as I said in the second answer. But the most successful people in our industry are the ones who know when they need that day off, time to unwind and recharge. Don’t be afraid. There’s this message around sports that people who take time for themselves aren’t hardworking or don’t care. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Find time to invest in yourself. The results will thank you later.