In this Alumni Spotlight Q&A, Joel Katz reflects on how his time at the University of California, Santa Barbara shaped his perspective on the connection between sports and community. As a Geography major with a minor in Sport Management, he explains how studying human geography helped him see sports not just as competition, but as a powerful force that brings people together and strengthens communities. Joel also looks back on his involvement in UCSB Rec Sports and club soccer, including helping lead the team to a national championship. After graduating, he spent a decade working in the NBA before transitioning into community-focused leadership roles. Now serving as Vice President of Community Impact for San Diego FC and as a board member of the San Diego Parks Foundation, Joel focuses on expanding access to recreational spaces and youth programs that strengthen communities through sport.
How did studying geography with a minor in sport management shape the way you think about sports, communities, and space?
My time at UCSB helped me understand that communities are ecosystems - shaped by shared spaces and intersecting interests. Studying geography and sport management taught me that space extends beyond the physical. Space is social, cultural, and highly emotional. Geography and sport shape how people gather. They influence belonging and serve as departure points for identity. People convene around shared experiences.
This academic combination continues to guide my work. I think constantly about how to leverage space and sport to foster connection. Through a human geography lens, I see sport not just as wins and losses, performance, or competition, but as a spatial force - something that activates people, parks, campuses, neighborhoods, and cities. Something that brings us together. A sports team is a civic anchor. A field or court is common ground.
You were deeply involved in Rec Sports and club soccer, including winning a national championship. What did those experiences teach you about leadership and teamwork?
Winning a national championship was an incredible moment, but what truly shaped me most was the journey throughout my four years of playing, not the outcome in November 2007. I learned that leadership could come from anywhere. I learned to play my role. I learned the value of creating conditions for success, engaging in shared sacrifice, rolling up my sleeves and doing whatever it took for the greater good. I had the opportunity to serve as team president and captain for the club, which allowed me to advocate for the present team while protecting opportunities for future student-athletes.
Through Rec Sports, I also had opportunities to serve the broader student body - working to preserve recreational field space at Storke Field and advocating for the additional turf field at the Rec Cen. Helping build the UCSB Rec Sports marketing team was about elevating both current and future voices as well. I’m most proud of building infrastructure that supported broader campus experiences and workforce opportunities. I’m grateful UCSB gave me the space to build something that outlasted my time there.
How did UCSB's environment encourage you to experiment, take risks, or pursue ideas that didn't have a clear roadmap at the time?
UCSB permitted me to experiment with ideas. I was encouraged to make a case, build a plan, and take responsibility for bringing a concept to life. There wasn’t a blueprint for launching GauchosPlay.com or helping build a student-run marketing platform within Rec Sports. That ambiguity was formative.
I learned how to operate without a clear roadmap. I felt encouraged to take risks and learned how to collaborate more effectively. I learned to lead peers and professionals with more experience than me. I learned to stay the course. I learned that passion matters. These lessons have stayed with me throughout my career. The sports industry is fast-paced and you’re often building while moving. UCSB gave me the courage to take thoughtful risks. UCSB gave me the discipline to follow through. UCSB taught me how to think - not just what to think.
After UCSB, you spent a decade working in the NBA, including with a professional team in Memphis. What were some of the biggest lessons you took from that chapter?
Moving to Memphis right out of college was transformative. It was where theory from my geography and sport management studies met reality. I quickly grew up professionally and learned how much responsibility comes with working in community in professional sports.
I learned what community-centric meant and why listening first matters. I learned to prepare thoroughly and advocate more confidently. I learned that meaningful work is a marathon, not a sprint. I learned I was built for high-pressure environments. Most importantly, I learned not to be intimidated by titles, but to let the quality and integrity of my work speak for itself. Sports organizations have unique convening power, which can create generational impact. I learned to build systems intended for long-term sustainability. Memphis taught me that community impact isn’t measured in seasons - it’s measured in lives touched.
You now serve as Vice President of Community Impact for San Diego FC and as a board member for the San Diego Parks Foundation. What does “community impact” mean to you in professional sports?
Community impact in professional sports starts with recognizing that you work for a civic institution - not just a sports & entertainment brand. It’s about purpose and performance. Community impact can’t be transactional - it needs to be relational. Impact starts with listening, understanding context and the priorities of the local market, and aligning resources to meet local needs.
At San Diego FC, being a new professional team gives us a unique opportunity to define what we stand for and align with our community. I get to help architect impact rather than retrofit it. For SDFC, that means investing in safe play spaces, growing access to soccer, creating educational programs for kids and coaches, engaging volunteers, and building pathways to opportunity. It means engaging our players and staff in meaningful ways. It means showing up consistently - not just when it’s convenient, and not just when the cameras are on. Community impact is about meeting people where they are - physically and emotionally.
How did your early experiences as a student help prepare you for the realities of working in high-stakes professional sports organizations?
UCSB set a standard for excellence. The academic rigor, social engagement, athletic
performance, and leadership opportunities laid a foundation. They elevated my floor.
I was prepared to perform under pressure and navigate competing priorities. I had a growth mindset. I was ready to meet deadlines and manage my time effectively. UCSB prepared me not just for the work, but for the environment in which the work happens. UCSB laid the groundwork for understanding that performing at a high level isn’t situational - it’s a daily practice. It’s a mindset. That mentality has stayed with me throughout my career.
The battle is won before it’s begun.... thank you, Coach Ferrer for introducing me to Sun Tzu’s, The Art of War.
Through your work with Project Backboard and the San Diego Parks Foundation, you’ve helped build courts and fields across the country. Why is access to recreational spaces so important, especially for young people?
Youth sports have become increasingly exclusive and specialized. Recreational leagues and free access to sport are declining and pay-to-play has become the norm.
Recreational spaces matter because they are “no experience necessary” environments where anyone can show up and belong. Recreation isn’t about performance; it’s about fun, fitness, and friendship. For young people, this is especially important. Sports should create impact beyond the field of play. We all know that the more you move, the better you feel, which influences how you think and show up. Parks and pitches are where I built confidence and formed many of my closest friendships.
Too many kids are dropping out of sports before they ever fall in love with them or experience their healing powers. The stakes are just too high for young people these days. Play spaces are community anchors and investing in these spaces creates healthier, more connected and resilient communities.
Looking back, how do you see your time at UCSB continuing to influence the work you do today?
My time at UCSB continues to guide me. I’m always trying to think intentionally about how programs and environments are designed, who they serve, how to foster belonging, what I can learn and do for others, and how I can leave a positive legacy. UCSB cemented a lifelong commitment to staying curious. Paul Lee was the first mentor I had who truly believed in me. Paul connected me to Donn Bernstein who also became a mentor. These two set the conditions for me to mentor others and play it forward. Donn and Paul taught me ownership, legacy, and stewardship. They taught me to never lose my spirit. Donn and Paul are Gaucho legends who helped me learn that creating space for others and elevating diverse voices matters. I’m deeply grateful for these Gauchos and my time at UCSB.
What advice would you give current UCSB students who are interested in entrepreneurship, sports, or community-focused leadership but aren’t sure how to take the first step?
Be there. Wherever “there” is- be there. Show up. Volunteer. Raise your hand. Asking questions shows confidence. Don’t let titles or hierarchy intimidate you from being yourself.
The opportunities that shape your career often emerge through participation, not perfect planning. Don’t wait for the ideal job to take a chance. It doesn’t need to be NBA, NFL, Google or Amazon. Smaller brands, companies, organizations and leagues will also provide meaningful responsibility. These spaces allow you to build real skills and often, take on more responsibility.
Invest in relationships. Building a trusted network matters deeply.
Take care of yourself. Growth requires consistency and self-care.
Demographics aren’t destiny. Your background doesn’t define your ceiling. Work hard. Stay curious. UCSB has given you a strong foundation - keep going.
Visit our alumni stories page for more alumni spotlights.