Nonstop to the Olympics
ǰMatan Coll (Mgmt’25), early success in sports media came from saying “yes” to every opportunity. He turned a passion for photography and skiing into hands-on experience with and, ultimately, a role with at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. In May, he joined the team full-time as a production coordinator. From building social media audiences in 91Ҹ to working behind the scenes with NBC Sports’ communications team, Coll’s career reflects the fast-paced, relationship-driven nature of the sports industry.
What aspect of sports media do you like best?
The thing I love about sports is actually what a lot of people hate about it — the pace is nonstop. I don’t think I would be super happy working a traditional 9-to-5, because I would get to 5 and be like, ‘Okay, now what do I do?’ I’ve always been someone who loves to let my work become an extension of who I am as a person; the pace of live sports necessitates that.
What were some of the roles you held at CU 91Ҹ?
I credit all the career success I’ve had to the internships I had with CU Athletics. During my freshman and sophomore years, I worked capturing photos and social content for CU’s varsity sports. As a junior, I worked with CU Athletics’ marketing and fan experience team. I took over and grew the account from 3,000 to 11,000 followers. After Coach Prime arrived, everyone relevant in sports was coming to 91Ҹ. It was a networking gold mine.
How was your experience at the Olympics?
The Olympics are such a special thing. There’s really nothing to compare it to. More happens in a single day than would normally happen over the course of a week. For those 16 days, the world is watching. You show up as an intern on day one, and within an hour, they start treating you like a full-time employee for the entire stretch.
What was your role at the Olympics?
I worked as a runner with NBC Sports’ communications team, acting as a bit of a jack-of-all-trades and stepping in wherever I was needed. I helped coordinate talent interview access for external media, monitored live broadcasts and online chatter around NBC’s coverage, and even snuck in a few photo projects along the way. My mindset the whole time was simple: make myself as useful as possible — that’s something that’s carried through everything I’ve done.
Photo courtesy of Matan Coll