Turnaround jump shot scores his career goal

Players aren’t the only ones who leave college to pursue a career in professional sports. 

When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work for the Golden State Warriors opened up, Stephen Eriksen knew it was too good to pass up. 

Although he was leaving San Diego State University and the four-year plan he had for himself, Eriksen knew he could return to finish his degree when the time was right. 

And so he did, 27 years later. 

Originally from Vallejo, California, Eriksen moved to San Diego in 1995, attending Mesa College before transferring to SDSU. At the time, Eriksen enrolled as a political science major and wanted to attend law school. 

With dreams of becoming a sports agent, Eriksen felt that he was in the right place to get things on track. However, his time at SDSU was cut short in 1997 when Eriksen was the recipient of a long-shot opportunity to work with the Bay Area-based Golden State Warriors. 

“I was extremely lucky to get a job offer from the Golden State Warriors; that was an opportunity I simply could not let pass me by.”

Before leaving San Diego, Eriksen and his friends had dinner at Seau’s The Restaurant in Mission Valley, where they ran its namesake, famed Chargers linebacker Junior Seau. After learning what they were celebrating, Seau made Eriksen promise to come back and finish his degree.

“I remember him putting his hand on my shoulder and telling me, buddy, you need to promise me you will come back and finish your degree,” said Eriksen. “It was quite the cool moment and something that has always been on my mind.”

Eriksen launched his career with the Golden State Warriors, working with them for over six years before leaving to pursue opportunities within other companies in the sports industry. While the thought of finishing his degree was always in the back of his mind, it wasn’t until 2015 that it started to become reality. 

After spending time with the SDSU student organization, Sports Business Initiative, Eriksen had an epiphany while being on campus again. 

“The combination of camaraderie from the day along with the beauty of the Mesa in front of me planted the seed that formally attending and graduating from SDSU would be cemented as a life goal.”

Over the next nine years, Eriksen worked on getting back into college and finishing his degree once and for all. With support and help from the SDSU Global Campus, Eriksen made that dream come true, and he finally earned his degree in communication. 

“I often would feel bad that a grown man was taking so much of the Global Campus Staff time with the needed handholding, but they always made me feel like I was part of the very special student body.”

And as Eriksen prepared to walk the stage in May, he said that moment with Seau, who killed himself in 2012, is something that has always resonated with him after all this time, and he planned to honor him at the ceremony. 

“I will wear a lei at graduation to let #55 know that buddy did it.”

Career of a lifetime

Saying Eriksen has had the career of a lifetime may be an understatement. Over the last 27 years, Eriksen has covered a broad spectrum of work, ranging from game operations to marketing to ultimately working directly with players.

Currently, Eriksen serves as senior director of Player Programs and Communications at Adonal Foyle Enterprises, a group run by his longtime friend and business partner, the former Golden State Warrior.

Eriksen works directly with professional athletes off the court, striving to assist them in becoming more effective communicators and helping them identify new passions and pursuits. 

While the opportunities Eriksen has experienced in sports have been surreal, he said the most rewarding thing about it all is the people. 

“I am surrounded by so many incredibly talented, caring, and passionate individuals,” said Eriksen. “The sports industry's dichotomy is unique in the sense that from the outside, it’s highlighted primarily by wins and losses, but on the inside, I see winning in the quality of human beings who play many parts in the overall operation.”

Proud Aztec

Since that day back in 2015, Eriksen has actively worked to support the student organization Sports Business Initiative and continues to come back to campus multiple times a year to engage with current members and attend events. 

Eriksen recently spoke at the 10th Annual SBI Summit, where he shared his experience and advice to students looking to get involved in the sports industry. Eriksen also plans to help assist the Aztecs Going Pro Program and help open doors for student-athletes post-graduation. 

As a proud Aztec for Life, Eriksen advises SDSU students and fellow alumni to never give up and not be afraid to fail at the things they set their minds to. 

While you may not hit every milestone or get that position you wanted, Eriksen said it is about focusing on what you are building in the long run and focusing on your hits, not your strikeouts. 

“My mother instilled in me at a young age that life will be a roller coaster filled with ups and downs; you simply need to stay on the tracks and lean into the momentum.”

Although Eriksen is preparing to close this chapter of his life as an SDSU student, he is now opening a new one: being an SDSU alumnus.