Mentorship Leads to Summer Internship for Sport Management Major

When Zachary “Zack” Mentzer began being mentored by alumnus Colbe Herr, he had no idea the connection would lead to an internship at IMG Academy in Florida.

Zack Mentzer ’23 (Red Lion, PA) knew for a long time that he wanted a career in sports. A three-sport athlete in high school, Zack spent fall on the football field, winter on the basketball court, and spring on the lacrosse field.

When he found the Sport Management program at York College of Pennsylvania, it was a natural fit. York College sits in the middle of the Philadelphia and Baltimore sports markets, which offered numerous opportunities for connecting with an array of professionals in the field. In addition to joining the Sport Management program, Zack also had a chance to play on the York College Men’s Lacrosse team.

“It’s a unique program,” Zack says. “I don’t think other schools do what we do. The practicum is unique. We’re given a wide range of classes and there are so many different avenues to get into. They give you every opportunity you could have.”

Zack minors in Coaching and hopes eventually to work in an athletic department at the high school or collegiate level while also serving as a coach. For the past four years, he has been the offensive assistant and quarterback coach for Red Lion Area Senior High School football.

A remote mentorship

One of the opportunities Zack has enjoyed at York College is connecting with Colbe Herr ’14 through the York College Mentorship Program.

Herr came to York College as a Sport Management major with a minor in Business Administration. He played on the baseball team throughout college, served as team captain, and was named an All-America catcher.

During Herr’s time in school, York College had one of the fewer than a dozen accredited Sport Management majors in the nation and “… one of the best if not the best in the state,” he says.

The ability to play a collegiate sport also figured in his decision to attend York College. The experience of being a college athlete helped Herr to hone his time-management skills.

Prior to graduating, Herr served a summer internship at IMG Academy, a preparatory boarding school and sports training destination in Bradenton, Florida. That led to his current job as an account executive for the school, where he also has worked with its summer sports camps and as a program manager in the Baseball Department.

Herr’s desire to be a voice for students led him to get involved in the York College Mentorship Program.

“I always love giving back,” he says.

A new opportunity

Herr became Zack’s mentor remotely for the 2021-2022 school year and helped Zack secure a summer internship at IMG Academy.

“My attempt in this whole thing was to get him connected to more professionals than he was currently connected to,” Herr says.

Beginning in June, Zack will work with one of IMG’s athletic directors and serve as a counselor at its summer sports camps.

Zack offers some advice for other students considering connecting with a mentor.

“Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone,” he says. “If I didn’t do this, I wouldn’t have these opportunities.”