Jack jumps into dream job

It was a case of perfect timing when Tasmania’s new NBL team was announced.

At just 23 years’ old, Jack Soward found himself with the perfect training for his post-university dream job with Australia’s latest NBL team, the Tasmania JackJumpers.

When Jack started his university journey with the Associate Degree in Applied Business, he never would have guessed that he’d end up working with a Tasmanian National Basketball League team.

From a young age, Jack was obsessed with sports and loved playing, watching and analysing football and basketball. He realised early on that while he might not be able to play at the professional level, it wouldn’t stop him from being a part of the Australian sports industry.

I realised how valuable the hands-on nature of my degree had been when I landed my first gig with Melbourne United Basketball Club.”

“I knew I wasn’t going to be the next Matthew Richardson or Kobe Bryant, and my passion for sport definitely outweighed my hand-eye coordination, but I wouldn’t let that stop me from putting points on the board in the industry,” Jack said.

When he heard about the Sports, Recreation, and Leisure specialisation in the University of Tasmania’s Associate Degree, he leapt at the opportunity to study this unique qualification in his home State. “Basketball can be a really tough sport to get your foot in the door, especially in Tasmania where there hasn’t been an NBL team for 25 years, so I wanted to make sure my qualification was going to be specialised and as practical as possible,” Jack said.

After honing his skills with Melbourne United, Jack decided to further his tertiary education by undertaking a Graduate Certificate in Business Studies, which was offered to Tasmanians for free in 2020.

“I considered a lot of options for postgraduate study and felt the mix of units that the Graduate Certificate offered made it the best choice to complement my career,” said Jack.

Jack Soward outside the JackJumpers headquarters in Hobart. Photo: Peter W. Allen “In both my courses, I did a lot of work around communication, human resources, policy and procedure, society and culture, and facilities management. It has been invaluable for my career, and I’m constantly finding opportunities to apply my skills in the workplace, especially in a COVID-19 world.”

Following years of hard work and study, Jack’s dream opportunity came with the announcement that, after a 25-year hiatus, Tasmania had secured the franchising rights for an NBL team.

As he gets to work as the JackJumpers’ Basketball Operations Coordinator, Jack reflects on his journey and the pride that comes with being a Tasmanian.

“No two days look the same with the JackJumpers, which is always exciting and challenging,” he said. “I’m the first point of contact for players when they’re signed with the club, and I work with the operations team to sort out their flights, travel permits, and quarantine requirements. “I take care of the players off the court so they can take care of business on the court.”

Jacob Foreman