Julio Nakasato, Lima, Peru, was overseeing sports marketing for Adidas Peru. After four and a half years, he knew he wanted to do more with his career. That is when he enrolled in the WVU master’s degree program in sports management.
“I found a new place to call my second home, discovered a passion in the NFL and fantasy football and met amazing forever friends. I learned from the best and found out that the Mountaineer Nation is a family,” Nakasato said.
Nakasato managed more than 128 athletes, the league’s National Champion Pro soccer team and the Three Stripes brand launching events in Peru. After deciding it was time for a change, Nakasato began searching for top sports management programs in the United States. West Virginia University caught his attention.
Nakasato was accepted into the CPASS sport management master’s program after interviewing with the well-known Dr. Dallas Branch.
During his time at WVU, Nakasato expanded his knowledge in sports marketing, history, finance and NCAA compliance.
After just 11 months, Nakasato completed the program. He landed a temporary position at WME IMG in San Francisco as a senior account executive, managing Visa and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Sponsorship. After five months in San Francisco, he was ready to return to Lima, the capital of his home country Peru.
His hard work and determination paid off in March when Under Armour Peru hired Julio as marketing manager. The Baltimore-based brand is ever expanding in Latin America and Peru is no exception. Nakasato is ready for the new challenge, just as he was ready for his relocation to Morgantown and San Francisco.