'It Just Kind of Clicked': How Ryan Pedigo Found His Passion in Campus Sports

On any given day around campus, on a field or court, you might spot him with his curly brunette hair and glasses getting ready to assist students within campus recreation at East Tennessee State University. This man is Ryan Pedigo, a graduate assistant within sports programs for campus recreation.

Pedigo’s days begin with a look through his inbox, checking club sport rosters and responding to team captains about scheduling games for the week. From there, his schedule varies. He may set up equipment, update scholarship information or prepare materials. No two days are nearly the same.

Ryan Pedigo

“I love that this job keeps me on my toes,” Pedigo said. “It’s structured, but there’s always something unexpected that pops up and that's part of the fun."

Raised in Clarksville, Tennessee, Pedigo credits his early love for sports to his father who was an avid fan of the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. Family outings to games and years spent playing multiple sports laid the foundation for what has now become his career path.

“Sports were just always part of my life,” Pedigo said. “Just having a great support system has made me who I am and I’m glad that sports were involved in it.”

Pedigo graduated from ETSU in 2024 and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in sports management, with plans to graduate in May 2026. After that, he hopes to continue working in campus recreation at another university.

His involvement in intramural sports during his undergrad years led to his passion for sports management. He built relationships with the graduate assistants at the time, who eventually encouraged him to apply for the role himself.

“It just kind of clicked,” he said. “I found a passion for the position and it was a great opportunity to continue my education while working in a position that I truly enjoy.”

One of Pedigo’s favorite aspects of the job is the connections he builds with student staff, participants and colleagues across all departments.

“It’s great seeing people play the sports they grew up loving or even trying something new,” he said. “I like providing the opportunity for students to step away from the classroom and have some fun.”

There is always a constant within his days.

“It’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that makes the day-to-day activities easier and smooth flowing,” Pedigo said.

He does a lot of pre-planning and preparation, such as scheduling, training and hiring for campus recreation.

“We do all of this to make sure everything runs smoothly for our participants,” Pedigo said. “That’s what makes a difference.”

Wednesdays within campus recreation are staff meeting days. Tuesdays and Thursdays for Pedigo might include painting lines on the soccer field or washing team jerseys. By midweek, he is finalizing next week's sports schedule.

Contributed//ETSU

During games, Pedigo enforces rules and watches for fairness. For instance, there is a co-rec rule: teams can not have more than five players of the same gender on the field. It's Pedigo's job to make sure those rules are enforced and that every game runs fairly and efficiently.

On busy days, he may leave the office at 2:45 p.m. only to arrive at the softball field by 3:50 p.m., preparing for that evening’s games. Despite the long hours, Pedigo wouldn’t trade the job for anything.

“There’s a special energy in campus rec,” Pedigo said. “It’s a welcoming place where people come together, whether it’s to win a championship or just to have fun. I’m proud to be part of that.”