Former student-athlete and Sports Management program graduate Kelly Quigley ’18 reflects on her journey to becoming Swansea City Football Club’s Head of International Partnerships.
October 3, 2024
Written by Caitlin Truesdale, Office of Marketing and Communications
Kelly Quigley ’18
For Kelly Quigley ’18, her career path has been a whirlwind of opportunity, from small nonprofit sports organizations to leadership roles at the professional level. Her ties to her alma mater remain strong, even as head of international partnerships for Swansea City Football Club in Wales, a club in the Championship League of English football.
Kelly says her professional journey began in earnest during her senior year of college. “I worked with Yale’s director of athletics and compliance for overall scope and day-to-day operations, including managing relationships with all teams,” Kelly recalls.
Kelly Quigley ’18.
This, along with several other internships, opened the door to my first post-graduation role with US Youth Soccer as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for the Connecticut State Junior Soccer Association. “I did everything from social media marketing to event management to driving new partnerships with the executive director. It was a really rewarding position.”
As Kelly’s responsibilities expanded, so did her ambitions. After gaining experience as the Director of Marketing and Sponsorships at Edge Sports Group, Kelly joined the tournament, home of the ESPN-televised Basketball Tournament (TBT) and Soccer Tournament (TST).
“Throughout my experience at TST, it was a privilege to work with Swansea City as the main point of contact for the 2024 event,” Kelly explains. I had the opportunity to join their commercial team. ”
“It felt like a perfect fit.”
Growing up, Kelly’s passion for football (soccer) was evident from an early age. “I started playing when I was 4 or 5 and have loved it ever since,” she says.
This early passion was what focused her college search during high school. “The University of New Haven has a prestigious, internationally recognized sports management school and a promising athletics program. It felt like a perfect fit,” said the four-year member of the Chargers women’s soccer team. said Kelly, who was captain.
Her degree and growing resume have allowed her to explore various avenues in sports, including opportunities in baseball, hockey, and basketball at the youth, amateur, and professional levels. “Through each of those experiences, I have arrived at the position I am in today. It is no exaggeration to say that this current role is a dream job for me.”
“The key is to find and grow new partnerships.”
As head of a new department focused on international partnerships, Kelly will be tasked with driving the club’s expansion beyond Wales and England, particularly into the US market.
“Given the direction of football in America, with increased investment, increased focus on player development, and upcoming tournaments such as the 2026 World Cup, now is the time to think about the club’s presence here. I feel that at the grassroots level and at the community level,” she says. “I’m looking forward to getting started and seeing what we can accomplish.”
“Support from the university was key.”
Looking back on his time at the University of New Haven, Kelly attributes much of his success to the relationships he built with his professors. “The faculty at the University of New Haven were essential to me,” she says. “I had great relationships with my professors and advisors, including Dr. Mamouk.
“They were always there for me and provided a strong support system,” Kelly says. “For me, that was very important in the early stages after graduate school.”
Kelly Quigley ’18 (center).
Kelly also values the Chargers’ alumni network. “There is strong and consistent communication among alumni,” she says. “Anyone who is currently in the industry will tell you that it is tough in many ways, but having a strong talent network can be very helpful.
“The relationships I managed to maintain throughout college were key,” Kelly continues. “I always try to support current and former Chargers who reach out and share opportunities with the companies I was with back then. A lot of us do that for each other.”
“It’s important to remind yourself that you belong here.”
“Being young and a woman, people may still see me as inexperienced and not knowing enough about certain sports or topics,” Kelly admits. “But it’s important to remind yourself that you belong in this field. Consistent hard work and good collaboration with others will be appreciated and ultimately get you noticed.”
Connections with the University of New Haven helped build her confidence. “I was recently asked by Dr. Mamuk and others to participate in a panel discussion at a sports industry event. It’s still a ‘wow’ moment when I see the people I’m with.” recalls Kelly. “It’s times like this that you realize you have to do the right thing.”
With each new role, Kelly has continued to push herself out of her comfort zone. “You have to remember that there is always more to learn and that you don’t know everything. No one does,” she says. “But you also have to believe that you’re sitting at that table for a reason. You’ve earned it.”
