Alumni Spotlights are Q&A's with former Brandeis student-athletes, across a myriad of disciplines, as they reflect on their Brandeis experience and how it has shaped their lives today. Read more spotlight features here.
Name: Aaron Katzman '05
Job Title: Coordinating Producer
Organization: ACC Network
Aaron Katzman is a 2005 Brandeis graduate who was a captain of the golf team as a senior.
While receiving his law degree from Quinnipiac University, Katzman began his career at ESPN in 2005 as a production assistant. He has worked on ESPN golf major championship coverage, including The Masters, the US Open, The Open Championship, and the Ryder Cup. Katzman produced ESPN College GameDay Covered by State Farm (basketball), the College Football Playoff: Top 25 show, and ESPN College GameDay Built by the Home Depot (football), where he won 3 Emmy Awards for Best Studio Weekly Show.
Aaron Katzman is currently the coordinating producer of the ACC Network - a comprehensive linear and digital network owned and operated by ESPN and in partnership with the Atlantic Coast Conference that launched on August 22, 2019. As a coordinating producer, Katzman serves as the lead for all ACC Network studio efforts and was integral in the successful launch of ACCN.
Describe your overall experience as a student-athlete. What does it mean to you now/what did it mean to you while you were an undergraduate?
While I was an undergraduate I viewed being a student-athlete as a fun and unique opportunity to play a sport at the collegiate level. Now I look back on those days with fond memories thinking about road trips with teammates, practice sessions, and the friendships that developed.
How did your time as a student and student-athlete at Brandeis prepare you for your career and life after college?
Being a student-athlete helped prepare me for life in the real world. There are countless real-life tools that I acquired all from being a part of a collegiate team. Playing sports taught me leadership skills, how to work within a team, and how to budget my time.
Do you have any advice for current or future Brandeis Student-Athletes?
The best advice is to enjoy the time in college, playing sports you love with people that will become lifelong friends. You may not realize it now but you're gaining a skill set that will help prepare you to be successful in the real world.
What originally attracted you to Brandeis as a student-athlete?
My dad is a Brandeis graduate (Steve Katzman - Class of 1969) so when I began my college search Brandeis was a school I was immediately interested in. Additionally, the UAA conference was a big selling point. I grew up in St. Louis and loved the idea of going to a school that would play against Washington University in sports.
What was your favorite memory of being a student-athlete?
My favorite memory was the time spent with teammates on road trips. Whether it was a golf tournament in the snow in Rochester or a spring trip to Orlando, the time spent with my teammates are life long memories.
What lessons did you learn as a student-athlete that have benefited you as a professional? As a person?
There are many lessons that I learned as a student-athlete that have benefited me in my professional work. Being a captain of a team taught me leadership skills that I use every day. Additionally, the ability to work in a team atmosphere all started by being a student-athlete at Brandeis.
What do you miss most about your Brandeis experience?
The biggest thing I miss about Brandeis was the opportunity I had to be in college with my brother (Danny Katzman '08) for a year when I was a senior and he was a freshman. It was so enjoyable to spend a year playing intramurals with him and just be around Gosman or the rest of campus together.
Do you still keep in touch with any of your former Brandeis teammates?
I still keep in touch with a few members of the golf team. Josh Levine '06 and Nate Goldman '06 both became great friends that I still try to see as often as possible.
What personal or professional accomplishments are you most proud of since you graduated?
Winning three Emmy awards for College GameDay at ESPN has been one of my bigger accomplishments since graduating. Most recently I had the opportunity to help launch the ACC Network where I oversee all of the show content. Launching a brand new network has been an amazing opportunity and something I am incredibly proud of.