Alumni Spotlight: Kevin Trotman '16, Track & Field and Basketball

Posted: Jul 22, 2021

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: Kevin Trotman '16
Job Title: Associate Product Manager - Global Collaborations & Energy Footwear
Institution: New Balance

Kevin Trotman '16 played two seasons of varsity men's basketball before finishing his athletic career on the men's track and field team. Trotman was a key contributer for the throws squad, scoring in multiple events in both the shot put and discus. Originally from Bristol, Connecticut, Trotman graduated from Brandeis in 2016 with a BA in Sociology and Health: Science, Society & Policy.

Since graduation, Trotman has held a number of different roles with New Balance, a 100+ year-old company and one of the largest sporting goods and apparel manufacturers in the world. In 2020, he was promoted to Associate Product Manager for Global Collaborations & Energy Footwear. In this role, he works closly with New Balance merchandising and collaboration teams to develop, design, manage, merchandise, and support the energy footwear category both globally and regionally.

Trotman resides in the Boston area and was recently engaged to Brandeis classmate and softball alum, Maddie Sullivan '16.

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?

Coming into Brandeis I wasn’t completely sure what to expect when trying to balance being a student at a top 50 university in the country, while playing basketball in a competitive D3 conference. A key takeaway that I’ve kept with me is the idea of persevering through hardship. Tearing my achilles my junior year was one of the toughest obstacles I’ve ever had to overcome. Through the help of the athletic training staff and the support of my peers, I was able to rehab my way to close to 100%. Switching gears to track and field proved to be one of the best things I could have done. I was able to find solace in throwing, while focusing on my post graduate aspirations.

What originally attracted you to Brandeis as a student-athlete?

The education along with the competitive nature of the UAA were definitely the main drivers for making my decision.

How did your time as a student and student-athlete at Brandeis prepare you for your career and life after college?

I would say the main thing for me personally was building worthy connections. I majored in HSSP and Sociology. I work for New Balance as a Product Manager on Global Collaborations & Energy footwear… not too much to do with what I studied, but I will say that Brandeis taught me the importance of networking. In my role at New Balance and with most other jobs, there’s deadlines and timelines that need to be met. Balancing school and athletics during my time at Brandeis prepared me for what was to come post graduation for sure.

Do you have any advice for current or future Brandeis Student-Athletes?

Network, network, network. Connecting with people in your desired field after school is so essential. I can’t say it enough! Also, understand that you don’t need to know EXACTLY what you want to do when approaching graduation. Utilize the Hiatt Career Center, they are a great resource in aiding in the search for jobs pre and post graduation.

What do you miss most about your Brandeis experience?

I miss the sense of community that the Track & Field team brought me in my last year. Specifically the throwing squad was extremely close and we all became family by the end of the season.

What personal or professional accomplishment(s) are you most proud of since you graduated?

Top of the list is definitely Maddie Sullivan and myself getting engaged recently! Coming into Brandeis, I wasn’t expecting to find my future wife, but here we are! From a professional standpoint, I would say I’m most proud of my ascension into working in product management at New Balance. To think I’d be working directly in sneakers, something I’ve always been passionate about, is absolutely absurd. If you were to tell my 15 year old self that I’d be doing what I’m doing now for a career, I simply wouldn’t believe you.