NBA writer, Virginia Tech alum, shares career insights with students
Nearly three decades after graduating, professional sports writer John Schuhmann returned to Virginia Tech to share insights with students about his experience in the sports industry.
“If you told me when I was a Virginia Tech student that I would be having drinks with Charles Barkley at [NBA]All-Star Weekend or dapping up Shaq [Shaquille O’Neal] in the hotel, I would’ve said you're crazy,” Schuhmann said.
Schuhmann graduated in 1998 with a degree in architecture. His passion for sports dates back to growing up in New Jersey where he played basketball and baseball. While working in architecture, Schuhmann created his own website to write about the New Jersey Nets, now the Brooklyn Nets.
Eventually, he accepted a job at NBA.com, the official website of the National Basketball Association. Nineteen years later, Schumann is a senior writer for the website.
Schuhmann is the author of power rankings – among many other analyses – for NBA.com. Throughout his career, he has covered the NBA Finals, three International Basketball FederationWorld Cups, and two Olympic Games.
In late September, Schuhmann spoke to students in several sports media classes taught by Bill Roth, a professor of practice and director of the Sports Media and Analytics program in the School of Communication. He is also the radio play-by-play commentator for Virginia Tech football.
Schuhmann graduated from Virginia Tech 22 years before the university offered sports media and analytics as a major. He said he remains excited about the program and is enthusiastic about how it prepares students for professional careers in the sports industry.
“In the field, there aren’t many schools where sports media people come from,” Schuhmann said. “To see Virginia Tech now producing people in this field is very cool and I’m really excited to someday be working alongside Virginia Tech graduates.”
In addition to sharing insights about his career path and the complex process he uses for NBA video analysis, he fielded questions from students who expressed curiosity about working in the sports industry.
“Don't think that 20 years from now you're going to be where you think you're going to be,” Schuhmann said, referencing his career start in architecture. “Be adaptable. When you go work somewhere, be willing to do whatever they need, even if it's not what you signed up for. Any added skills just make you more valuable, make you more employable.”
He also shared the importance of staying curious and using connections.
“Be humble and know what you don't know,” Schuhmann said. “Be willing to ask questions. Be willing to learn from your colleagues, but also realize that coaches and players and whoever you know can help you along the way.”
Despite spending years away from Blacksburg, Schuhmann still proudly promotes Virginia Tech.
“I wear VT gear three or four days a week,” he said. “Even though I hadn't been here in almost 30 years, it still feels like home to me.”
By Irianna Adkins and Javier Mico-Crump, student media content assistants for the School of Communication
