By Sheena Hutchinson
Staff Writer
Rick Hoskin, director of athletic communications for Cal State Dominguez Hills, describes his position as a dream job.
He promotes student athletes through social media, publishing and online videos, and acts as a spokesman for the athletic department.
Supporting players, he said, is key to his job.
“Just like a coach, I want to help student athletes and prepare them for the real world,” he said. “I love to help student athletes. I want them to know that I am here for them.”
Hoskin gave examples of what would help students achieve more, like training for internships or preparing for interviews.
“I am happy to be a CSUDH Toro,” he said. “I am happy to be more involved in NCAA Division II sports and happy to be closer to family.”
The Bay Area native got his first taste of the sports industry in 1998, when, at the age of 12, he began shadowing his uncle, who at the time, was stadium operations manager for the San Jose Clash. The team would later become Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes.
Hoskin started getting paid for his work at 14 and continued with the squad until it relocated to Houston in 2005.
He describes his time working with the club as a learning experience, especially when it came to the business aspect of sports.
Hoskin became more involved in sports information in 2007 as an undergraduate student at the University of Nevada. He had an internship in the athletic department after spending a couple of years at the student newspaper, where he covered sports and designed pages.
Hoskin then spent three years in Schenectady, N.Y., as an intern at Union College, as well as time in Spokane, Wash., as a graduate assistant in the sports information office at Gonzaga University. He even got a chance to work with the nationally ranked basketball program there.
His journey led him to CSUDH, where he was hired in August 2015. This puts him closer to his Northern California home.
A favorite quote of his comes from Walt Disney: “All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to purse them.”
Hoskin said he lives by those words, never giving up in a competitive industry.
Hoskin encourages student athletes to come to him with any questions. He wants them to know he is here to help.
For any questions regarding student athletics, Toros can contact Hoskin at [email protected].
For general information, stories, biographies, statistics, schedules regarding athletics at CSUDH, visit gotoros.com, as well as the Instagram page,
@toroathletics.
