Photo caption: The New Zealand 3X3 men’s team celebrate winning the 2026 World Cup Qualifier in Singapore: From left: Mitchell Spencer, Piet van Hasselt, Aidan Tonge, Christian Martin, Joshua Book, Te Tuhi Lewis, and Joe Zhang.
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) Bachelor of Sport graduate Mitchell Spencer, who graduated at UC’s Spring Graduation in August, came to Aotearoa New Zealand from the United States looking for a practical pathway into sport management.
Spencer says the hands-on focus of the Bachelor of Sport was one of the reasons he chose UC.
"The internship was one of the main reasons for choosing UC, as I wanted to gain practical, real-world experience in my field of study. I felt this opportunity would help me develop valuable skills and give me a better understanding of the industry before starting my career after graduation."
He approached UC Faculty of Health lecturer and Basketball New Zealand 3X3 coach Piet van Hasselt about opportunities with Basketball New Zealand leading to an internship as a high-performance camp manager over summer.
“I helped coordinate athletes and staff, airport transfers, meals, volunteers and logistics for all levels of 3X3 basketball camps hosted in Christchurch,” Spencer says.
“I didn’t know exactly what the position would involve. I just knew I wanted to be involved with Basketball New Zealand.”
The experience proved a stepping stone into international sport, leading to a paid role earlier this year managing New Zealand’s senior men’s and women’s 3X3 teams at the Asia Cup and World Cup qualifiers in Singapore.
The two-week trip gave him first-hand experience of the demands of high-performance sport, international team management including problem solving on the go and taking responsibility for the less glamorous jobs behind the scenes.
Late-night laundry runs became part of the role, with Mitchell walking through Singapore in the heat to make sure the teams had clean uniforms ready for competition.
“You’re hungry, it’s hot, you’re tired, but it has to get done. It’s part of the job,” he says.
He also learnt to find something worthwhile in the more mundane parts of the experience.
“You just have to look at the bright side of everything, even if it seems grim and muddy in that moment.”
Mitchell says the relationships he built at UC were central to finding and making the most of those opportunities.
“Your professors are your connections too. They are there not only to teach you, but to help you and guide you.”
He says UC and the Bachelor of Sport widened his understanding of professionalism and helped prepare him for working in the sports industry.
Now graduated and with a three-year work visa, Mitchell plans to continue pursuing opportunities in New Zealand sport, with basketball his preferred path.
“There’s always a ‘what next’,” he says. “The connections are everything.”
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