From Kansas City to the World Cup: Spencer Williams on Building a Career in Sports Operations

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However, he knew early on that he wanted to work in sports. The problem? Like a lot of college students, he didn’t really know what “working in sports” actually meant.

Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Spencer earned his undergraduate degree in Communication Studies at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. As a sophomore, he started exploring what a sports career could look like beyond being a fan and discovered sport management graduate programs. One name stood out: the University of San Francisco.

True to the approach that would define his career, Spencer didn’t wait for perfect timing or a warm introduction. He picked up the phone, called the program, and called the program offices in San Francisco. A shared Kansas City connection with the former Director, Dr. Stan Fasci, turned a cold call into a real conversation and a trip to California to see the campus. In July 2009, he began the USF Sport Management program, ready to learn what the sports industry actually looked like behind the scenes.

That clarity came fast. Early in the program, Spencer found an internship posting for the Oakland Raiders, where two USF alumni were hiring. He started with game-day responsibilities that introduced him to a world most fans never see: sponsor activations, behind-the-scenes logistics, and the countless moving pieces required to run an event smoothly. From there, the opportunities expanded to more hours, more responsibility, more exposure to the realities of working in professional sports.

Spencer describes those early experiences as equal parts exciting and humbling: learning on the fly, taking whatever assignment came his way, and gradually building trust. A pattern of showing up, saying yes, and doing the work became his edge. It also matched what USF emphasizes: relationships, professionalism, and being prepared for opportunities you don’t know exist.

After several years with the Raiders, Spencer hit a career crossroads. The organization envisioned him staying on the business side, but he knew he wanted to be closer to the football operation. That decision led to a few pivots, including an internship with the Atlanta Falcons, before a proactive phone call back home opened a door that changed everything.

A contact told him the Kansas City Chiefs had leadership changes in football operations. Spencer didn’t just email. He asked for a phone number, called, and offered to help with anything. The initial “yes” was simple: drive a van for player transportation. But Spencer kept raising his hand; folding towels in the equipment room, updating paper playbooks, assisting with travel, learning flight manifests, coordinating meals. What started as a summer role became a full-time path, and Spencer spent seven years with the Chiefs, working his way up from seasonal help to coordinator.

After working in the NFL, Spencer temporarily worked outside of the sports industry. But he quickly recognized that he missed the high stakes and high rewards of working in the sports industry. For a second time, Spencer moved back to California for a role as the Sports Housing Coordinator for Road Rebel Global, a sports, entertainment & corporate travel management company. This set him up for future positions in the collegiate landscape, holding positions at UC Berkeley as the Senior Director of Sports Operations and at USC as the Director of Operations - Women’s Soccer. Spencer’s ability to navigate logistics planning at professional, corporate and college level amongst the everchanging landscape of the NCAA prepared him for the global stage as Regional Manager, Arrivals and Departures – FIFA World Cup 2026.

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Growth at each stage of his career shaped how Spencer now views sports operations: it’s a people business, and the best operators are calm communicators who connect departments, manage details, and keep the entire machine moving (often without recognition). When things go right, it’s quiet. And quiet is the goal. In his current role with FIFA, his scope covers key West Coast airports, including LAX, SFO, San Jose, and Seattle, overseeing arrivals and departures for teams, referees, and other FIFA guests. The job requires constant coordination across cities and time zones, with stakeholders ranging from airport partners on the ground to FIFA leadership teams in the U.S. and abroad.

For Spencer, success isn’t flashy. It’s a smooth execution. It’s teams getting from point A to point B the way they were told they would, without chaos bleeding into the experience. And it’s taking pride in the fact that millions of people will watch the tournament without ever realizing how many professionals worked behind the curtain to make it possible.

When Spencer reflects on how he got here, he’s direct: USF helped build the foundation. The program didn’t just expand his understanding of what careers in sports could be, it connected him to alumni, opportunities, and a professional mindset that kept paying off. And it all started with the confidence to make one phone call.

Want to explore a career in sports? Learn more about the USF MS in Sport Management program.