FIYou: Mat Ratner

Name: Mat Ratner

Hometown: Boca Raton, Fla.

Job Title/Department: Athletics Media Relations Coordinator, FIU Athletics

Campus: Modesto A. Maidique Campus

In a nutshell: I am a liaison between the local and national media and our athletic programs. We facilitate information on FIUSports.com, including game stories, game notes, feature stories, blogs, photography and video to name a few things. I specifically work with baseball, football and men’s soccer.

Number of years at FIU: I’m finishing up my first year at FIU.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy the people that I work with at FIU and around the country, as well as being around college athletics. It’s always been a passion of mine to work in the field of athletics and help student-athletes achieve their personal and professional goals in life.

What do you think students and your fellow faculty/staff should know about your department?

People think working in college athletics and sports in general is a glamour job. Yes, we do a lot of cool things, but what people don’t realize is how much time and effort goes into putting on a single athletic event, whether it is football, baseball, soccer or, say, swimming. A lot of hard work and long hours go into the preparation for a game and a season.

Where is your favorite spot on campus? Why?

The Chick-fil-A at PG5. Their chicken sandwich is always delicious.

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about FIU?

I wish people knew how hard the employees at FIU – at Athletics and across campus – work to make this a great university. There are hundreds of people that work here who have an incredible passion for FIU and FIU Athletics.

How is FIU “Worlds Ahead”?

This campus has grown in leaps and bounds in the almost 12 months that I’ve been working here. People are starting to know what FIU is all about. It honestly starts with Athletics. The hiring of head basketball coach Isiah Thomas and Garrett Wittels’ incredible hitting streak has put FIU on the map and in the national spotlight. Soon, FIU will be included with the big universities in Florida. I have no doubt about it.

Family snapshot:

My family is my parents, Ilene and Phil; grandfather, Dan; brother and sister-in-law, Jason and Rachel; and my aunt and uncle, Sandy and Steve. It’s nice that they all live an hour away and I can see them whenever possible.

Word that best describes you: Awesome.

First paying job: I was technically a ‘carnie’ with this entertainment company called Bombino Brothers. I supervised the set-up and break down of carnival-style activities and inflatables that people rented for parties and outings. It was a very interesting job to say the least. After that I was a Sandwich Artist at Subway.

Favorite TV show: CSI, NCIS, Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother to name a few. I’m a big TV junkie.

What is playing on your iPod?

“Teach Me How to Dougie” by Cali Swag District and Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are.”

Your proudest accomplishment:

Graduating from USF with a degree in communications and following my dream of working in sports. I’m only 26 years old and I’ve seen and been to more places and sports events than most people have in their entire lifetimes. I’ve been to two Super Bowls, numerous NCAA Final Four events and college football national championships. The most exciting time of my career was working with the Miami Dolphins in 2008 and flying back on the charter after we won the AFC East by beating the New York Jets. The atmosphere on the plane was a one-in-a-lifetime experience.

What do you do when you are not working at FIU?

Free time is hard to come by in this business, but I try to get as much sleep as possible, play golf, travel, spend time with family and friends and try not to let my DVR fill up too much.