Former Illini golfer Carol (Mayer) Voronyak is in her 16th year working for ESPN. Currently serving as Director of Talent Recruiting and Negotiations, she is one of numerous Illini alumnae who have gone on to have successful careers in their chosen fields. After making connections with professor Larry Walker as a student-athlete member of the Illinois Athletic Board, Voronyak secured a position at ESPN. She started out as a production assistant in Bristol, Connecticut, in 2004 and has worked her way up the ladder, relocating to ESPN's Chicago offices in 2010. The Richmond, Illinois, native is responsible for recruiting talent for all ESPN platforms (ESPN, ESPN2, SEC Network, ACC Network, Snapchat, etc) nationwide.
Voronyak married her husband, Nate, in 2014. The couple has two children: a daughter, Hope, and a son, Valor, with a third due later this month. On the golf course, Voronyak has recorded a hole-in-one twice in her life: once while pregnant with Hope, and again while pregnant with Valor.
I chose Illinois because: It was the only school I was interested in attending – I'm not big on options…more of a one-school, one-company, one-man woman, I guess!
Favorite team memory: Each year we had an awards dinner/banquet at the end of the year. It was a wonderful chance to recognize the hard work and memories from the entire year - through laughter, tears, and a great meal.
Favorite campus spot: The quad on a sunny day
How did the University of Illinois prepare you for your career? Due to Illinois' large size, I got comfortable being around lots of people – many who were outgoing sports fans. When I started at ESPN, I was fully immersed into a similar type of environment. The industry is somewhat sink or swim, and since that had been my reality for the previous 4 years, I was able to thrive!
What has been the most valuable lesson you learned from your time at Illinois? Never be afraid to tell people your dreams. As a member of the Athletic Board, I remember telling fellow board member and history professor, Larry Walker, that I'd love to work at a place "like ESPN" one day. As it turned out, his best friend/mentor (Fred Brown) was the head of production hiring at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, CT. A few months before graduation, Larry introduced me to Fred via email with the hopes of getting me a phone interview. The rest is history.
How did the U of I help you grow during your college journey (golf, academics, personal)? I entered college as a somewhat-sheltered, small-town girl and exited a confident leader, with a broader perspective on life. I needed that skillset and experience to stay afloat in the sports/entertainment industry.
How has the alumni network impacted your experience during your time on campus and following graduation? Since moving back to Chicago in 2010, I've run into so many Illinois alumni, and whether I actually knew them in college or not, it's always great to have a shared bond of similar experiences when you meet a total stranger and leave the conversation feeling like friends.
How did being a member of the Illinois Women's Golf Team impact you? It gave me an identity and something that I was proud to share when I met new people. To this day, the fact that I play golf comes up in conversation weekly, if not daily.
How would you describe your relationship with your teammates and coaches? Because I didn't travel with the team much, most of my deepest relationships and best memories are from practices (vs the matches). I made one of my best friends in life, Megan (O'Neal) Lehn ('05) bonding over many rounds at Stone Creek and in the car/van driving to/from. Although I haven't stayed in real communication (aside from social media) with most of them, I wish the best to all of my teammates and to Paula (Smith) – they are special people!
What do you miss most from your time on campus? I miss having most of my friends in a 1 mile radius. Now, my closest friends are all spread out throughout the globe. Thank goodness for FaceTime.
What advice would you like to share with our current team members? Put your phone away and live in the moment – life is happening and you don't want to miss it while scrolling! Form and keep relationships with coaches and professors - learn from them! Embrace the chance to learn and meet new peers in a fun and open environment. And never underestimate how special/rare it is to play golf FOR FREE all of the time
Top item on my bucket list: Raise our children to live their lives with strong faith in God.
Last time you were on campus? Feb 2017…I have been in "mommy mode" for the past few years, but hope to get back soon.
Follow Carol at @carolvoronyak on Twitter and @mayercarolv on Instagram
