A Journey from Beans and Bagels to Building a Career
Robert Judin’s early career after college was far from glamorous. His diet primarily consisted of canned black beans and stale bagels, a reflection of the financial struggles he faced during his first job in the media industry. As a graduate of the University of Florida, Judin knew breaking into the field would be tough, but he never anticipated the unpredictable path that lay ahead.
His life experiences have shaped not only his professional journey but also how he teaches his students. These experiences have directly influenced the recent collaboration between Florida Victorious, the official NIL partner of the Florida Gators, and the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. This partnership was announced on August 12 and is centered around creating real-world opportunities for students.
The Early Days: A Grind That Built a Foundation
Judin’s career began in 2015 with an unpaid basketball operations assistant job at the WNBA’s Chicago Sky. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree and completing an internship with the Charlotte Hornets, this opportunity was one of the few available to him. He recalls the moment he accepted the offer: “They said, ‘Hey, we can’t pay you, but if you can find your way up here to Chicago, you can work with us.’ I was like done, sold.”
He moved into a small apartment above a bar in Chicago, staying with a cousin of a friend from childhood. Just 10 days after graduation, he packed his car and drove to Chicago, never having been there before. Little did he know that this move would set the stage for a career built on networking and resilience.
Over the years, Judin worked in various roles across the sports industry, including positions at Notre Dame, Oregon State, and Miami athletic departments. He also worked as a journalist with Campus Insiders and later the Draft Network. Both of these roles ended due to industry layoffs, while his moves between universities were driven by his desire to climb the ladder.
Teaching the Next Generation
In 2020, Judin became an adjunct professor at the University of Florida, aiming to help students prepare for the challenges of the sports industry. He developed a course on sports branding, inspired by his own experiences as a recent graduate who had no connections or financial support.
“I’ve been the recent college grad, and I don’t have any rich or famous cousins or uncles,” Judin said. “I know what it’s like to have to move, not make any money, and legitimately just grind.”
His goal was to show students what to expect in the sports world and equip them with practical skills they could use in their careers.
Introducing ‘Two Bits Creative’
In 2023, Judin fully embraced academia and joined the University of Florida as a full-time faculty member. With the rise of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) and revenue-sharing opportunities, he saw a chance to give students real-world experience while helping student-athletes maximize their social media presence.
Judin noticed that many athletes struggled financially after their careers and often failed to maintain the value of their brief moments in the spotlight. This realization led to the creation of “Two Bits Creative,” an agency run by students in his class.
Teams of students will work with actual athletes sponsored by Florida Victorious, creating content such as videos, photos, and graphic designs. They will also develop social media calendars and teach athletes how to grow and maintain their online presence over time.
“The goal is that when they graduate, they can go to whatever company or team that they want to work for and can say, ‘I helped this athlete gain x amount of followers on Instagram to y amount, and helped generate revenue,’” Judin explained.
A Vision for the Future
Judin wants to ensure that future students have an easier path than he did. He hopes they won’t have to survive on stale bagels and black beans, but instead, be equipped with the skills and experiences needed to launch successful careers.
“I want to make sure that I can do what I can to give these students a better shot at launching their careers and not having to go through those struggles,” he said.
