James Blizzard is living out his Carolina dream
The Master of Applied Professional Studies student is pursuing a career combining sports and business.
When James Rolf Blizzard ’24 was 5 years old, his dad took him to a Carolina basketball game at the Dean E. Smith Center. There Rolf Blizzard ’95, ’97 (MPA) introduced his son to his world as a former Carolina basketball manager.
After seeing the Carolina Blue jerseys and championship banners in the rafters, James Blizzard decided he wanted to apply to Carolina and play basketball.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t get the genetics to be a basketball player,” Blizzard joked. “My love of sports stemmed from that game with my dad.”
Instead of basketball, Blizzard ran cross-country and track in high school. He still wanted to be involved in sports when he went to college, so he emailed the director of Carolina basketball operations asking if he could help with the basketball team. The director replied that Blizzard could help with Live Action, an event introducing the men’s basketball team to fans.
From there, Blizzard followed in his father’s footsteps and became a basketball manager. He worked his way up each year, becoming head junior varsity manager as a sophomore and moving into a varsity manager role his junior year.
James Blizzard at the 2024 Boston Marathon. (Submitted photo)
A change of course
In his junior year at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, Blizzard’s life took a turn. At a team practice in February, he noticed his lymph nodes were swollen.
He went to basketball team doctors and athletic trainers for a checkup, eventually getting a CT scan. One day during class, he got a notification about his scan saying, “mediastinal mass.”
“Please don’t let it be what I think it is,” James said. “I was saying that over and over in my head, almost scared to say ‘cancer.’ I had a gut feeling ever since I got the scans.”
A biopsy later confirmed he had Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the fear he had all along.
From February to August of that year, Blizzard underwent 12 rounds of chemotherapy. While undergoing treatment, he ran in the Boston Marathon — a lifelong dream.
“It was a challenge, and I love trying to face whatever the hardest race or battle may be. Finishing it and going through the line was unbelievable,” Blizzard said. “I couldn’t believe I had accomplished one of my goals and done it while going through treatment. I was thankful for everyone who supported me from my friends to family to doctors.”
After finishing his bachelor’s degree early through UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, Blizzard wanted to figure out a way to continue as a basketball manager.
He learned about the Master of Applied Professional Studies program at UNC’s The Graduate School from Carolina basketball players who mentioned how customizable the degree is and its emphasis on professional development. After graduating in December, he was able to begin the program in January.
“The program allows you to build your own master’s. It has been super helpful being able to go out and self-select classes from different majors to put together into a master’s,” Blizzard said. “I can really focus on what I believe is best for me as a professional moving forward.”
Blizzard wants to pursue a career combining sports and business. He hopes to work in an athletic department, as a coach, agent or general manager. With the MAPS program, he’s been able to take classes in business, journalism and sports administration, intertwining all the skills needed for his future career.
“MAPS allows you to explore outside of your original field and develop skills to make you more well rounded,” Blizzard said. “Being able to customize everything has been so helpful for me.”
