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Winning the Game of LIfe
Two decades after graduating, former NYIT student-athlete Henry Iervolino (B.S. '82) still can't take his eyes off the scoreboard.
"My current career has some parallels to the world of athletics," says Iervolino, now a VP who oversees Merrill Lynch's Private Client Group. "Financial services is a very competitive arena. It has clear winners and losers. And you have to constantly monitor the market averages. They're like scoreboards for the business world."
Despite the recent bear market, Iervolino has a winning track record. His office produces $68 million in annual revenue, and he oversees more than 100 sales representatives. Not bad for a kid from Brooklyn who dreamed of pitching in the Major Leagues.
Iervolino, like 43 other former NYIT student-athletes, played professional baseball before trading in his uniform for a suit and tie.
The transition from the baseball diamond to an office cubical can be difficult. Nevertheless, many former student-athletes are beating the competition in the business world.
One prime example: Three-time All-American Kelvin Hicks played professional basketball in Switzerland for 10 years before embarking on a successful career in financial services. He's now a site director for the technology division at The Vanguard Group, which manages more than $500 billion in financial assets.
Female student-athletes have made smooth transitions to the working world, as well. Former scholar-athlete Betty Conkling (B.S. '79), for instance, lettered in three sports (volleyball, basketball and softball) before launching her career with the U.S. Secret Service.
Still, many former student-athletes pursue professional sports careers before hanging up their cleats for good.
Four NYIT student-athletes, including Allen Watson, have pitched in the Major Leagues. And Iervolino pitched for a professional baseball team in Italy before "retiring" to the world of business.
"The money and experience of pitching in Italy were great," says Iervolino. "And I had family there, which made it even better."
Iervolino's professional baseball career was short-lived, however. During his sophomore year at NYIT, he was leading the nation in pitching appearances, second in ERA (earned run average) and ninth in strikeouts. He was poised for All-American honors and perhaps even professional greatness-until one painful pitch changed everything.
"I threw a curve ball and it ruptured my ulna," he says. "I had surgery on my elbow, but it never was the same. I managed to pitch at the professional level for two years. But my arm was done."
Iervolino made a quick transition to the business world in the mid-1980s, landing trading positions at E.F. Hutton & Co. and L.F. Rothschild Inc., before moving up to VP-level positions in the early 1990s.
NYIT was a key stop on Iervolino's road to success. A finance major, Iervolino won NYIT's Scholar-Athlete award, graduating with a 3.39 cumulative GPA and 3.75 GPA in his major.
"I was always a pretty good student," admits Iervolino. "I had good teachers and good mentors. Coach [Bob] Hirschfield taught me about how to succeed as a human being. He prepared me for life after sports."
During his commute to NYIT, Iervolino frequently noticed Manhasset, an upscale community on Long Island's north shore. "It was beautiful," says Iervolino. "I made it a personal goal to live there someday."
Iervolino fulfilled that goal. When he's not in the office, you can spot him at Manhasset-area sporting events, coaching or watching his two daughters (Alexandra, 15, and Daniella, 12) and son (Phillip, 9).
"My future goals are pretty simple," says Iervolino. "I'm going to sit back and enjoy watching my girls play high school basketball-and hopefully college basketball. My son is a talented second baseman and outfielder, too. All three of them are a huge source of pride and joy. My family gives me a lot to look forward to."
At first, Iervolino's wife of 17 years, Jackie, had some concerns about her family's preoccupation with sports. "But we've won her over," quips Iervolino. "She supports us."
Clearly, this former student-athlete has a habit of winning.
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