Carrie Gamper, a four-year letterwinner for the University of Denver women's lacrosse team has remained close to the game since she hung up her cleats in 2011.
Gamper began her career as a Pioneer during the 2008 season. Despite being limited to very few minutes early in her campaign, she was named a team captain her senior season as well as an IWLCA Senior All-Star in her final year with the Crimson and Gold. Gamper entered the Pioneer record book following her six caused turnovers against Loyola in 2010, which holds at seventh place in the all-time individual single-game column.
Aside from her accomplishments on the field, the Maryland native also excelled in the classroom, being named to the Dean's list and IWLCA National Honor Roll during her four-year stint. The Academic All-Conference selection took pride in helping those around her when she wasn't on the field or in the classroom. She served as a community leader, student senator, athlete tutor and tour guide during her free time as a student-athlete.
The midfielder stayed true to her passion post-graduation. Following positions with STX and Nielsen, she was named Director of Marketing for Major League Lacrosse in 2018.
We caught up with the alum to learn more about her life since DU, what she learned as a Pioneer student-athlete and her best advice for current players.
What have you been up to since graduation?
- I started my career working in marketing for STX.
- While there, my greatest achievement was starting Team STX, the first pro women's lacrosse team
- I went to Durham University (in England) for graduate school, where I was a student athlete again (they don't have eligibility rules) while pursuing a masters.
- Our lacrosse team made it to BUCS (equivalent of the NCAA Championship)
- The focus of my masters was entrepreneurship
- I won 2 school-wide entrepreneurship competitions while attending, one worth £2,500
- I then worked as a consultant for Nielsen (largely known as the TV ratings company) in their Sports and Entertainment Consulting division.
- I developed sponsorship and marketing strategies for Fortune 500 brands, American professional sports leagues, international endurance sports companies and an internationally recognized performing arts venue.
- I lived in CT and NYC while working for Nielsen. While in CT I coached for New Canaan youth lacrosse, and my 7th grade team won the CONNY Championship! (Probably one of my proudest lacrosse moments!)
- I am currently the Director of Marketing for Major League Lacrosse
- MLL was a client of mine at Nielsen and in spring 2018 I was recruited to join their team
- In the past 1.5 years I have led projects in marketing, branding, communications, consumer research, events, merchandising, sponsorship and broadcast.
How do you feel DU helped you grow as a person?
This is such a difficult question because college comes at such an inflection point in our lives. We are basically guaranteed to change and grow during those years, no matter where we end up. I think what DU specifically offered me was the freedom of opportunity exploration. I tried my hand in many campus activities, organizations, took classes in multiple disciples and just learned to find the uniquely interesting qualities in everything that came across my path. Developing this curiosity in diverse disciplines has allowed me to find interesting intricacies in every client, project or task thrown across my desk.
Are you still involved in lacrosse?
In my career – yes. But I am not currently coaching. I believe all of the strong women who coached me, gave me such a gift and I look forward to finding the time to volunteer on the sidelines with the next generation in the near future.
What about the University of Denver stood out to you when being recruited?
I was being given a chance. I was cut from varsity as a junior and then told by the high school coach that I was not good enough and should quit the sport to pursue other interests. I doubled down, worked harder and got better. But it was late in the recruiting timeline, so my only shot at a top program was to find a coach who was willing to take a chance on me. Liza was. When I came out to visit Denver she was honest that I probably wouldn't see the field (and I didn't really my freshman year), but she said I would have a spot on the team and I could earn my playing time. For the confidence I built and the life skills I gained as a part of the program, I will be forever grateful.
What do you miss most about being a student-athlete?
I certainly don't miss the run tests…
As a student athlete there is mutual respect for the significant commitment and dedication you are making to your crafts, on and off the field, but there is also a competitive nature in each of your peers. When I entered the working world, even in the sports field, it was shocking to find so many people who don't share that innate competitive spirit. Competitive with each-other to get better but also in coming together to compete in the market and win. I do miss being surrounded by peers who all share that mindset.
What are some of your favorite memories at Denver and with the Pioneers?
My freshman year we played Duke in our first game. Unfortunately, we did not win, but I was given a chance to play. (I think I played for like 2 minutes.) After the game our senior captain, Kelly O'Connell - who I had the utmost respect for, came up to me at the hotel and simply said, "Played great today, Gamper." For a kid who was told she would never be good enough – this meant the world.
What advice would you give to the currently DU women's lax athletes?
I heard a speech by Anna Maria Chávez, when she was the CEO of the Girl Scouts, where she said, "Advice should be taken like gifts. Always say thank you, but you don't have to use it."
I love that quote. I can't promise this will be of any help for the current team, but here's what I have…
Lacrosse is an amazing outlet for your athletic pursuits but be sure to immerse yourselves in all other amazing opportunities that DU, and truly that the world, will have to offer. When you graduate, your life will be much more than what happened on the field. Challenge yourself in the classroom, in internships, by broadening your friendship and networking base and by taking advantage of any opportunity that comes across your path. You have more time than you think in your day. Don't limit yourself to pursuing just your on-field talents.
(But small request – please go win an NCAA Championship…asking for a friend)
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