A former NC State student-athlete and current graduate student balancing Division I football with intensive analytics training, Matt McCabe is combining his love for sports with financial modeling to help athletes plan for their futures – both on and off the field.

Get to know Matt

Program: Master of Management, Risk and Analytics (MRA); Business AI Graduate Certificate
Start date: Fall 2024
Anticipated graduation date: December 2025
Current location: Raleigh, NC

Life before Jenkins

Work experience: 2+ years 
Industry(ies): Finance, Wealth Management
Role: Financial Analyst 
Field: Financial Services
Undergraduate education: B.S. Business Administration, Finance Concentration – NC State University

Career Goals

In the short term, Matt aims to work as a financial analyst, leveraging his training in financial modeling and forecasting from the MRA program to convert complex data into clear, actionable insights. Over the long haul, he hopes to join a global sports-and-entertainment wealth advisory team. His passion for this niche began during an internship at Weston Banks, where he designed “The Athlete’s Playbook,” a guide to help collegiate and professional athletes navigate their financial journeys. That experience cemented his desire to help athletes make informed decisions, safeguard their wealth and plan for life after their playing careers.

Why did you choose to pursue an MRA?

Having earned a business finance degree from NC State, Matt chose the MRA program to deepen the analytics side of his background and build technical expertise. “I wanted a graduate program that blended business strategy, analytics and real-world application. Recognizing that risk is central to every financial decision, I knew that mastering the quantification, modeling and management of risk would be a strategic differentiator for my future career.”

Why Jenkins?

Matt was drawn to Jenkins for its practical, application-focused approach. “The program doesn’t just focus on theory – it emphasizes real-world application. The mix of projects, case studies and meaningful class discussions makes the learning feel useful and connected to what I’ll be doing after graduation. That combination of personalized support, academic rigor and practical relevance made Jenkins the clear choice for me.”

Beyond that, NC State has been “home” for Matt over the past few years. “As a student-athlete, I’ve built meaningful relationships, found mentors and grown in an environment that has challenged me both academically and personally. Pursuing my MRA here was a natural progression; the program aligns perfectly with my career goals, and I knew I’d be surrounded by the people and resources that would support this next phase of my journey. Staying at NC State allowed me to build on the foundation I’d already established while taking the next step forward in my professional development.”

“That combination of personalized support, academic rigor and practical relevance made Jenkins the clear choice for me.”

Daily Life

Matt typically starts his day around 7 a.m. with football meetings, followed by practice or lifting sessions. After athletics, he shifts to academics – watching lectures, working through assignments or meeting with classmates on group projects. He also sets aside time for career development, whether that means networking or building technical skills (he recently earned the FINRA SIE certification). Around 7 p.m., he heads back to the football facility for dinner and film study. “It’s a demanding schedule, but balancing Division I athletics with the MRA program has taught me to be disciplined and intentional with my time.”

What makes it great

For Matt, the flexibility of the online MRA program has been key – especially while balancing football, academics and career development. He appreciates how coursework ties back to real-world situations. Another standout has been the support system: he’s worked closely with career services for help with interview preparation, networking and resume refinement. That access has made a genuine difference as he explores opportunities in finance.

Career impact

The MRA program has already transformed how Matt approaches problems and decision-making. He now leverages data with greater confidence and uses a clearer framework to evaluate financial risk. Working with Alliance Sales and Marketing through the capstone project has been particularly valuable – giving him real experience in data analysis, financial modeling and presenting insights to a business audience.

“I also had the opportunity to attend the Finance Sector Summit hosted by Jenkins, which reinforced how our classroom learning connects to industry practice. Hearing from professionals in different areas of finance gave me a clearer picture of where I want to go and how to position myself for those opportunities.”

Final thoughts

Matt believes the program is an excellent fit for anyone who enjoys problem-solving, wants to understand how data drives business decisions, and aims to build skills that translate into industry roles. For those who are curious, motivated and ready to embrace new challenges, the MRA experience offers substantial growth and opportunity. “I’m grateful for the growth I’ve experienced so far, and I’m excited about what lies ahead.”

 “I’m grateful for the growth I’ve experienced so far, and I’m excited about what lies ahead.”

Get in touch

Connect with Matt McCabe on LinkedIn or at matthewmccabe783@gmail.com.

Learn more

To learn more about the Jenkins MRA program, including tuition, curriculum, career opportunities and more, please submit the form below. 

This post was originally published in Master of Management Risk & Analytics.