The Milwaukee Brewers are set to play in the World Series for the first time in 44 years — with help from Marquette alumni working throughout the organization.
As the Crew prepare for their Fall Classic matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays, meet six Marquette alumni whose work spans baseball operations, medical administration, broadcasting, social media and legal affairs.
Mike Brockman, Eng ’95, vice president, facilities and projects
One of the most distinctive features of American Family Field is its retractable roof, a 12,000-ton steel structure. Helping decide whether the roof is open or closed on any given day is Mike Brockman, who has served as vice president of facilities and projects since 2022. Brockman leads the back-of-house efforts at the home of the Brewers, overseeing all building repair and maintenance projects, capital improvement projects, and roof operations.
Before joining the Brewers, Brockman spent 17 years as a project manager with The Sigma Group, where he was assigned to the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District and oversaw maintenance and operation of the ballpark’s retractable roof. He also served as a subcontractor for The Sigma Group during the construction of then-Miller Park.
Matt Kleine, Law ’11, assistant general manager
Matt Kleine has been in the Brewers organization since 2007, when he joined as an associate scout. He’s held several positions in the ensuing 19 years, including manager, director and vice president of baseball operations.
At Marquette, Kleine was president of the university’s Sports Law Society, a member of the Marquette Sports Law Review and a volunteer for the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic.
“The ability to take a broad range of sports law-specific courses allowed me to further my legal knowledge and apply those lessons within a context that interested me greatly,” Kleine said of his experience in Marquette’s sports law program. “That ability to enter the workforce with a baseline knowledge of the legal aspects within my chosen field was invaluable.”
Sophia Minnaert, Comm ’09, sideline reporter
Sophia Minnaert is in her 14th season as a sideline reporter for Brewers broadcasts and her ninth year as the team’s broadcast and digital features content director.
Minnaert became the first woman to be named the Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year in 2022, then won the award a second time two years later. In 2018, she earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Crafts Achievement for On-Camera Talent.
The Diederich College of Communication’s Young Alumna of the Year in 2026, Minnaert stays involved with her alma mater, including as the host of Inside Marquette Basketball alongside men’s basketball head coach Shaka Smart.
“I’m so grateful for my time on campus and to still be so connected to an institution that means so much to me,” Minnaert said upon receiving the Young Alumna of the Year honor.
Lizzie O’Brien, Arts ’26, social media coordinator
Lizzie O’Brien joined the Brewers as a social media coordinator following her graduation last spring. She honed her skills as a student, interning with Marquette’s Office of Marketing and Communication, Marquette Athletics and the Milwaukee Bucks.
“Working my first Major League Baseball Opening Day is an experience I’ll never forget,” O’Brien said in March. “Thanks to the skills I built as a creative at Marquette, I was able to jump right into game day content coverage and help things run smoothly.”
Meghan Pirics, Arts ’13, Law ’16, senior counsel
Meghan Pirics oversees a wide range of legal and business matters for the Brewers. Her responsibilities include negotiating contracts that support both the team’s business and baseball operations, managing legal issues related to the Brewers’ spring training facility, protecting the organization’s trademarks and other intellectual property, advising staff who oversee player development in the minor leagues, and serving on internal committees that help manage organizational risk and decision-making.
In addition to being a two-time alumna, Pirics is an adjunct professor at Marquette University Law School and sits on the board of directors for the National Sports Law Institute. During her time in law school, she served as the editor-in-chief of the Marquette Sports Law Review.
Andrew Staehling, H Sci ’18, minor league medical coordinator
Andrew Staehling is an alumnus of the College of Health Sciences’ Athletic Training Education Program, which he credits with preparing him to work at the highest levels of athletics. Having previously interned with the organization, Staehling joined the Brewers in 2019 as minor league athletic trainer before taking on his current role in 2025.
“From the time I stepped foot on campus, I was in the training room, watching, practicing and learning from some of the best athletic trainers and faculty in the field,” Staehling said of his Marquette experience. “The learning environment they foster best prepared me for my professional baseball internship with the Milwaukee Brewers after my junior year and for my full immersive internship in Division III athletics.”
