New College student-athlete shifts from baseball to community leadership

New College of Florida senior Michael Magliocca is stepping away from baseball to focus on Urban Edge, a Sarasota-area leadership initiative shaped by mentorship and experiential learning. His move underscores how the college is using hands-on opportunities to steer students toward civic engagement and graduate study.

Why it matters: - Michael Magliocca’s shift from team captain to community leader shows how New College of Florida is using experiential learning to shape career paths beyond athletics. - The work connects Sarasota high school students and older adults, aiming to bridge generational divides through regular interaction. - Magliocca plans to stay at New College for a master’s degree in educational leadership, extending the impact of the college’s mentorship network.

What happened: - Michael Magliocca, a senior and baseball team captain at New College of Florida, is stepping away from baseball for his senior year. - Magliocca came to New College from Amsterdam, New York, with the goal of playing baseball. - Over four years, Magliocca took part in internships, worked with the Career Center and built leadership skills through baseball. - Magliocca’s community work included helping create a program with Urban Edge and the Senior Friendship Center in Sarasota. - The program brought Sarasota High School students and local senior citizens together for two hours each week over three weeks.

The details: - The intergenerational sessions included stories, singing, dancing and games. - Magliocca said the experience changed his trajectory and made him realize community leadership was his calling. - Magliocca credited Dr. Mitchel Ruzek with weekly mentorship sessions focused on ideas and problem-solving. - In May 2025, Ruzek introduced Magliocca to Hall of Fame Coach Urban Meyer. - Magliocca began working with Meyer on Urban Edge, which focuses on developing leaders in Sarasota and Manatee counties. - After finishing his undergraduate degree, Magliocca plans to pursue a master’s degree in educational leadership at New College. - New College said the program path is supported by mentors and intended to position Magliocca for long-term success.

Between the lines: - Magliocca’s move reflects a broader campus model that pairs academics with direct community exposure. - The story also shows how mentorship can redirect a student-athlete’s ambitions toward civic work and graduate study. - Urban Edge appears to be a local leadership pipeline, with the Sarasota and Manatee county focus tying the initiative to regional workforce and civic needs.

What’s next: - Magliocca will complete his degree and remain at New College for graduate study in educational leadership. - His work with Urban Edge is expected to continue as the Sarasota-area program develops. - New College’s growing athletics and graduate offerings may give future students similar paths into leadership roles.

The bottom line: - For Magliocca, baseball became the starting point, not the destination. New College’s mentorship and hands-on learning helped turn that path toward community leadership in Sarasota.