2023

Tailgating as Networking

Tim Higgins ’23 G’24 used his connection with former fellow Muhlenberg football player Nick Tranguch ’02 to land a summer internship.

By: Mike Falk  Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:30 AM

Nick Tranguch ’02 and Tim Higgins ’23 G’24

When Tim Higgins ’23 G’24 chatted with Nick Tranguch ’02 at tailgates following Muhlenberg home football games throughout his career, little did he know that those encounters would eventually inform his career path.

Higgins spent this summer as a benefits analyst intern at BSI Corporate Benefits LLC, a Bethlehem-based employee benefits consulting firm. Tranguch, a former All-Centennial Conference lineman for the Mules whose ongoing support of the program includes sponsoring golf outings and chairing the 100 Club committee, is a senior vice president at BSI.

“Obviously Nick is prevalent here,” says Higgins, who attended the same high school (Emmaus) as Tranguch. “So I would say hello at tailgates, and last season during Alumni Weekend, I asked him if there were any opportunities at his company. He was like, ‘Oh yeah, of course.’ I emailed him after the season and interviewed in March. It was perfect.” 

Higgins has heard frequently about the importance of networking during his time at Muhlenberg. Every year during preseason football camp, the Mules listen to a presentation from The Career Center on life after Muhlenberg.

“They really emphasize the community and tell you the first thing to do if you're looking for internship or a job is go on LinkedIn, find what you're interested in, see if anyone from Muhlenberg works there and then connect with them,” he says. “And our coaches emphasize the connection of Muhlenberg football players: Reach out to them and you'd be surprised by what they do for you.”

As part of his internship, Higgins meets with the analytics team to review renewals, audits and other reports for BSI, which he describes as the middleman between insurance carriers and clients, both big and small, in the health-care industry. His current project is coding an automated renewal sheet.

“It's nice because we do that stuff in school, but now I’m doing it in a company where it's real life data,” says Higgins. “That's what's been challenging and also rewarding.”

Higgins, who received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics in May, will finish his football career this fall while pursuing his master’s in applied analytics in the Muhlenberg College School of Graduate Studies. Ultimately, he would like to do analytics for a professional sports team.

“I got this internship because of a Muhlenberg football tailgate, which I think is funny, but it just shows how accessible the opportunities are in our small community.”