Small steps to stadium dreams: A turf science student’s path to professional sports

Finding his turf 

Every great journey begins with small steps, and for Ryan Leuck, a junior in horticulture and landscape architecture majoring in turf management and science, those first steps were taken on the dusty baseball diamonds in southern Indiana. Leuck’s passion for turf science has taken him across the country — one field, one lesson, one opportunity at a time — to where he has gained hands-on experience at some of the country’s most iconic sports fields.

"I’m a big fan of football, baseball and soccer,” Leuck said. “I remember even from a young age being fascinated by different fields and how the teams took care of their fields to make them look manicured and nice for game days. I knew that it would be a dream job if I could be a part of sports in this way."

A path to Purdue 

Turf science runs in Leuck’s family.   

"My uncle is a Purdue turf science alumnus and has vast experience in the field, from being the head groundskeeper for the Indianapolis Indians to helping manage the Little League Regional field in Whitestown and surrounding Indianapolis athletic fields," Leuck said.

When the time came, Leuck only applied to Purdue. "I knew from my tour and from my uncle that they had a great program," he said. "I was very drawn to the size and leadership of the program and to Purdue, and it has been everything they said it would be and more. The turf program at Purdue has been a very tight-knit community where I have been able to grow as a student and a person."

The instruction and mentorship he receives from professors in the classroom, combined with the hands-on learning opportunities he has experienced on campus, have been crucial to his learning. "Early on, I started to get hands-on learning at Purdue as part of the Purdue Turf Team. This helped me get on our home turf early, and I believe that experience working at Ross-Ade Stadium was instrumental in securing some of my internship opportunities."

Major league beginnings

At the close of his freshman year, the Philadelphia Phillies offered him a summer internship, giving him his first taste of professional turf management.

"My summer in Philadelphia was great and was an awesome first step into professional turf management. I spent a lot of time learning about how to keep an MLB field, which had a high concentration of soil and clay, and the infield nice," Leuck said. “To be able to have my first professional team be one with so much history was really fun.”

Gaining ground in the NFL

During his sophomore year, he decided to expand his knowledge in a different sport and league: the NFL.

"I saw an internship posted for the New York Jets and applied and interviewed over fall break. I received a call back this past December letting me know I had received their summer turf internship," Leuck said.

As the only summer turf intern for the Jets, Leuck deepened his understanding of caring for a football field. "I had a wonderful boss who was big on teaching and letting me gain as many experiences as possible in the industry during my time there. It really was a great learning experience," he said.

His time with the Jets included working their minicamp and summer training camp, which meant long days and many hours. Leuck’s mornings often began before sunrise with the scent of fresh-cut grass hanging in the air as he prepared the field for another day’s play.

Many of my days were sunrise to sundown. I did everything from filling divots in the field to sweeping and spraying for disease and fungus," Leuck said.

During his time in New York with the Jets Leuck also had his first hands-on experience with professional soccer. As part of his internship, he worked at four FIFA Club World Cup games held at MetLife Stadium. "They brought in new sod for these games, so I got to see that process and help with preparations. It was an amazing opportunity to be involved behind the scenes at such major events," Leuck said.

Looking forward to what is next, Leuck has secured his next internship for the summer of 2026 again with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Lessons beyond the field

Now armed with tangible experience in professional baseball, football and soccer, Leuck has a better understanding of what he might want to do after graduation and the areas of turf in which he still wants to grow.

"These opportunities have been invaluable in giving me real-life experience and the chance to learn and grow from leaders in the biggest sports industries in the world," he said.

For Leuck, the journey is proof that big dreams are built one small step at a time, and every opportunity is a chance to grow, learn and make his mark in the world of sports turf management.

"I would encourage my peers and other students to make the most of their time at Purdue and find ways to grow and experience all that there is to gain both professionally and personally. You never know exactly all the paths and opportunities that await within your major until you try. I’m so grateful for each opportunity and relationship that I have made already during my college career, and Purdue has played a part in opening every door," he said.