When Joe Banner received his first official letterhead as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles’ front office, he scribbled a note and faxed it to 20 friends: “Can you believe I’m here?”

The Eagles president, now 16 years into his tenure, sat before 250 Temple University students Wednesday night for a discussion ranging from his views on labor negotiations and his managerial style to his Boston roots and the unique thrill of competing at the highest level.

And many of the students were likely asking themselves, “Can you believe he’s here?”

Banner visited Main Campus through the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management’s ongoing Executive in Residence program, designed to directly expose students to the industry knowledge and success strategies of top leaders.

Banner’s discussion — moderated by Philadelphia Eagles insider Dave Spadaro, SCT ’87 — started with his lifelong love of sports and uncommon path to the NFL through a friendship with Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie.

A successful businessman who considered a career shift to education, Banner said he was in Hawaii interviewing for a teaching position when Lurie called him about bidding on a team. After an unsuccessful attempt to buy the New England Patriots, Lurie purchased the Eagles in 1994.

Since then, the team has made the playoffs 11 of 16 seasons and captured five division titles.

“There are highs available in what we do that I don’t think are available anywhere else,” Banner said, citing the 2005 NFC Championship trophy as his greatest joy.

But the disappointments, most notably the lack of a Super Bowl victory, are “mind-boggingly painful and frustrating.”

“You leave yourself this very small space where you can feel like you’ve accomplished your professional goal,” he said.

Banner said the construction of Lincoln Financial Field, which started in 2001, helped establish an organizational culture that combines principled and passionate leadership driven by a singular goal. When asked by a student how difficult it is to balance profit margins with wins, Banner was unequivocal. The Vince Lombardi Trophy is the ultimate prize.

“That isn’t even a decision that takes half a second,” he said.

Banner is the latest member of the Eagles’ front office to visit the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management as an executive in residence. Past presenters have included Chief Operating Officer Don Smolenski and Pamela Browner White, the team’s senior vice president of public affairs and government relations. The School of Tourism also honored the Eagles last year during an Industry Partner Recognition event for outstanding corporate partners who provide internship and job opportunities.

“I thought it was phenomenal, a great experience,” said junior sport and recreation management major John Wright Jr., who introduced Banner. “It’s a great school to be a part of. I love every minute of it here.”