Managing The Newest Division I Team In College Basketball

Tom Wilson Head Manager at Bryant:
 
During my first two years at Bryant University, Bryant had a very successful Division II Basketball program. Toward the end of my sophomore year, the school announced that Bryant would be moving their athletics program to Division I by joining the Northeast Conference. During the summer of this transition process, the head coach of the men's basketball team left to join the program at Loyola Marymount and as a result, Bryant hired a brand new coaching staff.

As the newest Division I program in the country and a brand new coaching staff in place as well, it was really an exciting time at Bryant for the basketball program. That summer I emailed our new head coach and simply asked if he needed any managers for the upcoming season. When school started up in the fall, I met with Assistant Coach and the Director of Basketball Operations to discuss the position and the program in more detail. It seemed like a great and unique opportunity to be part of what was really a brand new program. All of us knew that the road ahead would be difficult and challenging. We lost a lot more games than we won, but being able to set the path for a Division I program is something that is rare and not many people have the opportunity to experience. I would like to think when Bryant wins the Northeast Conference (hopefully sooner rather than later!) and makes the NCAA tournament  for the first time, that I had a small part in making that happen.

However, despite what happens in the win and loss column, I think most managers know that the managing experience goes beyond just the game. The relationships you make with the players, coaches, and other managers are ones that you keep for the years after college is over. Managers volunteer so much of their time to be around the program, and as a result you really get to now the players and coaches away from the court. Some of the most memorable moments I have had as a manager come from traveling with the team. Bryant is a small Division I program, so when we would have the opportunity to go on the road and play teams such as Indiana, UConn, Providence, Boston College, Maryland, St. John's, Rutgers and Iowa it was quite the experience. Although we did not have much of a chance to win these games, the experience of playing in front of 14, 000 people in Bloomington, Indiana on a weeknight is something I will never forget. The experience to see first hand the passion of the fans that these schools display on a regular basis is something I will never forget. I guess it makes since being a manager, that the things I enjoyed the most about my managing experience were all the small, behind the scenes experiences.

Overall, I would recommend to any college student that has a passion for basketball to reach out to their program and see if they need any help or assistance. It can be time consuming and difficult at times, but the relationships you make and the behind the scenes experiences you are a part of are something that you will take with you long after you have graduated from your school. I think managing a team is a great way to prepare you for the "real world". As a manager, the skills you develop while working in a competitive, fast paced environment is something that translates into any job you may encounter after graduation.