Duke basketball has made me a better person. Sure, I learned about the game of basketball - defense, shooting, passing, and spacing. But the lessons I learned as a student manager for the Duke basketball team go far beyond the hardwood. Every lesson interestingly ties back into one common theme: leadership.
Duke typically has a squad of about ten student managers in any given season. As managers, we have established our own culture of Duke basketball. There are certain things that we do all the time. We all arrive an hour early to every practice to ensure that the equipment is set up well before the players and coaches go out on the court. We all arrive two and a half hours before a home game to set up and stay an hour after to ensure that our equipment and uniforms are stored and counted. Most importantly, we all respect one another and follow our senior managers. The seniors are the leaders of our group, similar to how the players have captains each year. As a senior manager, I learned how to lead a group of eight of my peers through a seven month season while accomplishing everything that the program asked us to do.
Attending practices and games for four years has given me a unique perspective into Duke basketball. Coach K leads to example and practices what he preaches. One of the things that makes him so successful is his ability to understand and relate to people. He knows how to motivate people and he is extremely loyal to everyone he speaks too. Getting to know Coach and understand the kind of person he is has been an incredible experience for me. In many ways, I try to emulate him. I know that my stule of leadership can be improved by incorporating the things that Coach does on an everyday basis.
As a manager, I knew that I would work for the Duke basketball program but I didn't know what I could become a part of the Duke basketball family. The people in the program are all top notch and they are all willing to help anyone, including a manager. I have been the beneficiary of being surrounded by great people and having the opportunity to learn from them. This family atmosphere fosters good relationships and reflects strong leadership. My past four years as a manager for Duke has been personally rewarding and I know that I am forever changed for the better because of the people I met and the principles I have learned.
Check out this video highlighting Pat and Sarah two Duke senior managers:
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