Tim Hoops Valparaiso Manager:
Long hours. Little appreciation. Great life experience. These are the three ways that I describe being a college basketball manager. During my freshman year at Marquette University, I realized what I was missing in my life was the pure competition that basketball provided for me during high school. What I truly wanted to do was become a basketball coach, and I also felt that during that year I was falling a bit away from my faith. I started looking around at different schools to transfer to where I could earn some type of certification in coaching, and I stumbled across Valpo. When I came down for a visit, I had no intention of becoming a basketball manager, but through my transfer coordinator, I had the opportunity to meet with one of our assistant coaches, Chris Sparks. After talking with him about basketball in general, and what Valpo basketball was all about, I was convinced that Valpo is the place where I should be. There seemed to be no formal application process, but the in person interview seemed to seal the deal.
So just like that I became a manager, and began to get acquainted with the program, and learned what I really meant to be a Valpo basketball manager. That first year, we had 6 managers total, and 4 of us that showed up everyday. I learned from our then head manager what was expected of us on a daily basis for practice. We always show up 30 minutes before practice to get everything set up. The floor gets mopped, the ball rack and water coolers are carried up the stairs (Valpo is no Big Ten school). We go over the practice plan to see what kinds of cones, pads, and blockers are needed at each hoop throughout practice. We talk with Rod Moore, our trainer, to see what special equipment players who are rehabbing need out at the court. We make sure the lights and scoreboard are on, as well as managing other countless things that come up. During practice, we are always ready with a ball and a towel. We help out in drills, whether its setting a screen, rebounding, or since I am a stronger guy, I get to play inside with a pad and push our players around a bit.
During games, we are in charge of everything that happens on the bench, so that the coaches can focus on the game. Any need that anyone has, we take care of it. I help out with stat sheets, and video work. Other managers make sure players have water and towels. This becomes a bit more hectic on the road, as we only bring two managers with us. We are also responsible for making sure all of the necessary get is packed (uniforms, extra practice gear, video equipment, drinks and snacks for the bus).
Being a successful manager requires hard work, quick thinking, and resourcefulness. I can't think of how many times a coach comes up to me and say, "hey, can you take care of..." and I think to myself, "Well, I'll have to find a way to." Always being over-prepared is the best way to make sure things run smoothly, which should be the ultimate goal of a manager. I always think that as long as no one is noticing what we do as managers, then we are doing what needs to be done, and doing it well.
After one of our games, Paul Kruger, a former Valpo basketball manager was in our team room talking with us and gave us the best piece of advice on being a manager I have heard to this day: "Work Hard. Have a Good Time". Being a manager is definitely about these two things, working hard to do necessary tasks is worth it, as long as it is fun and enjoyable. Learning the game from some great coaches is my reward and what makes it worth my while, and the relationship I have build with the other managers keep me coming back.
During my summers I have done several different things trying to boost that resume. I returned home one summer and coached a high school aged AAU basketball team. This past summer I am stayed at Valpo, took some classes and did some work with the team, and worked our camps.
This past season '10-'11 we had two very memorable games in Valpo at the ARC. The first was our home victory against Butler, the place was packed to the brim and was as loud as I have ever heard it. The game was intense the whole time, and one of our seniors, Howard Little, made a couple of miraculous shot to seal the victory. The second was our Bracketbuster game this season when we hosted Missouri State. Again the place was packed and we cruised to an easy win against a very quality team, but the highlight of the night was that Dick Vitale was calling the game, so that was a pretty cool experience.
A lot of what I will take into my profession of teaching will be the work ethic and resourcefulness I have gained from being a manager. Also, I am going to be a high school basketball coach, so the preparation for the game, practice planning, position specific drills, and team management will be extremely useful as I begin my coaching career.
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