Managing In The SEC Conference

Victoria Kisluk Manager at Tennessee:

Throughout high school I worked for our basketball head coach who also was the schools athletic director. I knew that I wanted to work in sports and in basketball when I made my transition to college. I was accepted into thirteen different schools and when it came down to finding my home, Tennessee was the school that took a simple email and turned it into a four-year job. Former Tennessee Head Coach Bruce Pearl, responded to my initial email that I still have today and was the most enthusiastic about helping me achieve my goals.

The University of Tennessee Men's Basketball program is currently home to about ten managers. Each manager has different responsibilities. My responsibilities are but not limited to, day to day paper work, assisting the coaching staff, working with players on the ticketing system, doing the occasional load of laundry, assist our secretaries and even work recruiting weekends.

My ultimate goal in life is to become a public relations/community relations coordinator for an NFL or NBA team. I love my Kansas City Chiefs and would die to work there.

Former Head Coach Bruce Pearl

Becoming a successful manager is all about what you put into your job. It isn't about all the glitter that most people think it is. It is hard work, that yes at times has its ups but with all the ups there are downs.

I think the best advice I got in the past four years was from a former coach who I also feel was like my mentor. This job is never easy no matter how many people wished they were you they could never deal with as much as you or I do. This is honestly a true fact. I am pretty sure that any manager can tell you that people would die to be in our position, however they have no clue how hard it is to be us.

Throughout my time as a manager the only summer camps I've worked are the ones at Tennessee. Since they are spread throughout the summer along with the amount of work they are I don't end up working any others.

I think for me the biggest and most memorable game here are the Kansas games. I went to Kansas when we played them and that game was intense and let me tell you not as much orange as I would have liked to see. Then we played them here and that game was fun.

On becoming a successful manager, I would have to say make sure that you are doing this for all of the right reasons. This job is not as easy as it looks and at times it can be taken for granted. Do what you love not what you feel will make you look better, because you will be miserable in a job or position you don't love.