Becoming A Mid-Major Manager

Daniel Young's post, manager at Northeastern University:

My aspiration to be a manager of a men's basketball team started when I went up to visit
my brother at Ithaca College, where he went from being the manager to the student assistant in a matter of a few years. I wouldn't be able to pinpoint the exact reason I got so drawn to managing: the people I met, the dozens of hats that needed to be worn, or even the mere fact that the manager is a part of a program that is much bigger than him/her.

When applying for colleges, managing was something that was always in the back of my mind. I wanted a school that was a decent size with a great athletic program and more specifically, a basketball program that is successful and still continuing to grow, enabling me to grow alongside it.

In April of my senior year in high school, I went up to Northeastern University for an "accepted student's program" (but it was really just an excuse for me to go up to Boston to try and meet with the Director of Basketball Operations - Steve Scalzi). After meeting for a half hour about my duties, I was confident that being a manager was what I wanted to do with my free time. The meeting gave me insight into what managers can and can't do from posting team information on social networking websites and blogs to representing the school and the team in the proper manner while traveling. Coach Scalzi mentioned the honor and privilege I will have to work under Coach Bill Coen, who came to Northeastern six years ago and has built a successful program in the Colonial Athletic Association. When I got more involved with individual workouts and practices, it was obvious that Coach Scalzi did not stretch the truth.

During practice, my responsibilities include filming practice when necessary, making sure all of the water bottles are filled, towels are ready for the other managers to hold on to, and working the game clock to make sure the practice plan stays on-time. On occasion, one of the coaches will ask me to pass or rebound. My overall goal, along with the other managers during practice, is to stay unnoticed but make sure the practice goes as smooth as possible.

 During the season my duties for home games differ entirely from away games. At home, I arrive at Matthew's Arena at least four hours before game time. I make sure that the away team, referees, and our locker room are ready with towels and water. When that is done, most of my time is spent warming up the players to make sure they are ready for the game. Come tip-off, we usually have three managers behind the bench and I go to the top of the arena to break down the game film for scouting purposes as well as making copies of the game film for the referees and the away team.

In contrast, on the road, my responsibilities start the night before when we pack all of our film equipment: DVD player, laptops, DVD's, projector, etc. Since the majority of our conference trips this year were by plane, it is my job to be the last in everything. I have to make sure that all of our players and staff are accounted for and check to make sure nothing is left behind. Even though we arrive a day before the game, there is not much down time. Whether it is ordering food for the team, setting up film, or getting ready for the game, there is always something that needs to be done. Personally, away games are more enjoyable because you get to spend time with great people and see arenas and venues you have never been to.

These responsibilities may seem daunting, but the rewards of the job outweigh any duties. The best piece of advice that Coach Scalzi gave me was, "The more you invest in the program, the more the program will invest in you." If you show that you care about the program and are willing to make sacrifices for it, more responsibility will be handed to you, and it will become an unbelievable experience.

During my first year at Northeastern I became a member of a family. The people I met and got to work with make my day a lot easier and a lot more fun. Over Thanksgiving, it is a tradition to have dinner at Coach Coen's house with the players, managers, and coaches. It was at that time that I realized how much of a family we really are and how honored I was to be a manager for Coach Coen and have the opportunity to work for Coach Scalzi and the rest of the Northeastern Basketball Family.