A Day In The Life: Team 94 Student Managers

CINCINNATI – Gameday simply couldn't happen without the efforts of Xavier's 15 student managers. Meet the behind-the-scenes men who make Team 94 run.

Name: Jack Hayes
Class: Junior
Major: Marketing
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

What made you want to become a manager?
I was a manager for the basketball team at St. Edward high school with former XU player Matt Stainbrook and current player Tim Stainbrook. I enjoyed that experience so much I wanted to continue in college.

What's been your favorite memory as a manager so far?
Last year's Sweet Sixteen in Los Angeles and also working the Cavs game at Cintas Center the past two years – during which I've been able to work with the team I grew up watching.

Favorite part of the job?
Being able to be a part of something that is bigger than myself, as well as the family atmosphere with the staff, managers and players.

Least favorite part of the job?
Balancing classes, basketball, social life while getting enough sleep. Sometimes there are not enough hours in the day, but being a manager keeps me busy and I enjoy always having something to do.

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Name: Chris Schrank
Class: Senior
Major: PPP, Natural Sciences
Hometown: Greenville, S.C.

What made you want to become a manager?
I played multiple sports through high school, basketball being my favorite. Managing was a great way to continue to be heavily involved with the sport at a high level.

What's been your favorite memory as a manager so far?
Probably just standing on the court before any game. It really puts into perspective how big the stage is for guys who are only about 20 years old.

Favorite part of the job?
Doing mostly video with the video coordinator, my favorite part is still being engaged in the "X's and O's" of the game.

Least favorite part of the job?
Prep for tournaments. It's exciting to be in one, but it means preparing for all possible matchups in a very short amount of time.

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Name: Tom Lucas
Class: Sophomore
Major: Sport Management
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.

What made you want to become a manager?
A combination of my love for basketball along with my desire to one day work in the sports industry.

What's been your favorite memory as a manager?
Being able to experience the atmosphere of the first game of the season, especially while walking out of the tunnel onto the court for the first time. Also, being right there next to the bench when the starting lineups are announced.

Favorite part of the job?
Gameday – specifically the 90 minutes leading up to tipoff. Helping out coaches and seeing the players warm up and helping them do so really gets me that much more hyped for the game itself.

Least favorite part of the job?
Getting up for 7 a.m. practice, especially because us managers need to be there at 6 a.m.

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Name: Josh Theis
Class: Freshman
Major: Graphic Design
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

What made you want to become a manager?
I'm interested in becoming a basketball coach some day and just the overall experience of being a part of the team.

What's been your favorite memory as a manager so far?
Xavier beating Dayton by 29 points and winning the AdvoCare Invitational title.

Favorite part of the job?
The interaction with the players and the gear.

Least favorite part of the job?
Laundry

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Name: Eric Massa
Class: Senior
Major: Sports Management
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

What made you want to become a manager?
I grew up a huge Xavier Basketball fan and have a passion for basketball. I wanted to be involved with the team in any way possible and I also want to pursue a job in the sports world.

What's been your favorite memory as a manager so far?
Being a part of the run to the Sweet 16 last year was something that I will never forget and has easily been my favorite memory as a manager thus far.

Favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of the job is interacting with the players and coaches every day. We have a great group of guys and an unbelievable coaching staff and it is very enjoyable being around them every single day.

Least favorite part of the job?
I really enjoy my job, so there really isn't anything I don't like about it.

Anything weird/different/superstitious you've been asked to do for a player or coach since you've been a manager?
Last year Matt Stainbrook always wanted to change into his jersey and warm-ups at the hotel rather at the arena on every road trip. So we would have to bring his stuff to his hotel room a few hours before we left to go to the game.

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Name: Michael Murray
Class: Freshman
Major: Sport Management
Hometown: Woodstock, Ill.

What made you want to become a manager?
I always wanted to work and be around Xavier Basketball.

What's been your favorite memory as a manager so far?
My first game day

Favorite part of the job?
Being around all the players, coaches, and other managers.

Least favorite part of the job?
Game laundry

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Name: Alex Poedtke
Class: Junior
Major: Sport Management
Hometown: West Chester, Ohio

What made you want to become a manager?
I was a huge Xavier fan growing up and wanted to be a part of this great program. I also have aspirations of working in college basketball after I graduate.

What's been your favorite memory as a manager so far?
Being a part of the BIG EAST Tournament run last year.

Favorite part of the job?
Traveling

Least favorite part of the job?
Laundry

Anything weird/different/superstitious you've been asked to do for a player or coach since you've been a manager?
Dee Davis always had to have spearmint gum.

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Name: Matt Reagan
Class: Junior
Major: Marketing with a Minor in Finance
Hometown: Cincinnati Ohio

What made you want to become a manager?
My brother, Patrick Reagan ('13), was a manager for four years and I saw how much fun he had as manager and all the great experiences he took part in. When I got on campus, I knew that was something I wanted to be a part of. I emailed our Director of Basketball Operations, Jeremy Growe, and asked him if I could apply for the position. I got an interview and eventually got the job.

Favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of the job is working with the players and coaching staff on a daily basis. They are all so great to work with, which makes my job so much more enjoyable.

Anything weird/different/superstitious you've been asked to do for a player or coach since you've been a manager?
Once last year I was setting up for a game and one of our coaches came up to me and asked for five small black rocks to be in his locker by game time. I found some rocks and sent him a picture and he said the size is fine but the rocks need to be more black, so I had to use a sharpie on the rocks to make them pitch black. I then put the rocks in his locker and I never saw any of those rocks again.

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Name: Casey Fraleigh
Class: Freshman
Major: Sports Management
Hometown: South Bend, Indiana

What made you want to become a manager?
I wanted to be a manager because it is a great experience to be a part of a team. Also, being a manager allows me to get experience in video. I want to be a video coordinator in the NBA so this is a great opportunity to gain experience and set myself up for the future.

What's been your favorite memory as a manager so far?
Since it has only been a couple months, the first game was probably my best memory so far.

Favorite part of the job?
being around the players and coaching staff

Least favorite part of the job?
Laundry

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Name: Ben Carloni
Class: Junior
Major: Sport Management
Hometown: Columbus

What made you want to become a manager?
Gaining great experience in the sports industry to eventually lead me into a job in sports.

What's been your favorite memory so far?
Going to Los Angeles for the Sweet 16.

Favorite part of the job?
Traveling with the team.

Least favorite part of the job?
Not knowing what some days have in store.

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Name: Zach Mog
Class: Senior
Major: Strategic Human Resource Management w/ Minor in Information Systems
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

What made you want to become a manager?
Coming to Xavier I knew a lot about their basketball program and how good we were and I wanted to be apart of it in some way. As a freshman I joined Pep Band as a way to guarantee I got to go to every game. I didn't know anything about becoming a manager until halfway through my first year I met Eric Massa, who now is my roommate and best friend. I heard about all the trips that he got to go on, the day and practice and how awesome it was to be a part of the team. The following year I applied and got an interview but I didn't get the job my Sophomore year. I re-applied again and I ended up getting it as a junior.

What's been your favorite memory as a manager so far?
My favorite memory as a manager has to be making it to the Sweet Sixteen this past year. I was fortunate enough to travel with the team and getting to celebrate in the locker room was one of the coolest experiences. On top of that, getting to go to LA the next weekend for the Sweet Sixteen game was the icing on top of the cake. Before that basketball season I had never been west of Indianapolis and I got to go experience Los Angeles all the way across the country.

Favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of the job is going on road trips. I am a person that loves to travel and see new places and getting to do that with the basketball team is special.

Least favorite part of the job?
I would say my least favorite part of the job is doing laundry after a long day of practice or having to do laundry after the game because it becomes time consuming.

Anything weird/different/superstitious you've had to do for a player or coach since you have been a manager?
One weird superstition was with Matt Stainbrook. Before the game he would want to wear his entire uniform before heading over to the arena when we were on the road. When we were in Jacksonville last year for the tournament, Matt's uniform was already at the arena and I had to get in an Uber and grab all of his gear before the bus left so he could put it on before heading to the arena.

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Name: Tanner Skelton
Class: Sophomore
Major: Accounting & Information Systems
Hometown: Convoy, Ohio

What made you want to become a manager?
I have always loved the game of basketball and when I was no longer as good at playing as my friends were, I decided to become a manager for my high school team. After being a manager for three years, I decided that I wanted to continue to do operations at the collegiate level with the basketball team.

What's been your favorite memory as a manager so far?
Winning on the road at Creighton and watching then-Graduate Assistant Joe Sullivan snap a clipboard in half over his knee and yelling at the top of his lungs as the buzzer rang at the end of the game.

Least favorite part of the job?
Laundry, even though it isn't that bad.

Anything weird/different/superstitious you've had to do for a player or coach since you have been a manager?
My freshman year, then-Assistant Coach Rick Carter had a group of managers and myself run to Home Depot and get a bag of pond rocks. When we got back to Cintas, we had to spray paint a few of them gold and give them to Coach Carter.

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Name: Michael Misleh
Class: 2014
Major: Business Undecided
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

What made you want to become a manager?
I knew when I decided to come to Xavier that I wanted to somehow get involved with the basketball team. I grew up going to as many home games as I could with my family.

What's been your favorite memory as a manager so far?
I went down to Jacksonville for the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament last year, which was a blast. Also when we beat UC at their place was a great memory.

Favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of the job is traveling to different cities with the team and playing great opponents in the BIG EAST.

Least favorite part of the job?
I enjoy every minute I get to spend with the team and the guys, but the nights when I have to do game laundry aren't always fun because it takes around three hours to complete.

Anything weird/different/superstitious you've had to do for a player or coach since you've been a manager?
Before every game J.P. Macura wants me to pass him the ball when they shoot around and no one else or he gets upset.

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Name: Mason Schaaf
Class: Sophomore
Major: Business
Hometown: Worthington, Ohio

What made you want to become a manager?
The game of basketball has had a major impact on my life, and being a manager for Xavier has allowed me to continue my love for the game, following my playing career in high school. I also wanted to be a manger because I hope to be a coach someday.

What's been your favorite memory as a manager so far?
Getting my first road win at Marquette.

Favorite part of the job?
Pre-game meals, gamedays, gear day, and being around a great group of guys that care for one another.

Least favorite part of the job?
Postgame Laundry

Schedule

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Players Mentioned

Dee Davis

J.P. Macura

Matt Stainbrook

Tim Stainbrook

Upcoming Events

Xavier University Athletics