Xavier University Athletics
Kevin Hermansader returns to the program in an elevated position on staff
11.13.25 | Women's Basketball
Spending last season as a graduate assistant, Kevin Hermansader steps into a new role as Assistant Athletic Director for Women's Basketball. Hermansader feels that this is a strong opportunity to stay in a competitive industry.
"[The job] allows you to go into every week and say, 'Hey, this is what I need to do for us to be successful,'" Hermansader said. "And having something as black and white as we won or we didn't win, and being able to contribute to that, really helps with my competitive side. Being able to still compete every day is something that this job is different than any other job you could have."
Hermansader's main responsibilities fall under operations and analytics, looking to get the most out of the players.
"[Responsibilities include] anything schedule related, travel planning, meal planning, and all of our gear and uniforms…," Hermansader said. "Additionally, I pick up some [opportunities] with analytics and video, so I'll make sure all of our video is organized and set. And then we have some analytics we're tracking, like player efficiency."
Hermansader's basketball journey began in his home state of Delaware, where his love for the game took root in elementary school and continued through high school. While studying at the University of Delaware, he found a way to stay close to the sport.
"I got an email from the Director of Operations for their women's team, just looking for [student] managers," Hermansader said. "This was Covid time, so everything was on Zoom, and I couldn't really interact with anybody yet, so I hopped on the call, was interested, went for one practice, and then I was set after that. I was one of the few people that was able to be around a lot, because I was from Delaware, so I got to be there for all the winter break. I got to build a good connection with the coaches there."
That early opportunity led to deeper involvement. After a coaching change in his sophomore season, Hermansader was promoted to head manager. When graduation approached, a connection from Delaware helped pave his next move.
"My second coach at Delaware, Sarah Jenkins, grew up with Coach Chambers found out that she had a GA opening, and she's like, 'You've got to take this call…'" Hermansader said. "[It was a] 20-minute call immediately after that, I was like, 'Okay, I need to go do this.'"
After being a graduate assistant for the program, Hermansader said it was a no-brainer to return to the program after learning from Chambers' coaching style.
"I almost call it like basketball education," Hermansader said. "We have binders with playbooks and notes, and we watch film. You're expected to take notes on this film, and you might be asked about it later. It really shifts how players are thinking about things before… Here, it's so regimented, and you're able to really see them learn from things like that. So that kind of stuck out to me as, 'Oh, this is legit. I want to stay.'"
Enhancing his role, Hermansader has continued to learn and contribute on the analytical side of basketball. Hermansader said analytics is one of his favorite aspects of his responsibilities.
"I've always been a numbers guy, like math, Excel spreadsheets," Hermansader said. "So, being able to see something on paper and say, 'Hey, this is either a competitive
advantage for us or a disadvantage for us that we need to change,' being able to actually see that and show somebody that as a point of change is cool for me."
Establishing a strong culture last season, Hermansader has bought into what the program is hoping to accomplish this season. Hermansader said he sees this same desire in the players at practice, games, and off the court.
"[This team has] the overall energy and the attitude of they want this," Hermansader said. "It's not like we're going to show up, because we have to be here. It's basketball. They want to win, and they're really passionate about winning, and they're doing the little things. They're having the tough conversations with each other. They're making the connections outside the basketball and all those little things that will keep stacking us to grow tighter as a team. That's the most exciting thing for me."
"[The job] allows you to go into every week and say, 'Hey, this is what I need to do for us to be successful,'" Hermansader said. "And having something as black and white as we won or we didn't win, and being able to contribute to that, really helps with my competitive side. Being able to still compete every day is something that this job is different than any other job you could have."
Hermansader's main responsibilities fall under operations and analytics, looking to get the most out of the players.
"[Responsibilities include] anything schedule related, travel planning, meal planning, and all of our gear and uniforms…," Hermansader said. "Additionally, I pick up some [opportunities] with analytics and video, so I'll make sure all of our video is organized and set. And then we have some analytics we're tracking, like player efficiency."
Hermansader's basketball journey began in his home state of Delaware, where his love for the game took root in elementary school and continued through high school. While studying at the University of Delaware, he found a way to stay close to the sport.
"I got an email from the Director of Operations for their women's team, just looking for [student] managers," Hermansader said. "This was Covid time, so everything was on Zoom, and I couldn't really interact with anybody yet, so I hopped on the call, was interested, went for one practice, and then I was set after that. I was one of the few people that was able to be around a lot, because I was from Delaware, so I got to be there for all the winter break. I got to build a good connection with the coaches there."
That early opportunity led to deeper involvement. After a coaching change in his sophomore season, Hermansader was promoted to head manager. When graduation approached, a connection from Delaware helped pave his next move.
"My second coach at Delaware, Sarah Jenkins, grew up with Coach Chambers found out that she had a GA opening, and she's like, 'You've got to take this call…'" Hermansader said. "[It was a] 20-minute call immediately after that, I was like, 'Okay, I need to go do this.'"
After being a graduate assistant for the program, Hermansader said it was a no-brainer to return to the program after learning from Chambers' coaching style.
"I almost call it like basketball education," Hermansader said. "We have binders with playbooks and notes, and we watch film. You're expected to take notes on this film, and you might be asked about it later. It really shifts how players are thinking about things before… Here, it's so regimented, and you're able to really see them learn from things like that. So that kind of stuck out to me as, 'Oh, this is legit. I want to stay.'"
Enhancing his role, Hermansader has continued to learn and contribute on the analytical side of basketball. Hermansader said analytics is one of his favorite aspects of his responsibilities.
"I've always been a numbers guy, like math, Excel spreadsheets," Hermansader said. "So, being able to see something on paper and say, 'Hey, this is either a competitive
advantage for us or a disadvantage for us that we need to change,' being able to actually see that and show somebody that as a point of change is cool for me."
Establishing a strong culture last season, Hermansader has bought into what the program is hoping to accomplish this season. Hermansader said he sees this same desire in the players at practice, games, and off the court.
"[This team has] the overall energy and the attitude of they want this," Hermansader said. "It's not like we're going to show up, because we have to be here. It's basketball. They want to win, and they're really passionate about winning, and they're doing the little things. They're having the tough conversations with each other. They're making the connections outside the basketball and all those little things that will keep stacking us to grow tighter as a team. That's the most exciting thing for me."
INTERVIEW | Coach Chambers vs Kent State
Saturday, November 15
HIGHLIGHTS | Women's Basketball vs. Kent State
Saturday, November 15
INTERVIEW | Coach Chambers vs Dayton
Wednesday, November 12
HIGHLIGHTS | Women's Basketball vs. Dayton
Wednesday, November 12