Athletics & Sport Leadership with Manny

Segment #9 from UMass Boston

Transcript

Meet Manny, a junior from Broward County, Florida, majoring in sport leadership, administration and a minor in sociology. Manny hopes to coach the future NBA players to championships by applying his classroom knowledge to the court. Manny, take it away.

– Thanks, Alex, what’s good, everyone. Truthfully, I didn’t know if I was going to attend college or not, but playing basketball gave me the opportunity to do so and now I’m getting my degree in sport leadership administration where I can go on and pursue my dream of being a college men’s basketball coach. In the world of sport leadership administration, I’ve discovered a perfect blend of academics and social engagement as many of my classmates are also athletes. It’s really rewarding to apply classroom theories to real life situations onto the court. The curriculum covers a wide spectrum, reflecting the diverse landscape of the sports industry, whether it’s managing teams or understanding leadership psychology. The program equips me with the tools to navigate every aspect of this dynamic field, and there’s nothing quite like the energy of heading to the games or even warming up and seeing my own fellow students come out to support us. Off the court, UMass Boston campus pulses with life and is always growing. I enjoy the popup events in the campus center or even the food trucks on the lawn. There’s also a lot of job opportunities and seminars. Obviously, my favorite are the sporting events and their popularity has grown since I’ve been a freshman, which as an athlete is really exciting. As I reflect on my college journey, it’s incredible to see how much I’ve grown. I’d never imagined the depth of knowledge and skills I would have acquired. As a student athlete, I’ve honed my basketball IQ and cultivated a deeper understanding of what it means to lead on and off the court. UMass Boston has provided me with a platform to chase my athletic goals, excel academically, and find joy in the journey. All right, Alex, I gotta get back to it. Tossing it back to you.

– Manny, your journey embodies the perfect fusion of sports and education inspiring us all from uncertainty to realizing your dream of coaching, you’ve shown that with determination anything is possible. Thanks, Manny.

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