In any profession, the life of a manager can be demanding. Basketball team management is no different.
DeVante Jones, head manager of the University of Memphis men's basketball team and junior political science major, said when he walks into the Finch Center there is no time for lounging.
"If you don't have night duty, it's kind of an off-day, but when you're in this building you're working," he said.
Everyday, it is these individuals who maintain the U of M basketball practice facilities.
The managers arrive at the Finch Center 45 minutes before practice so they can set the court, which means placing fresh towels at both ends of the floor, getting the coaches' boxes of gum in order, ensuring water bottles are full and cold, setting the mats and slipknots for players to wipe their feet, putting the coaches' clipboards on the floor and making sure players' jerseys and shorts are clean and ready each day.
"That's why you come 45 minutes before, so if you run into a problem or any issue you can get it solved before practice starts," Jones said.
Including Jones, there are seven managers getting the job done for the men's team, one for each day of the week. The managers rotate the night duty shifts, which include washing the practice gear for coaches and players, cleaning the kitchen and putting away leftover food.
"The players will come eat it the next day or the janitors will come get it, but we don't throw any food away," Jones said. "They have to have this place spotless for the next morning, and every manager has his own night."
Assistant director of Operations Julian Swartz said this year's group of managers has been excellent and he is excited to work with them.
Swartz manages the managers and said he looks for passion, selflessness through service and general pro-active manner when selecting potential candidates.
"It's a very big commitment, but it's a two-way street," he said. "They are tremendously helping our program, but, individually, it's a great thing for their future."
Senior accounting major and video manager James White said he could attest to that statement.
"I'm studying accounting, but hopefully, studying it is as far as it goes," he said. "I don't want to do that. I want to coach basketball."
White, along with Jeffery Palmer, film every practice, scrimmage and home game for the coaches to watch in a different style than what is seen on television. They also compile the video of other teams for the scouting aspect of the game.
Swartz does not actively seek people to fill the position - they find him.
"It's basically on a volunteer basis," Swartz said. "I get people that reach out to me and after an interview process, I fill the position from there."
