University of Florida student Corey Reynolds loves everything about basketball — the game, the players, the teamwork and the sneaker squeaks.
He played basketball in high school in Tampa, and now, as a senior in the Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering with minors in Economics and Engineering Innovation, he is a student manager for the reigning national champions. And as all eyes are on the Gators this season, Reynolds is combining his passion for the game with the precision of engineering.
“From the coaches to the players, everyone in the building is so caring and it goes a long way toward making me want to work even harder,” he said. “It’s satisfying seeing our guys succeed and compete to the best of their ability, and it is rewarding to know that I had a small part in that.”
From managing equipment and logistics to overseeing and packing every team bag on road trips, he takes great pride in making sure the players and coaches have everything they need to be successful on game day. Along the way, he’s learning valuable lessons about leadership, planning, conflict resolution and problem solving.
In his own words, he shares what it takes to successfully merge two passions — engineering and hoops.
What are the primary responsibilities of a basketball manager?
The main function of student managers is to make sure the players can focus on playing and the coaches can focus on coaching. We are asked to do all sorts of things to help the program run every day. Routinely, we take care of team laundry, prepare the court for practice, wipe up sweat and help with team practices and individual workouts. We also do a tremendous amount of scouting and analytics video work to prepare for games.
What’s a day like in your role?
I will unbox any new equipment that comes in and organize it in our inventory. If we are preparing for a game, I will usually start packing the day before we leave for the road: everything from uniforms, practice jerseys, accessories, snacks, coaching folders and boards, video equipment, shoes and anything else we might need. I arrive one hour before practice making sure every player has everything they need.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Seeing our guys succeed and win games. I have such genuine relationships with all our players and truly care about their success. The family that has been built within Florida basketball is something special, and I treasure the relationships I have been blessed to be able to build with the players, coaches, managers and their families.
What is the most important skill you’ve learned?
Approach each day with a great attitude and find ways to solve problems and work hard. My love for basketball is not what has made me a good manager, but it’s my work ethic, ability to build relationships and consistent efforts to work toward a team goal.
How does this role complement your studies?
My experience with logistics and understanding processes has been very helpful in making me a good manager. I understand how different parts of our program work together and have found ways to make them more efficient. I have also been able to apply my ISE studies in data analytics to help the staff with some data projects we have worked on.
What’s your most memorable moment as an equipment manager?
Winning the national championship last season was the cherry on top. It was my third year with the program. Working so hard for so long and then coming out on top, after countless nights of laundry, late-night flights home and then making it to 8:30 a.m. classes, and everything else that comes with being a part of a college sports team made it so worth it.
What should others know about your job?
It’s hard to be a manager. It takes a lot of sacrifice for sometimes not a lot of reward. I’ve learned so much about myself and had life-changing experiences because of my willingness to work hard and check my ego at the door. When every player, coach, and manager excels in their role, the sky’s the limit. My time as a Gator engineer and manager challenged me and helped shape me into the person I am today.