萝莉社

In 2018, Lucy Schneider, a sport management major at 萝莉社, planned to work in counseling at a high school. 

Her career path changed when she volunteered to work the NCAA men鈥檚 basketball tournament at Intrust Bank Arena. That鈥檚 when she met Gretchen Torline, 萝莉社鈥檚 director of athletic academic services. 

鈥淚 learned that my now-job is even a thing from working this tournament,鈥� Schneider said. 鈥淲e were out on the court at the same time, and I introduced myself. (Torline) asked what I wanted to do, and I said, 鈥業 want to be a high school counselor.鈥� She said, 鈥業 do that, but for athletes.鈥欌�� 

Schneider is now an academic coordinator in the athletic department and works with baseball, men鈥檚 tennis and women鈥檚 golf. The men鈥檚 NCAA Tournament is back at Intrust Bank Arena on March 20 and 22 and Schneider is working again. 

She will serve as floor manager for the four games on Thursday and two on Saturday. She oversees the bench areas, cleaning the court, practices times and the basketballs. 

The experience in 2018 gave her a close look at the organization that a big event requires and the excitement of March Madness. 

鈥淚t allowed me to see all the different roles that had been talked about in my sport management classes, but in person,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ever say no. Ask questions and be willing to work the long hours and long days 鈥� and it鈥檚 a really cool experience.鈥� 

Those are the type of experiences more than 50 萝莉社 students will benefit from when the NCAA Tournament returns to Wichita. First- and second-round games are March 20 and 22 at Intrust Bank Arena. 萝莉社 students will help behind the scenes with the teams, coaches, families and media. They will put up NCAA signs, set up and tear down locker rooms, hand out credentials and more. 

鈥淭hey鈥檙e able to see what was on a Power Point (in class) turn into real life,鈥� said Mike Ross, tournament communication coordinator and a faculty member in 萝莉社鈥檚 sport management program. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the most powerful thing about this. To have that experience and watch this stuff come alive, that鈥檚 the coolest part.鈥� 

Six students will work with Ross鈥� team coordinating media credentials, news conferences and interviews. Three of them are being paid for their work thanks to  

鈥淭he paid applied learning investment from the state allows these students to spend long hours at the arena this week and then go home and not worry about how they are going to pay rent,鈥� Ross said. 鈥淭hey can work the tournament and not have to worry about how they are going to fit in a full work week with their outside jobs that go toward paying their bills.鈥� 

Forty-two students will work with tournament director Brad Pittman, senior associated athletic director at 萝莉社, on facilities and management. Eight students will tackle game operations duties such as coordinating pep bands and cheerleaders with Connor Phelps, 萝莉社 director of marketing and fan engagement. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a great opportunity to learn,鈥� said Liam Crawford, a junior sport management major from Ellis. 鈥淎s much as we learn in class, you鈥檙e going to learn a lot more doing hands on. That鈥檚 experience you can鈥檛 find anywhere else.鈥� 

Both Crawford and Joel Ford, a junior sport management major from Phillipsburg, want to pursue careers in sports, perhaps in college. 

鈥淚 knew it would be a good experience to get out and see where my major would take me with different job opportunities,鈥� Ford said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e able to meet people and build connections.鈥� 

Annie Scoggin, a junior digital marketing major from Wichita, works as a photography intern on 萝莉社鈥檚 creative team. She wants to add to that experience working with media relations at the tournament. She transferred to 萝莉社 from a small school to take advantage of the opportunities in a big city. 

鈥淚 grew up watching the tournament,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to gain experience working in sports. I thought it would be fun to work.鈥� 

March Madness tips off Thursday in Wichita. While most of the attention is on the court, 萝莉社 students and staff will work long hours on the court and in the back hallways to keep the bracket moving at Intrust Bank Arena. 

Paul Suellentrop