By Brian Gerrity
Contributor Brian Gerrity has moved on to a new job at the University of Hartford. Here, he shares the duties that accompany his position as Assistant Director of Facilities and Event Operations, details the challenges of preparing for an event, and provides some tips for a smooth set up.
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This past September I joined the University of Hartford Athletic Department staff as the Assistant Director of Facilities and Event Operations. My supervisor, Associate Athletic Director Ted Stavropoulos, has trusted me with the coordination and execution of all home varsity athletic events. These responsibilities are similar to the ones I held at both Springfield College and Yale University, however, the scope and accountability of my current position is larger.
My job is split into two separate, but related, areas: facility management and event operations. Each of these branches contains several key responsibilities. For the sake of this article I will separate the two, but in practice they are almost always intertwined. To begin, my job description with regard to facilities is as follows:
Assist with site preparation for the outdoor athletics field complex that includes but is not limited to research on computer, sound, ticket systems, and products for operation. Also will be responsible for research on bid orders. Oversees site preparation to ensure proper set-up and breakdown of facilities for athletics contests, practices, and other special events. Troubleshoots equipment, including bleachers, scoreboards, sound systems, and lights to ensure proper functioning for all events. Completes work orders and collaborates with Operations and Maintenance staff to ensure repairs are completed in a timely fashion.
This translates into understanding how to operate and troubleshoot a variety of machinery and electronics. One example of this facet of my job was a problem with the sound system used at our outdoor soccer complex. Over the course of my first week at Hartford, the system began to hiss each time it was turned on. After disconnecting and reconnecting all of the wires and clearing the feedback filters for the wireless microphone (about the extent of my sound system knowledge), I called the manufacturer and had a technician come to campus to solve the problem.
Other facility requests range from refinishing batting cages with aluminum paint to testing the basketball rims with specialized equipment to ensure they comply with NCAA standards. These tasks require creative problem solving and the ability to know when an expert in a specific area needs to be called.
The other half of my job is event operations. This portion of my job is similar to my previous positions at both Yale and Springfield, and brings to mind memories of my athletic career. I played college basketball, and one of my coach's mantras was to revere game day. I can still hear him telling the team, "nothing goes wrong on game day!"
To this day, I still get excited for game day--whether our men's soccer team is hosting Boston University in the America East semifinals (a 2-1 win for the Hawks) or our women's basketball team is hosting #19 Louisville (a 62-50 Hartford win). The job description for events operations reads:
Provides on-site supervision of personnel for events hosted in the Sports Center, including ushers, ticket takers, table staff, ball persons, parking attendants, greeters for visiting teams as well as other duties as necessary and appropriate for contests and/or special events. Also ensures proper preparation and staffing for any events held in the facility. Hires and trains student workers as well as completes appropriate paperwork to ensure pay checks are issued in a timely manner.
Game day for me is always a blur. I have a three-page checklist of items that need to be completed for basketball games, ranging from outfitting the officials with precision timing packs to stocking our VIP area in the arena. During the game my responsibilities shift to scanning the crowd for trouble areas, supervising a staff of over 30 game personnel, and troubleshooting any problems that arise. Regardless of how organized I am at the beginning of a game, I never know what issue may arise or what problem will need to be solved.
The last line of my job description, "performs other duties as assigned," adds an indescribable and sometimes comical variety to my day that I know most athletic administrators share. I bring funny, sad, ridiculous, insane, and triumphant stories home with me, which are unique and wide ranging. I love my job and would not trade a life in collegiate athletic administration for anything.
On a side note, I would like to thank several individuals for their help and support over the past year with my job search. The first is Rick Boyages who recently was named Associate Commissioner of the Big Ten for Men's Basketball. He is one of my closest friends and a great mentor.
Next is Ryan Bamford, Senior Associate Athletics Director at Yale. He gave me my first job in college athletics and is a model administrator. He will be an AD himself before he is 40.
Third is Dr. Poisson at Springfield. As my advisor, teacher, and friend, he guided me through the Master's process.
Finally, I would like to thank my wife. She has stood by me through the ups and downs of a job search in a tough economy and has believed in me from the day I met her.
To view Gerrity's three-page checklist for basketball game operations, e-mail him at: gerrity@hartford.edu.