A Letter from a College Manager to his Team

To Behrend Basketball,

On March 28th, 2017, I met with long time Behrend Basketball coach Dave Niland. My heart pounded and my palms were sweaty as I waited to meet with a coaching legend. I was not sure what to expect, but to my surprise, he greeted me with acceptance and openness from the start. Coach took some time out of his busy schedule to meet with me to discuss my goals and my plans for how I could help the team. It was something that helped me quickly realize that I had made the right decision to become a college team manager for the last two years of my college career. Many may ask, what happened to your first two years of college? Well, it is something that frustrates me till this day.

Coming to Penn State Behrend as a reserved 18 year old from rural Pennsylvania, I worried about making new friends. I originally planned on working with the team, but I “chickened out” because I was worried that I would be more of a laughing stock than an asset to a program of such excellence. I sent Coach Niland an email and told him I was no longer interested in the position. It is something to this day I regret. The decision to not get involved with the program sooner was such a mistake because the players and coaches over these two years did not find me as a laughing stock, but rather an important part of the team.

To be truthful, I was the one who easily did the least for this program but I believe sought the biggest benefits. I was able to attend every game and practice while gaining such great experience and helping pay my way through college. I did not endure the long hours of film, recruiting, gameplanning, scouting, and many other tasks that college coaches endure. Additionally, I was not practicing for two-three hours a day for months and playing nearly 30 games. I had it easy; I helped with drills, ran the scoreboard, set up for practice, helped pack for travel, and kept statistics. These are tasks that take little skill or time, but I was happy to do them. I was happy to be surrounded by 27 different teammates in two seasons along with five different coaches and one fellow manager who made my life as a manager much easier in season number two.

All 33 men who made my experience as a college manager deserve great recognition and individual attention, and that is exactly what I intend on doing within this piece. I will begin by addressing three teammates who were a part of the journey in my first season, but unfortunately not in year number two. Connor McLaughlin also known as C-Man made practices such a fun time in my first year. He always found a way to make me laugh along with the rest of the team. He is also one of the only players who warmed up with the “Big-Ball”, and I will always remember times rebounding for him shooting corner 3’s and baseline floaters.

Jack Relihan was also one of the funnier teammates in my two seasons with Behrend hoops. I was fortunate to tell Jack’s story in the Athletes of PSB series earlier this school year, and I was honored to do so. Although Jack’s college sports career was not exactly all he hoped it would be, this guy could flatout score the basketball. I wish things could have been a little bit different for him.Kyle Reese pound for pound was one of the toughest players I have ever seen play at the Division III level. This kid was a little bit over six foot tall but he played power forward for us. It was amazing to watch him guard people because he always found a succeed and he drove big men crazy because of his ability to stretch the floor. It is a pleasure to have called all three of these guys my teammates during my managerial career.

It is not often that a college basketball team returns 15 players from one season to the next, but we were thankful to do so from 2017-2018 to 2018-2019. While we missed three guys this past season, we were thankful to welcome nine new players to the program for this past season. I will address my teammates from first years until seniors in that order.

Devin Pope; Mr. 2K, pound for pound one of the toughest guys on our team. I will never forget watching you light up La Roche at our place and coach Carmichael from La Roche looking to his bench and asking his assistants “who is this guy?”. He may not have known your name then, but he surely does now. For the next three years, not many people are going to forget your name in the AMCC.Trent Walker, you are one of the smartest kids I have ever spoken to. Your intellect speaks for itself, and so does your three point shooting ability. You have District 6 fits because of your ability to score the basketball. Scoring over 1,000 points is not easy to do, but it is easier when you hit as many threes as you did/do. I have no doubt that you will be a threat for the Lions moving forward.

PJ Gourley, the 2017-2018 Behrend Intramural Sports MVP. Nobody could stop you in IM’s freshman year, and I was pumped for you to be my teammate this season. Unfortunately, nobody got to see your talent because of injury. I hope your college career is not over before it ever began because you are one of the most talented big men in the AMCC and nobody knows it except for people at Behrend.

Johnny Fukon, you are one of the smartest and funniest kids on our team. You may be quiet at first, but once you warm up to people, look out! The medical field is gaining a great surgeon in the future with an electric personality. Your big game experience is something you will have to offer this program moving forward over the next three seasons.

Nick Fiumara better known as Shoe, you are an absolute sniper from deep. Your step back threes are truly something out of the bag of James Harden. You also have great craftiness driving to the bucket. I am certain that your shooting ability will gain you a lot of playing time in the next three seasons.

Ben Beale, you are a great pure shooter who is not afraid of the spotlight. I know you continued to get shots up all season despite the unfortunate way the JV season went. I am excited for what the future has in store for you.

Brandon Bennett, despite being a pretty small dude, you really busted your tail this season. You showed great spurts of shooting the ball and then took it by defenders and made some plays in the paint. I can’t wait to continue to watch you ball through your career.

Deondre Terwilliger, I was glad to meet you this past summer before the season started playing at Benzinger Park. Despite a knee injury in high school, you never gave up. That is something that takes a lot of patience and resilience. You were able to come the whole way back and become a college basketball player. I could not be more proud to call someone like that my teammate.

I saved fellow Elk County residence Nate Schneider last because our friendship started years ago playing in the Memorial Park Pizza Tournaments. I watched you transition from a small freshman in high school to an absolute force at St Marys. You came up just shy of 1,000 points in your career but you were able to be named all-state. 25.7 points per game as a high school senior was unbelievable, and I was thrilled that you picked Behrend. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for you as a player and as a doctor.

The Behrend sophomores have the most personality of any class on this team in my opinion, and it definitely starts with Nick Wright. Nick may be one of the funniest people I have ever met in my entire life, but that is not mistaken for his hard work and strength. It takes a lot of commitment to go to a school so far away from home, but you never failed to make Behrend yours. The progress you have made as a player in two seasons is incredible, and I know that your junior and senior season will reflect your skill and ability.

Julian Bennett, you play the game of basketball so hard both on offense and defense. The perfect mix of speed and strength is your claim to fame, and I know that your hard work is going to pay off over the next two seasons. The team has asked you to do a lot of unique things and you have done your absolute best with every challenge that has been thrown your way.

Jake Zeis, the concussion last season was such a bummer, but you never made it an excuse in your sophomore season. You improved so much from year one to two and it showed all season. The shot right before the half in the AMCC title game could be viewed as the winning basket in a game that was decided by just two points. Your ability to stay ready was something I always admired about you. I know you will only continue to improve as a shooter which is a scary thought since you are a top shooter in the conference already.

Nolan Nuara, you also were struck with the injury bug to begin your career, but you made sure the summer between season one and two was one of great work. Your shooting ability improvement was truly unbelievable. You were one of the most efficient shooters in the conference this season, and this is a great sign for our team moving forward.

Mitch King, you have truly been through it all my man. You have played in big games and sat in others, You have shown great patience over your college career. I know that you went through a shooting slump, but I know you are going to have some big games moving forward in your career. I believe in your ability as a player and I know you will have the results you are looking for moving forward.

Kenny Fukon, you can truly do it all on the basketball court. You can guard virtually anyone because of your length and also seem to score on anyone who guards you one way or another. You are unquestionably an all-conference type player moving forward in your career. I was honored you chose me for your project. It was pretty cool to be on the other side of the interview.The junior class is one of the most resilient and intelligent group of players I know of. In about 14 months, this class will graduate an engineer, two accounting majors, and also a double major in finance and economics. It is incredible the work all four of you put into school and basketball.

Tyler Gates, the pride of Titusville will be sure to tell you where he is from. Gates was one of the first people to talk to me when I joined the program because we knew a lot of the same people. Clarion Rising Stars was an AAU program in our area that he played for in his middle and high school days. Gates, thanks for always talking D9 and D10 hoops with me these past two seasons.

Dorian Connors, you are definitely the best dunker and most sarcastic person on our team. It took me some time to understand your humor, but once I understood, I loved to hear what you had to say. Your shooting ability got much better this season in particular, and I know your senior season will be one in which you emerge on the scene and contribute a lot.

Brandon Thorsen, PSB is truly your families school. You and your two brothers have called Behrend home for sports, and it awesome to see you continue that tradition. You know our system better than nearly anyone on our team, and you are going to be an excellent coach in the future, You are one of the hardest workers in our program, and I know that will never change.

Derrick Clark or DC, this was such an unfortunate junior year for you. I am glad that you will be able to get a red shirt and still play two more seasons hopefully. From being a walk on to starting many games and being a big contributor, there are few who have had more to prove than you in your college career, I know you will come back stronger than ever next season.

Finally, the seniors that I went out on top with. I am going to start with Dan Wanker who racked up over 1,000 points and appearances on the All-AMCC team. I cannot begin to imagine how hard it was freshman year competing against Zane Hackett every day in practice, but all I know is he definitely pushed you and made you a better player. Like Coach Niland said, you scored 1,000 points in three seasons practically which is incredible. I loved feeding you the rock off the pick and roll and pick and pop in practice. You always laid it all on the line every time you took the floor, and I will never forget watching you play.

Mike Fischer, I do not think anyone will argue that you are the best overall athlete on our team. At 6-1, you play like you are 6-5. You have became the most feared player in the AMCC this season, and it was amazing to watch. Your perseverance to battle back from a lot of injuries was incredible. You always kept such great faith and was the first person to thank all those around him for his success. You are going to be a great pastor and businessman. I hope we can make it three straight 3v3 Behrend IM titles this year if you are able to play.

Andy Niland, you are the perfect combination of speed, intelligence, grit, and skill. It was amazing to watch you run the offense and shoot the basketball. The records you set at Behrend speak for themselves. I cannot imagine how interesting it was to be coached by your father in college. Despite being the smallest player on our team and all of the chants you heard through the years, you remained the most locked in and focused player on our team. You played the game with such passion and heart which is not something that cannot be taught. You are going to be a great coach and will continue to be a great player for a long time.

Malike Brinson, you always did the little things it took to win. You played defense on the best guards, you fought for extra possessions, and you hit the clutch shots we needed you to hit. You never wanted to glory, but rather just the wins. You were the ultimate team player over your career. It was a bummer that you broke your hand when you did because it was when you were beginning to get a groove as a college player. Despite this test, you responded and won the AMCC Defensive Player of the Year the next season and started every game. It was amazing to see you do the little things it took for you to become a better player. You are going to be an excellent teacher in the future because of your incredible patience.

Lastly, Justin Gorny. Justin, you were the first Behrend basketball player I met. By complete accident, we studied for an economics final together. I remember the look on your face when I started talking basketball in depth with you during that study session and how shocked you were about my knowledge of your game as a player and also the game in general. Since then, a lot has changed including with your ability on the floor. As a freshman, you stayed more on the perimeter than in seasons two-four. You got stronger to help become a better rebounder and defender. Your game is the perfect mix of skill, strength, and shooting ability. I will miss watching your three point celebrations.

Now that I have covered all of the players, I will begin talking about the coaches and my fellow manager this season. Starting with Jake Ciecierski or Scissors as everyone on the team knows him by. Scissors, you have been such a great help to the team this year at home games and at practice. I know you will be a great coach someday in the near future. It was great playing so many games of 1v1 before practice and also talking sports. I am unquestionably going to miss that.

Joe Causgrove, you have been a great help to me this season and a great addition to the staff. Your knowledge about basketball is incredible. I know you are going to be an awesome college coach in your future.

Matt Colpoys, the best 22 year old coach in the country. There is no question you are destined for the NBA or Division I college basketball. You were always in the right spot as a player, and you know how to set up everyone who is still playing in the right position. Your ability to create matchups and call plays is incredible. I will miss learning about the game from you and your patience in helping me understand our gameplans David Gahan, you are the ultimate players coach. You know exactly how to treat every person on our team, and I have learned a lot about people, basketball, and business from you. I cannot thank you enough for always making me feel a part of this team from the very beginning.

Chris Klimchock, it was a pleasure to help you out in a variety of ways these last two years. It was always a pleasure learning more about WPIAL basketball and more about your playing and coaching career. I learned so much about basketball from you and I was lucky to begin to understand more about recruiting which will directly help me as a marketer.

Lastly, Coach Niland. I am not sure how I can put into words how thankful I am for you allowing me to be around such a special program and group of people. I am thankful you always cared about my writing career and always encouraged me to continue to pursue more and more opportunities. The program you have built and the accomplishments are truly amazing. The thing I think means most to me is how much you care about your former players, your former assistants, and all the people who cheer on this program. To me, I feel like you do not coach for you, but you coach for the betterment of everyone else. How many people you have impacted in a positive way is truly something I will never begin to fully understand. If i am half the many you are, I will consider my career successful.

Overall, it was not the job that I loved most, it was the people who I worked with that made this job and experience so much fun. I will never have another job in my life like this most likely which is sad to think about. Regardless of where life takes me, I know that I always have a family in Behrend basketball. These people treated me like gold, and I will never be able to repay every single one of these guys for welcoming me to this program with open arms. Thanks for allowing me to be your manager for the last two seasons. I cannot wait to see what is next for Behrend basketball and I look forward to the 10 year reunion of our AMCC championship run.

Sincerely,

Nate Steis