In 2018, Lucy Schneider, a sport management major at Wichita State University, planned to work in counseling at a high school. 

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

“I learned that my now-job is even a thing from working this tournament,” Schneider said. “We were out on the court at the same time, and I introduced myself. (Torline) asked what I wanted to do, and I said, ‘I want to be a high school counselor.’ She said, ‘I do that, but for athletes.’” 

Schneider is now an academic coordinator in the athletic department and works with baseball, men’s tennis and women’s golf. The men’s 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. 

“It allowed me to see all the different roles that had been talked about in my sport management classes, but in person,” she said. “Never say no. Ask questions and be willing to work the long hours and long days — and it’s a really cool experience.” 

Those are the type of experiences more than 50 Wichita State 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. Wichita State 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. 

“They’re able to see what was on a Power Point (in class) turn into real life,” said Mike Ross, tournament communication coordinator and a faculty member in WSU’s sport management program. “That’s the most powerful thing about this. To have that experience and watch this stuff come alive, that’s the coolest part.” 

Six students will work with Ross’ team coordinating media credentials, news conferences and interviews. Three of them are being paid for their work thanks to State of Kansas Applied Learning Funds. 

“The 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,” Ross said. “They 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.” 

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

“It’s going to be a great opportunity to learn,” said Liam Crawford, a junior sport management major from Ellis. “As much as we learn in class, you’re going to learn a lot more doing hands on. That’s experience you can’t find anywhere else.” 

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

“I knew it would be a good experience to get out and see where my major would take me with different job opportunities,” Ford said. “You’re able to meet people and build connections.” 

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

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

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

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Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry-funded engineering R&D and No. 8 overall for engineering R&D.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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