Our son, Will, has gained life-changing experiences in the Sport and Recreation Management program, as well as the Iowa women’s basketball program, that have given him an amazing foundation for his future. Will was a nursing student and a men’s basketball team student manager at another school. There, he quickly realized he had to choose a path – continue with the nursing program or follow his passion for sports. After meeting with Dan Matheson of the UI Sport and Recreation Management program, Will realized that the program would allow him to study what he enjoyed and learn about opportunities within the industry he didn’t even know existed. The decision to transfer to Iowa was an easy one.
At Iowa, a friend of ours in the athletics department recommended that Will join the gray squad of the women’s basketball team, which helps the team prepare for games. Will had no idea how that opportunity would change his life. While participating on the practice squad, he was offered a position as a student manager and became head manager his senior year. After he completed his undergraduate degree (BS 2022), Coach Lisa Bluder surprised him with an offer to stay with the team as a graduate assistant, and he will earn his master’s in Sport and Recreation Management in May. Through the SRM program, Will has received a high-quality education, and he had a once-in-a-lifetime field experience with the women’s basketball team as they advanced to the national championship game in Dallas last year. His wonderful mentors in the program have pushed him to learn from every amazing opportunity over the last five years.
As Will’s academic career comes to a close, he hopes to work on a basketball coaching staff and knows he’s learned from the very best at Iowa. The remarkable support of the UISRM faculty and staff and the working relationships they have with Iowa Athletics have given Will experiences none of us would have dreamed possible. Together, UISRM and our athletics programs do everything possible to ensure students are successful at Iowa and then in their lives and careers. We give to the UISRM program because we hope to support the next undecided student, like our son Will, who discovers their passion for a path in life through doors the UISRM program helps open for them.
Liz and Gary McIntire
It is easy to give to UISRM through the One Day for Iowa initiative. Any amount is greatly appreciated and will go directly to supporting the unique, experience-based education that UISRM provides its students. Please reference the newsletter landing page for ways to maximize your generosity on One Day for Iowa.