Samuel Collins

Throughout my time at each of my stops as an equipment manager, I have learned and grown along the way. Each stop has made me more successful. As a three-year student manager for UConn football, I learned the ins and outs of the operation, how a Division I practice works, various levels of trouble shooting, and overall equipment maintenance. As a paid intern at the University of Houston, I had a more important role, being in charge of special teams on the field at practice and game jersey repairs. I learned the equipment calender at Houston; when things come in and when orders need to be made for the proper operation of the equipment room and ensuring a professional practice schedule. It was my second time immersed in the life of big-time college football and how these teams were professionally run. I developed strong interpersonal relationship skills with the full-time equipment staff as well as the head coach and his assistants. At Massachusetts as Director of Football Services, I was the direct liaison with the head coach and his staff as well as being in charge of the student managers and my equipment staff, setting schedules, making sure I am on top of the budget, properly outfitting the players with a focus on their safety, organizing and running the laundry for both the players and coaching staff, and proper planning and logistics associated with team travel. In the off-season, my focus was on evaluating the equipment staff as well as troubleshooting for the following year. As the head football equipment manager for the College of the Holy Cross , I was brought in to elevate their equipment staff to be aligned with the expectations of a division I college football program, making significant changes to the football equipment staff's approach, aligning with the head coach's desire to present a program of excellence.