By Kyle Zamaira
Promotions Editor
Michael Gargin’s dreams of playing hoops may have died in high school, but the senior didn’t let those limitations keep him away from the game.
Gargin has been a manager on the men’s basketball team since he enrolled at St. Bonaventure back in 2009. The New Jersey native said finding a school that would keep him near the court was a main priority of his.
“I came up for a visit and they asked during the tours if there was anyone I wanted to speak with,” Gargin said. “I (said I) wanted to talk to someone in the basketball office. I ended up speaking with my boss, Matt Pappano, and he said if I came here that they’d have a spot for me.”
The marketing major admitted after he graduates in May he intends to stay near the sport he’s grown to love.
“Post-graduation, I’m looking to stay involved (with basketball),” Gargin said. “Unfortunately we don’t have an entry-level position at St. Bonaventure, so I’m looking to get involved elsewhere. Whether it’s in South Dakota or back home in New Jersey, I just need to get my foot in the door with some institution.”
Gargin said he doesn’t see why he can’t become a head coach someday and is open to any opportunity.
“Right now I don’t have any limitations,” Gargin said. “I don’t have a wife. I don’t have any kids. I’m 21 years old and looking for any chance I can find. I always make the comparison: if you want to be a CPA, you get your accounting degree to get into a firm. For basketball there’s a lot of routes. If the job’s at South Dakota that’s where I’m going.”
Gargin also made a point to learn from coaches not only here, but at other schools as well. Every summer since coming to St. Bonaventure, Gargin has worked basketball camps at Rutgers, Princeton and Marist near his home, and even traveled to ACC schools like Virginia and Duke.
“At the camps, it’s really all about networking,” Gargin said. “They’ll notice if you’re the guy working hard or if you’re just the guy playing on his phone all day. You get a lot of experience interacting with younger kids and different skill levels just to apply things that way.”
While being a manager, Gargin has been able to experience countless road trips with the team, including last year’s magical NCAA run at the end of the season.
Gargin acknowledged the payoff from the jobs he does in practice.
“It’s just really the brunt work,” he said. “You have a towel on your shoulder. You wipe up the sweat on the floor and fill up water bottles. It’s not glorious, but the games are where it’s a lot of fun. You’re on the bench with the team and last year I got the chance to travel to Atlantic City with the team, as well as Nashville. I have a championship ring. That’s an opportunity that I had that I’ll have with me for the rest of my life.”
Gargin has gone on 13 road trips this season and said the seven managers on the team usually rotate trips based on seniority. But being a manager has its sacrifices as well. While other undergraduates went home to their families over winter break, Gargin stayed here to help the team, just like he’ll do this spring break, too.
Gargin reflected on some of the relationships he’s made with players during his experience managing the team.
“Every year you always have one great relationship,” Gargin said. “Demitrius (Conger) and I came in together, so we know each other well. I’ve given him rides home over breaks. When Marquise (Simmons) and Mike (Davenport) were injured they were on the sideline with us, so I’ve interacted with them a lot. One of my favorite players in the past has been Ogo Adegboye, because he and I worked together for an hour outside of practice daily, so much so that I still keep in touch with him.”
Gargin admitted that, out of all his experiences here, the team’s run to the tournament last year was by far the best.
“It’s unreal and it really hasn’t even kicked in yet,” Gargin said. “When we were in the locker room celebrating — it’s one of those things that I’m going to look back on with all 12 guys on the team sharing that moment. Just the opportunity we had to compete as a fourth seed, but no one really thought we’d make it past the first round. We played great at the end of the year and we’re capable of doing that again this year — we’re dangerous.”
