There is much more that goes into collegiate sports than just practice, game days and rehab. And there is one group of Merrimack College students who may not be competing in games or matches, but their work is critical to the Warriors’ success.
Team managers, both undergraduate and graduate students, provide support and accomplish tasks that may go unnoticed, but not by the coaches and student-athletes they work alongside.
One of those managers is Liam McLaughlin ’26, who for the past three seasons has served as team manager for the men’s basketball team. Helping the Warriors, behind the scenes, to 44 wins and counting, McLaughlin is in the Merrimack Athletics Complex longer than most players on any given day.
His responsibilities range from cleaning the court to rebounding to tracking deflections during games to placing food orders during road trips to laundry. And the men’s basketball coaching staff recognizes the effort he is putting in.
“This past summer, (Head Coach Joe Gallo) called me and he said he had an opportunity for me to work with Payton Pritchard,” said McLaughlin. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I knew I had to say yes. And after hearing Coach Gallo say I was the first person in mind, I thought that was really cool.”
McLaughlin provided the same support this past summer to Pritchard, Boston Celtics guard, NBA Champion and NBA Sixth Man of the Year, that he does for the Warriors, including tracking shots, rebounding and running the scoreboard during workouts.
“Something I’ve learned throughout the years is patience,” said McLaughlin. “And to appreciate the little things, I get to travel to all these different schools and be with the team.”
Now in his senior year, McLaughlin said he is focused on mentoring newer managers and teaching them the ins and outs of Merrimack Warriors basketball.
Following graduation this May, McLaughlin hopes to return to Merrimack as a graduate assistant for the team.
