July 13, 2007
The Nova Notebook, by Villanova director of media relations Mike Sheridan, appears each week from September through February and monthly from April through August. In this edition we catch up with manager of basketball operations Jason Donnelly, who will spend the second half of July as one of the key support operatives of Villanova head coach Jay Wright as he represents the United States at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
For the last two years, Jason Donnelly has grown well acquainted with the myriad details and planning required to launch a BIG EAST Conference men's basketball team on a road trip in his role as manager of basketball operations at Villanova. It's been a fast-track course of practical knowledge that is already coming in quite handy for the Colonia, N.J., native as he prepares to help USA Basketball take 12 of the nation's top collegians to Brazil for the Pan American Games later this month.
When Wright approached him shortly after being tabbed as head coach of Team USA to ask if he would be interested in serving in a similar capacity during the Pan Am Games, Donnelly never hesitated.
"The No. 1 thing that you think about is the opportunity to represent your country," he says. "When you have that chance to wear `USA' on your chest, it's very special. The other part of it is that you are working at the highest level of talent in college basketball. Each day you get to see how some of the top coaches and players in the country prepare.
"I was thrilled when Coach (Wright) asked me and I'm enjoying every aspect of it."
Few jobs in America are more detail-centric than the one Donnelly occupies at Villanova and, for much of July, with the Pan American Games team. From big-picture long range planning to ensuring that meeting rooms have the proper audio visual equipment in advance of a game-day session, Donnelly's task list is astonishingly lengthy and varied.
Among Donnelly's tasks at Villanova include oversight of the student managerial staff; planning team travel and securing practice sites away from home; helping to oversee the academic progress of the Wildcat men's basketball players; and participating in all coaching staff functions.
Since March, he has added to that overflowing menu with similar duties for USA Basketball.
"We have been working on the planning of this for four months, ever since Coach learned he would be serving as head coach of this team," notes Donnelly.
Since that point, Donnelly has attended untold meetings and participated in countless conference calls. The objective throughout has been to integrate the USA Basketball model into the schedule without disrupting the smooth operation of the Villanova program.
"It really takes a group effort on the part of our basketball and athletic staff," explains Donnelly. "(Graduate manager) Mark McClintick, (administrative assistant) Christina Vuocolo, (secretary) Mary Anne Gabuzda, our managers, coaches and athletic staff have really stepped up to help fill the void while I am working with USA Basketball."
When it was decided that the Trials would be held in the metropolitan Philadelphia area, Donnelly and USA Basketball's Sean Ford - a former Villanova basketball manager and class of 1990 grad - set about the business of finding a suitable venue. Jake Nevin Field House was already booked with a series of camps and the new IARC will not be completed until the fall, meaning options beyond the campus had to be secured. USA Basketball then contacted Haverford coach Mike Mucci - yet another former Villanova basketball manager - and arranged for the use of the College's glistening new gymnasium.
Meanwhile, hotel accommodations for the week had to be arranged as well.
"Even though it's right in our back yard, it really is like a road trip for us because we aren't at Villanova," Donnelly says. "There were practice facilities and hotel lodging as well as transportation and restaurants to book. Fortunately, we have been able to tap into the network of people in the area who have supported the Villanova program and utilize those resources. Mike and the staff at Haverford have been terrific to work with."
Twenty eight of the nation's best collegians began arriving in Philadelphia on Wednesday, July 11 (two, Villanova's Scottie Reynolds and Ahmad Nivins of Saint Joseph's were already here). Those who didn't arrive then came the following day and the first practice session took place on July 12. Double sessions were set for July 13-14 with the first roster reduction slated for Sunday. The squad will train at Haverford through July 18 before departing for Washington, D.C. for three more days of practice. A group of 12 selected athletes then will fly to Brazil for the Games, which get underway on July 25.
In May Donnelly and Ford traveled to Brazil for several days to help establish logistics.
"It was an amazing trip," he says. "Sean is almost like an ambassador with the number of contacts he has and it was really helpful for me to get the lay of the land. We were able to meet with tournament officials, look at the facilities, learn who spoke English, and get a feel for the whole area."
When he returns, Donnelly will be carrying much of the load as Ford's responsibilities with the USA senior national team will not allow him to be present for all of the Pan Am competition.
In the meantime, the young coach is surrounded by a host of familiar faces. The majority of the student managerial staff during the Trials period is from Villanova. Athletic Trainer Jeff Pierce is lending a hand too. Associate Head Coach Brett Gunning has been shuttling between the recruiting trail and Haverford. And former Villanova Sports Information Director Craig Miller is USA Basketball's Communications chief.
"All of us who have gotten the chance to be a part of it have welcomed the opportunity," Donnelly says.
For Donnelly, it's just one more building block in a promising coaching career. USA Basketball officials speak highly of the former Bishop O'Connell High School's efforts here and Wright likes the idea of having a trusted aide along with him in Brazil.
"Jason does a great job and is going to be an asset for us, just as he is at Villanova," says Wright.
NOTABLE: It didn't take long for 2007 graduate Ross Condon to make his move into coaching. The Virginia native has been added to the staff of new Radford coach Brad Greenberg at Radford University as the director of basketball operations.
"I think what made Ross such a great walk-on at Villanova will help make him a good coach," Donnelly noted. "He saw what it took to fill a role on a team and in his work with the scout team got a feel for how a coach prepares. I think he has a very good understanding of his new role and is interested in taking care of so many details to allow the players and coaches to focus their energies on basketball."
"Ross comes to Radford with the highest recommendation possible from Villanova head coach Jay Wright and Villanova assistant coach Ed Pinckney, two people I have known for a long time and whose advice I trust," Greenberg said.
"All of us in the Villanova basketball family are thrilled for Ross," stated Wright. "He made great contributions to our program and we look forward to watching his coaching career grow with Brad Greenberg and the Radford staff."
