Caitlin Bricketto, former captain of the Manhattan College women’s tennis team and a 2015 graduate, has been named the operations manager of Manhattan’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
“I think she brings a time dynamic in that since she was an athlete, and specifically one at Manhattan, she can help us relate to all the student-athletes,” Kevin Ross, Manhattan’s senior associate athletic director for media communications and marketing, said. “In our profession, the student-athlete is the most important element of the jobs of all administrators.”
Bricketto, a four-year letter-winner for the tennis team, was the recipient and of the Jasper Tennis Award for the highest cumulative grade point average by a graduate on the team. She also served as president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) her junior and senior years, receiving their Community Service Award.
“It’s really exciting,” Bricketto said about working at her alma mater. “I think that in my position now, it has made things really smooth. There was no transition; I knew what I was walking into. In terms of a new person coming into my role that didn’t go to undergrad here, it wouldn’t have been as easy as it has been for me to hit the ground running.”
So far, one of her major accomplishments includes overseeing the raising of more than $8,000 for multiple community service initiatives last semester. With that, the athletics program ranked second nationally in the NCAA’s Helper Helper Division 1 Community Service Competition.
“A lot of times it is very difficult for former students to work at their alma mater immediately after graduation,” Ross said, “as the adjustment from student to professional is very difficult. However, in Caitlin is the exception to the rule as she has been able to adapt almost instantaneously and has been a professional from day one.”
Her job as operations manager involves two key parts. Primarily, she works with the Jasper Club, Manhattan’s booster club for athletics. She deals with everything that has to do with raising money for the athletics program, from fundraising and mailings to getting in contact with alumni and donors.
Another aspect of her job is working with the SAAC. This includes working directly with the athletes and getting any of their questions or concerns alleviated.
“I learned how important the athletes are to the culture,” Bricketto said about her time in the program as an athlete. “We are here; we are working as administrators to make the athletes’ lives easier.”
“I know that is very dear to my heart because of the things I went through with the tennis team,” Bricketto continued. “When we wanted to go on trips or when we wanted new sweats, we needed to raise money. There were concerns we had that we needed to have a voice with. Being a tennis player here exposed me to what the athletes need. I am able to pay attention to that as an administrator and make sure that those things get handled.”
Before her promotion, Bricketto worked as a graduate assistant for marketing under former director of intercollegiate athletics Noah LeFevre. She is currently enrolled in the college’s MBA program and was awarded a postgraduate scholar-athlete scholarship from the MAAC in August 2015.
“Caitlin represents everything that is great about our student-athletes,” LeFevre said when Bricketto received the scholarship. “She had a tremendous career at the college and really integrated herself into the fabric of the community. We are very fortunate to have her continue with the program.”
Bricketto said that she knew about her promotion for a month but it was announced two weeks ago. She called her job a learning experience so far and looks forward to working with the athletes and coaches.
“My day-to-day work as operations manager is working directly with the coaches,” Bricketto explained. “So far, I’ve been setting up meetings with coaches and finding out ways we can solicit donors and get money for their programs. I’m also working hand-in-hand to be the liaison between athletics and advancements. We are really trying to make sure that they have everything they need from an athletics standpoint and we have everything we need from a donor-list standpoint.”
Bricketto explained her position further, noting that advancements handle alumni. When previously asked, advancements would not know what teams needed to help their programs. With her position as operations manager, Bricketto said she wants to work hand-in-hand and bridge that gap between athletics and advancements.
“I want to be able to give the coaches the resources that they need for their programs to be successful,” Bricketto said, “and that would be through raising money for the things that will make their programs better.”
Jaclyn Marr 