University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Gilmore has Experience He Will Never Forget at NCAA Convention
01.30.2017 | Men's Basketball
NASHVILLE - Coming into the 2016-17 season, UNC Asheville men's basketball sophomore forward Donovan Gilmore knew it was going to be tough having to wait his time to put on the Bulldog uniform in a regular-season game until the 2017-18 season.
The Greensboro, N.C. native transferred to UNC Asheville from the College of Charleston and per NCAA Division I transfer rules he is sitting out this season.
Gilmore nevertheless has been an extremely valuable part of the 2016-17 UNC Asheville men's basketball team and also Bulldog athletics as a whole.
In fact, Gilmore recently had the unique opportunity to attend the 2017 NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tenn. as part of his duties with the UNC Asheville Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
"This whole redshirt year SAAC has been a huge aspect of everything I've done," Gilmore said. "I've recently become chairman of the conference level and I replaced (junior guard) Kevin Vannatta in Nashville for the NCAA Convention."
Gilmore completely embraced the opportunity to be a part of the NCAA Convention that was held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center Jan. 18-21.
"It was just a great experience being able to represent the student-athletes at that level," Gilmore said. "We had one person from every conference and just to be able to voice our opinion with the administration at the higher level it addressed issues that otherwise go unknown."
A Public Health major, Gilmore also learned that those in athletic administration can work hard while also enjoying what they do for a living at the same time.
"I didn't realize how much fun you can have in those positions," Gilmore said. "Kind of going into it, I always thought if you were an AD or in administration it was straight paperwork or phone calls. They have a good time and they interact with the people. They're very down to earth. I met a lot of great people."
One of those great people that he was able to meet is basketball legend Grant Hill, who received the NCAA President's Gerald R. Ford Award at the NCAA Convention. The award honors an individual who has provided significant leadership as an advocate for college sports
"Grant Hill was an amazing person to meet," Gilmore said. "Just to meet him and have a chance to witness his personality in person was a great experience. That's just one of many great experiences that I had."
The experience at the NCAA Convention one he will never forget, Gilmore also even more than ever before thinks working in college athletics in some capacity may be in his future.
"The whole administration side of me is very interested in working in college athletics," Gilmore said. "You get to work with athletes for the rest of your life. Definitely in the future I'll consider coaching and I'll consider all kinds of options in athletics."
The Greensboro, N.C. native transferred to UNC Asheville from the College of Charleston and per NCAA Division I transfer rules he is sitting out this season.
Gilmore nevertheless has been an extremely valuable part of the 2016-17 UNC Asheville men's basketball team and also Bulldog athletics as a whole.
In fact, Gilmore recently had the unique opportunity to attend the 2017 NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tenn. as part of his duties with the UNC Asheville Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
"This whole redshirt year SAAC has been a huge aspect of everything I've done," Gilmore said. "I've recently become chairman of the conference level and I replaced (junior guard) Kevin Vannatta in Nashville for the NCAA Convention."
Gilmore completely embraced the opportunity to be a part of the NCAA Convention that was held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center Jan. 18-21.
"It was just a great experience being able to represent the student-athletes at that level," Gilmore said. "We had one person from every conference and just to be able to voice our opinion with the administration at the higher level it addressed issues that otherwise go unknown."
A Public Health major, Gilmore also learned that those in athletic administration can work hard while also enjoying what they do for a living at the same time.
"I didn't realize how much fun you can have in those positions," Gilmore said. "Kind of going into it, I always thought if you were an AD or in administration it was straight paperwork or phone calls. They have a good time and they interact with the people. They're very down to earth. I met a lot of great people."
One of those great people that he was able to meet is basketball legend Grant Hill, who received the NCAA President's Gerald R. Ford Award at the NCAA Convention. The award honors an individual who has provided significant leadership as an advocate for college sports
"Grant Hill was an amazing person to meet," Gilmore said. "Just to meet him and have a chance to witness his personality in person was a great experience. That's just one of many great experiences that I had."
The experience at the NCAA Convention one he will never forget, Gilmore also even more than ever before thinks working in college athletics in some capacity may be in his future.
"The whole administration side of me is very interested in working in college athletics," Gilmore said. "You get to work with athletes for the rest of your life. Definitely in the future I'll consider coaching and I'll consider all kinds of options in athletics."
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