Feb. 2, 2009
For former UCF men's basketball star Mike O'Donnell, his days no longer start off achy and soar when getting out of bed. The graduate student now enjoys life after basketball working as a graduate assistant for the Golden Knights Club, while also providing color commentary alongside Marc Daniels on 740-AM for men's basketball home games at UCF.
As for how O'Donnell is adjusting to life after basketball, the former point guard is happy to be working at the university he played the majority of his college career.
"It has made the transition easier than someone else who is coming out of state to work here because I know the campus and the area," said O'Donnell. "I am somewhat familiar with the staff from when I played here. It has been great and I just love being around here because all of my friends are here and I am still friends with a lot of guys on the team."
In his career at UCF, O'Donnell started all 89 games that he appeared in for the Knights, while averaging just over 10 points per game during his three-year tenure. In his senior season, O'Donnell connected on a career-best 75 triples and ranks second in school history with 195 career 3-point field goals.
O'Donnell, who transferred from North Carolina State after his freshman season, was glad he was able to spend his final three years under the tutelage of UCF head coach Kirk Speraw.
"I had a great experience playing basketball under head coach Kirk Speraw," commented O'Donnell. "I learned a lot about life through basketball, and it has helped me be prepared for life in the workforce. He always strived for excellence and perfection. I try to really transfer that over to what I am doing now in being a graduate assistant for the Golden Knights Club."
While working for the Golden Knights Club, O'Donnell comes into the office five days a week and attends his graduate classes at night. The Largo native has assisted the GKC by heading up the marketing for the Knight Walk Legacy program. He also runs marketing and different development for GKC's business partner program and works a lot with excel spread sheets through their data bases. O'Donnell knows he is low on the totem poll, but is glad to be able to assist in any way.
Because he was always a very coachable player during his basketball career, O'Donnell isn't afraid to take any constructive criticism in the workplace.
"It helps because there are people who know who I am and if I screw up, they know who to go to and I will understand that I was an athlete and that I can take the constructive criticism," noted O'Donnell.
As for O'Donnell's other job, Daniels approached him a few years back to gauge his interest once he completed his last year of eligibility. After last season Daniels followed up with the former ball player and he accepted the radio position.
"Marc approached me after the season last year and said that he had a couple of former players like Troy Lindbeck and Josh Bodden come back and do some games last year and he said he would love to have me come on full time," noted O'Donnell. "I was all for it because that has always been a secret passion of mine."
When UCF hosted North Carolina A&T for their season opener, it was the first time O'Donnell wasn't suiting up for the Knights since his redshirt season in 2004-05. Although he was excited to be starting a new career in broadcasting, O'Donnell admits it was still hard to watch the game from press row.
"That first game I did radio for it was tough to see those guys run out of the tunnel and go through the same routine that I went through for three years when I played here," said O'Donnell. "When I am watching the game, I know what plays they are running and what plays the other teams are going to run. Sometimes I just want to scream out what they are doing wrong. The captain in me comes out a little bit."
Being a point guard in Conference USA for three seasons has its advantages when O'Donnell is preparing his game notes. The former Knight remembers a lot of the schemes that UCF faced and can relate well to the fans listening on the radio.
"The transition in terms of game preparation has been pretty seamless between Marc and I because I played in the conference for three years and I know the other teams' systems," commented O'Donnell. "Hopefully I will be able to give as much knowledge during the game to the fans that are listening."
One broadcaster that O'Donnell looks up to is ESPN's Jay Bilas. The former Knight feels that Bilas' insight to the game is what makes him one of the best in the business. O'Donnell enjoys watching games that he calls and mimics the former Duke star when he is on the radio.
In addition to calling games over the air, O'Donnell had the opportunity to broadcast the Holy Cross game live on Bright House Sports Network alongside Bernie Guenther. The telecast was the first of his career.
Between working for the GKC and doing radio broadcasts alongside Daniels, O'Donnell is taking graduate level courses and working towards his master's degree in sports and fitness. The track he is taking through the sports and fitness program is sports leadership.
O'Donnell knows one thing is for certain, after he graduates he wants to work in college athletics.
"If I could work my way up here at UCF, I wouldn't mind staying here for a couple of years," noted O'Donnell. "Anything college athletics related in terms of management or marketing. I think I have a good feel for college athletics and what direction UCF needs to go in."
When asked what the future entails for O'Donnell he mentions that he is open to whatever opportunities come his way, however he is very happy with the progress he has made in broadcasting.
As for if coaching was in the future...
"I wouldn't rule anything out of the equation."
- Eric DeSalvo