Marc VandeWettering is the Director of Operations for the University of Wisconsin Men's Basketball Team who recently came out as the first openly gay man on a Division I College Basketball staff. He talks about growing up in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, how he got into basketball, and growing up as a huge Wisconsin Badgers fan. Marc describes his great career at Kaukauna High School where he was an All-Conference player and class Valedictorian his decision to attend Wisconsin-Madison rather than play basketball at a lower division college, and why he became a student manager for the basketball team. He then details the hard work student managers do, working for Bo Ryan and Greg Gard, and getting to back-to-back Final Fours in 2014 & 2015. He also talks about the internal struggle of accepting himself as a gay man and whether he belonged in the sport of basketball. Marc discusses his coming out process, the Wisconsin staff accepting him, and Coach Greg Gard calling him back to Wisconsin in 2017 to become the Director of Operations because he was the best person for the job. He describes the work that goes into the Director of Operations, how the article came about, why he decided to write it, and his hope that it helps others feel more comfortable about themselves and realize that there is a spot for them in the sport regardless of sexuality.
Marc's Article: https://uwbadgers.com/news/2021/6/24/general-news-baggot-my-words-living-my-truth-by-marc-vandewettering.aspx
