Kevin McManaman’s 20-plus years coaching experience at the NCAA Division I level makes him a valuable asset as a both an administrator and coach at Morton College.
As an administrator, McManaman drew on his knowledge of major-college athletics to build bridges and strengthen relationships between the athletic and academic sides of the house at Morton College. With the help and support of academics, McManaman helped create procedures to streamline processes for Morton College student-athletes in areas like admissions and records, financial aid and advising.
In a COVID-19 year, Morton College student-athletes produced results in the classroom. Two student-athletes received the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference’s highest academic award, while another was selected as Morton College’s top graduating student at Commencement. In addition, 35 student-athletes received Skyway all-academic honors and five of Morton College’s 10 sports had a team grade-point average of 3.0 and above.
As an assistant in two sports at Morton College, McManaman’s coaching experience at the major-college level also helped take the Panther women’s basketball and softball programs to new heights.
The women’s basketball team finished 17-2 and qualified for the NJCAA Division II national tournament for the first time in program history. The Panthers were among the nation’s top three-point shooting teams.
The softball team reached a double-digit win total for the first time since 2005 and the Panthers’ 36 home runs was a school record. Morton College also may have been the nation’s only team to face national qualifiers in each of the NJCAA’s three divisions.
A native of La Grange, McManaman earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in 1992, and a master’s in sport administration from Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1999.
Over the past two decades, McManaman has been an assistant women’s basketball coach at Akron, Cleveland State, Northern Illinois, UIC, Marquette and Milwaukee. His duties included on-floor coaching, post player skill development and recruiting. Countless players earned all-league honors during his tenure.
McManaman helped UIC earn a postseason berth for the first time in program history, playing in the WNIT during the 2006-07 season.
He is known for his energy and passion in coaching intercollegiate athletics. In addition, McManaman brings a great understanding of what it takes to play at the NCAA Division I level.
McManaman also was on the coaching staff of St. Mary’s 2000 NCAA Division III national championship softball team.
McManaman played basketball at Lyons Township High School, where he credits legendary coach Ron Nikcevich as a “great influence.”
