2025 RISING STAR AWARDS MARCUS ELSWICK
which includes four other full-time staff beside him( one for football, one for baseball, one for soccer / softball and one who floats around where needed). The full-time staff is supplemented by 12 to 15 students who arrive after 8 a. m.
“ We plan out their schedule, and what we’ re going to do for that day,” said Elswick.“ After the morning meeting, the full-time staff will go out with students, get their tasks done, then we’ ll have lunch, we’ ll talk again about what we need to accomplish in the afternoon, get that accomplished, and then it’ s time to go home.”
Elswick spends his days checking every field and facility, as well as the 45-plus acres of common areas and campus landscape for which he is responsible. A big part of his role is managing expectations, managing staff and balancing when to scale back or push harder.
“ When dealing with students and being a mentor, you try to lead by example,” he added.“ I pride myself on teaching students how to do stuff in this field. I tell them to lock in on the details and make sure that we’ re doing a good job, because our number-one goal is player safety. Following directions, showing up on time, and communicating will translate to any job or career.”
Elswick also takes pride in putting a plan in place, seeing the plan executed and then seeing the results.
“ I’ m proud of going from starting as a student worker, and being at the very bottom to working my way to being the head guy here at UK in about 10 years,” he said.“ I’ m very for-
26 SportsField Management | October 2025 sportsfieldmanagementonline. com