Mercyhurst Men’s Basketball Alumni Mentoring Night
October 3rd, 2024
6:00 PM - Waterford Room, Ryan Hall
Welcome to Alumni Mentoring Night
Dear Mercyhurst Lakers,
Thank you for joining us tonight! Your alumni mentors are thrilled to have the opportunity to share their stories and share their perspective with you. We are all so proud to support you on and off the court., and I know that the mentor group is so pleased to be with you to help each and every one of you along on your journey to success. It is our shared hope that in sharing these life lessons, we can all affect your lives in a positive, constructive and helpful manner.
Not too long ago, these mentors strolled throughout this beautiful campus, competed on the same court, survived and even thrived in the classrooms. Each of them was in your shoes and had the opportunity to sit where you are sitting today. However, they may not have had this terrific opportunity to hear from alumni mentors willing to share advice.
I can confidently say that they had most of the same hopes and dreams that you have today, and that they certainly had similar questions about next steps in life that you do. We all welcome this opportunity to share something with you about life, careers and the REAL world that we wish someone had shared with us while we were in college, in hopes that this advice and perspective makes a positive difference in your lives.
Each and every day, when you step out onto the court to prepare for the next fitness test, the next practice session, the next game or the next championship, all of this is a step towards success in life. The skills and character that you develop here at Mercyhurst will serve you well on your journey, and preparation is the key to life. Being prepared to face adversity head-on, being prepared to do what it takes succeed, and being prepared for change are just a few of the twists and turns life will throw your way. You have the chance to actively participate and contribute to your growth as players and as people, and we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity and commit to making this a key moment in your preparation for life.
Here’s looking forward to an exciting, enjoyable and impactful event. Wishing you all (mentors, players and coaches alike) a brilliant future ahead!
Thank you for your attention and as always….GO LAKERS!!!
Ted Priestly
Alumni Biographies
Jeff Daisley:
Year of Graduation: 2006
Major: Intelligence Studies
Additional Education: Several professional certifications and courses to further both my technical skillset and career growth. As an example, multiple certifications were pursued via the SANS Institute, to include both my GSEC and GCTI certs.
Current Title: Principal Security
Intelligence Engineer at Comcast
Current Industry: Cyber Threat
Intelligence/ Cybersecurity
Nelson Maxwell:
Year of Graduation: Mercyhurst 2019/Durham University 2021
Major: Business Management
Additional Education: Master of Science, Durham University (England) Major: Management and Finance
Current Title: Associate Director of Athletics- Drew High School San Francisco, Head Coach Basketball
Current Industry: Athletics/Education
Alan Redmond
Year of Graduation: 2006
Major: Business Administration
Minor: Marketing
Current Title: Semi-retired CEO of various companies
Current Industry: Real Estate, Venture Capital and a little insurance work on the side, FINTECH
Luis Leao
Year of Graduation: 2013
Major: Biology/Pre-Med
Additional Education: Master of Science in Australia
Current Title: Certified Anesthesiologist
Assistant- Anesthetist
Current Industry: Healthcare
Meet our Alumni Mentors
Jeff Daisley ‘06
Nelson Maxwell ‘19
Alan Redmond ‘06
Luis Leao ‘13
Questions for the Alumni...
What do you wish you had known as a first-year student-athlete?
JD: As a first-year student at Mercyhurst, I was transferring from the U.S. Naval Academy, which had prepared me tremendously for the student-athlete balance and time restraints that would be required to be successful at Mercyhurst. However, being at Mercyhurst can allow for distractions with college life, and it is important to remain focused on both your own academic and athletic goals. These goals should remain your North Star to guide you through your time at Mercyhurst and to capitalize on your time and resources while in school.
LL: Coming from Brazil, I had to quickly familiarize myself with all aspects of college living. I wish I had utilized the resources available to me (i.e. career services, academic advisors) earlier as a freshman It's beneficial to ask for advice and listen to people who have already walked the path that is ahead of you, but you should be proactive and seek out such opportunities.
NM: I came into Mercyhurst as a Junior. But I wish I understood and knew better that first year, that not only did Coach Manchel and the basketball program, but the whole community really cared about me and wanted to see me succeed. I wish I would have tapped into that earlier If I really had known and understood that first year, it would have been great for me.
AR: Time management skills. Only hang out with like-minded people. Find out exactly what you want to do each day and knock out all the shit 6am - 10am. The amount of time I wasted in college was insane If I was to do it again - bang out all classes early. Create free time to create a better version of yourself Take extra classes so your senior year, you can simply do one class and hoop! A clear plan of what I wanted to do after college - the future has to be clear in your mind. NO PLAN Bs. They gross me out.
NM: Understanding that everything is connected. So the way I was performing on the court often time was a reflection of how I was performing in the classroom. When I was “locked in” in the classroom, I was usually performing well on the court or was able to at least be more focused, a better leader and teammate out there Same thing with something as simple as my room. When my room was a mess, book bag a mess, locker a mess, I probably wasn’t playing my best at the time, or doing well in the classroom at the time. My father taught me that. So by the end of junior / senior year, I learned to work backwards I obviously cared about basketball the most at the time, so I looked at my performance on the court, and I said alright there’s probably some other things in my life that are controllable that I need to get situated for me to be able to perform like I know I can. And that worked for me, and ended in me having a great senior year
LL: Time management and self-care are the two most important strategies in my opinion. I was, and still am an early morning person, so I scheduled my academic responsibilities (classes, meetings, labs, group projects) in the morning as much as I could I tried to reserve the afternoon for basketball related activities, and the evenings for self-care. Success on the court if as much of a mindset as it is a representation of your training. So, make sure you take care of your mental health, and seek help or make changes if you are feeling overwhelmed.
Questions for the Alumni...
What strategies helped you to succeed as a student-athlete?
JD: One of the main strategies that I would recommend is to maintain a strict routine both academically and athletically. Within your daily routine, dedicate time that you set aside for all aspects of your life (academically, athletically, and socially) Where you know that every day at the same place in the library, you have 2 hours set aside to hit the books. Where you know that every morning at 6AM, you are going to get in an hour of cardio or weights before your first class at 8AM. Most importantly, it is important that you set aside time for yourself, to mentally recharge and enjoy college Allowing for your day to be structured and routine, will increase your focus and efficiency as a student-athlete.
AR: Never was one. Could have sat on a bench maybe, or played soccer easily, but had to get honest with myself. What’s the point in partaking in something you can’t be the best at? - find something else you can be great at and do that.
Questions for the Alumni...
If you could go back and change anything, what would you change?
NM: As I mentioned before, just that first year coming into Mercyhurst I would have built more relationships earlier, tapped into the community earlier and really tried to take my ego out especially on the basketball court. Like I said, I soon learned, Coach and everyone in the athletic department truly wanted me and my teammates to succeed. I really felt that as I grew in the community. But as a 20-21 year old coming into the situation, I was worried about the wrong things like: how messages were being delivered rather than the content of the message, or worried about my individual performance rather than the teams, I wasn’t thinking about how I could be a leader coming in with the previous experience I had So if I could go back I would change that. I also tore my MCL at the beginning of Junior year playing this football game at training… definitely wouldn’t have played that day haha.
JD: To achieve your full potential, you must not only believe in yourself and envision your goal becoming a reality; but you must sacrifice and do the hard work upfront both on and off the court For me, it wasn’t until my junior year that the idea of me becoming an NBA prospect became a reality I still remember the call my senior year in the locker room from the Toronto Raptors. If I could go back in time, I would have instilled in myself, both the mindset and work ethic required from day one on campus to prepare me for the opportunity 4 years later Remember, that opportunity does not waste time with those who are unprepared
AR: My openness to advice. I wish I had a clearer portrait drawn out about post-college life It’s important to get real, quick then execute that vision The younger you do that, the better your life will be. Go to church/mosque/synagogue daily for 5 minutes. As corny as it sounds, it’s important to stay in the moment and feel connected. Gary used to have Avi Fogel over to his house for Passover That brought them together, and it showed on the court.
LL: I would have taken care of my body a little better by engaging with our athletic training department in prehabilitation and strengthening to prevent injuries, as opposed to just treating injuries as they occurred. Also, I would like to have had a clear career Plan B and C coming out of college since professional basketball wasn't going to be the long-term profession for me
N young man but the little advice I do have is starting now: Connect & build genuine relationships Put yourself out there, introduce yourself, take time to spend time with people. Say yes to things when people call on you. It goes such a long way. Ask people ahead of you and older than you questions about career, industries, their life experience. You’ll learn so much about what paths you want to take, and when you get to those paths you’ll have people to call on to help you open those doors. The job I am blessed to have was an opportunity presented to me just off building a relationship with somebody And every time I’ve needed a reference for a job, when I was applying for the job I have now, I' put Coach Manchel down as my reference. So yeah, connect with the people ahead of you, put yourself out there, go talk to your professors, say yes when people call on you for favors or opportunities, ask questions, you’ll thank yourself later.
JD: As you embark on the next 40 years, understand that it is a journey, and nothing worthwhile comes easy. Do the hard work upfront both financially and professionally It is so important to be responsible financially, and to invest in yourself As you work to build your career, continue to network, and ensure you surround yourself with individuals who are striving to achieve the same success and goals as yourself. Finding yourself a mentor can be extremely beneficial and can help provide you with insights into your career and to help guide you through any challenging moments. The people we surround ourselves with exert a profound influence on our lives.
Questions for the Alumni...
What advice would you give to our graduating seniors as they embark on the next steps of their lives?
LL: Continue to take care of your body by staying active and eating well, apply the skills you learned as a student-athlete (such as time management, teamwork, conflict resolution, leadership) to your career or whatever path on which you embark. Understand that life is a marathon, so enjoy the present but have a short-term and long-term plan that fits into your personal and financial goals
AR: MUST define “plan A” and stay dedicated to it, no “plan Bs” allowed. Say you want to be a billionaire, or go to the NBA, what does that look like mathematically? Understanding the principles of leadership, in particular leading oneself, is vital to the development of your future Find the WHY - sometimes it can’t be about you on them lazy days. Dont’e be selfless, be a positive influence on all those you come in contact with on a daily basis, teachers,other students, coaches and fellow players. At the end of the day - you have an opportunity to inspire those around you Embrace the pressure. It is a privilege. Be thankful for it all, but EARN each day on the court like it will be your last. One day it will be. Make yourself proud of who you are and do that TODAY.
Thank You to our Mentors
We cannot thank you enough for your willingness to share your time, perspective and advice with us here tonight. We are humbled by your selflessness and inspired by your example, and we look forward to hopefully staying connected with you, and perhaps following your lead by participating in this event someday as mentors. For now, we thank you and look forward to honoring the legacy that you have all built.