By Eddie King
Managing Editor
Trading in his pads for a clipboard and a headset, Senior Liam DiGregorio has used the past three years at Costa to transform himself from an athlete to a three sport manager.
DiGregorio played defensive line for the freshman football team, however, he suffered multiple injuries throughout the season. To protect and maintain his health, DiGregorio stepped off the gridiron and into a new role as the manager of Mira Costa’s football program.
“When it became clear to me that I was not an ideal candidate for football despite my size due to a lack of skill and injury, I felt it was best to quit the team,” DiGregorio said. “I decided to help out the team’s current manager and learn from him how to run the team.”
Photos: See DiGregorio in action
During his sophomore year, DiGregorio became the full-time manager of the Mustang varsity football team. He is in charge of filming the games as well as setting up the field and running warm up drills with the team.
“It’s been great having Liam around to help the football team the past three years,” Senior Blake Snyder said. “He always has a positive attitude and really helps make games and practices go more smoothly.”
Link: Learn more about Liam through his personal website
Due to his success helping run the football team, DiGregorio was contacted by coaches from both the boys rugby and boys lacrosse teams to help them out at games and practices. He currently works as the manager of the varsity teams of each of these programs.
“Liam shows up every day with a positive attitude and an energy that rubs off on the players,” Senior JJ Packer said. “He doesn’t need to be asked to do anything for the lacrosse team. He gets water for the team and does the filming without ever being asked.”
DiGregorio says that becoming the manager of these three sports programs has positively impacted him in ways that he could never imagine. His parents have also noted the positive impact it has had on his life ever since he began to manage full time.
Link: Check out the Mustang football team on the Mira Costa website
“Being part of the football team has had a positive influence on Liam as it has taught him important leadership skills,” Gino DiGregorio said. “In addition, he has had to manage his time wisely to compensate for the extraneous hours he spends outside school.”
In the future, DiGregorio hopes to become the manager of a college football team, further developing his unique skill set at a higher level of competition. His passion for what he does has driven him to set these lofty goals for himself, and he hopes he can be part of the football program at whichever college he chooses to attend in the fall.
“As I look to the future, I am hoping to pursue a career in this field by working for a division one football program,” DiGregorio said. “Although nothing yet is final, there is a good chance that I will be at that level as a freshman or sophomore in college, and will be able to continue to pursue my passion.”
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