Andrew Mannion, Sports Editor
Manhattan University recently hired Antoine Orr to serve as the University’’s assistant director of recreation and wellness. With an extensive background in collegiate athletics, Orr brings a lot to look forward to for Jasper students.
Antoine Orr joins Manhattan University with plenty of collegiate sports experience. LINKEDIN.COM / COURTESY
Orr started his career in athletics as a player for St. Peters University, playing through his undergraduate career as a guard for the team. Now in his new position at MU, Orr has made it clear that he wants to bring a new energy to the recreation and wellness department.
“I am definitely looking to bring excitement, some innovation, some energy to campus that no one has really ever seen before,” Orr said.
Being just a few months into his time at MU, Orr has noted how great the department has been thus far. He mentioned how supportive the staff have been for him to do his job and reach his goals of making MU’s student athletics environment sensational.
“I love what I’m doing,” Orr said. “The thing that stands out the most are the people. I have really good work colleagues. Nicole [Brosnan] is just awesome, and she’s been guiding me through the process and helping me figure out all the in’s and out’s of internal processes. Our Vice President, Kristell Lowe, is incredible. It really gives us a runway to creatively be who we want to be and create moments for these students that are memorable.”
The feeling is shared amongst the department of recreation and wellness. The director of the department, Nicole Brosnan, had only positive sentiments about the job Orr has done so far.
“In Student Engagement, and more broadly student life, we are working to create a culture of care and help be roadblock removers for our Manhattan University students,” Brosnan said. “Antoine not only supports that vision but wants to be part of it. As a former MAAC basketball player, he loves fitness and has already been seen by multiple students in the fitness center. Whether it’s shooting hoops in Draddy, playing flag football in Gaelic, or working out in the Fitness Center, he wants to see our campus moving.”
Student Engagement is a large part of the campus community and aims to improve the lives of students on campus. One of the many events hosted under Student Engagement is intramural sports. One student who takes part in intramural sports, Tadeo Quellet, spoke to The Quadrangle about how he is excited for the improvements Orr hopes to make.
“Intramural (sports) are a great part of Manhattan,” Quellet said. “I have a lot of fun in the sports that the school provides for students. I’m really excited to see what Mr. Orr can add to a department that I already find pretty fun to be a part of.”
In just a few short weeks at MU, Orr has already built the basis of a club basketball team for the university. With more details to come soon, Orr is making his impact at the school felt by extending his love for basketball out to students at a competitive level.
“We’re going to start a club basketball program, to be the first time it’s ever been at the school,” Orr said. “We’re going to compete in the National Club Basketball Athletic Association, so it’s in an actual league. We’re going to host tryouts in the next couple of weeks, and the students should be on the lookout for something really unique and special when we get this thing off the ground.”