When University of Portland Athletic Director Scott Leykam asked Whitney Robison to take over as the new Director of Operations for the men’s basketball team, she laughed.
Robison was convinced that it was a joke. Up until that point, the only sport she knew was soccer. She is a former University of Kentucky soccer player and when Leykam approached her about the job change, she was working as the Director of Operations for the UP women’s soccer program. Other than cheering on her alma mater’s basketball team, she never had any previous experience in the sport.
Robison was also wary of something else: If she accepted the job, she would not only be the only female in the all-male program at UP, but the only female Director of Operations in men’s basketball in the entire West Coast Conference.
Now, less than a year later, she considers herself part of the team and she intends to keep working with the basketball program for years to come.
“I see myself staying in basketball for a very long time,” Robison said. “I enjoy it. I enjoy everything that comes with it.”
Robison describes her job as “everything a coach doesn’t do.” As Director of Operations, she faces a different challenge every day. One of the most important requirements of her job is managing the team’s travel, which includes booking flights and hotels, and having meals prepared for the players. She also works on general administrative tasks like having compliance papers in order and checks that the equipment is ready and in good condition.
But Robison’s job mostly consists of just making sure the team is taken care of, and according to sophomore Xavier Hallinan, she does it well.
“She’s kind of like the team mom,” Hallinan said. “She has to do the discipline along with the love, and she does a great job at it…I don’t think we give her enough appreciation.”
Despite her lack of experience in basketball, head coach Terry Porter, who was hired before the 2016-17 campaign, says he appreciates the “great work ethic” she brings.
“It would be hard to run our ship without her,” said Porter. “It’s great to have her on the staff with us.”
Despite excelling in her new position, Robison has faced several challenges in the program and at UP. Switching programs was an expected difficulty, as she had to learn more about basketball. But staying on top of the players’ academics proved to be another challenge. Robison says that she feels like she’s “an academic advisor half the time.”
But the toughest challenge for Robison—who has previously worked with the United States Soccer Federation as a camp organizer for the men’s and women’s national teams—has been directing operations in a small athletic department. UP athletics doesn’t work with a large travel agency, so if a flight is cancelled last minute, it’s on Robison to figure out how to get coaches and players where they need to be.
“Figuring out travel has been a big hurdle,” Robison said. “Trying to maneuver when we’re delayed...I think that’s a big challenge for us right now.”
But contrary to what she feared prior to accepting the job, being the only female in the program has not been an obstacle for Robison. The only gender-based commentary she has received has been when interacting with the athletic staff from other schools, who are often surprised to discover her role with the Pilot’s men’s basketball team.
“I had a lot of people ask me ‘Now, what is your role on the team?’ and ‘What do you do?’” Robison said. “I think that’s been a shock to people outside of UP…(but) a lot of people obviously knew me from soccer, so they knew what I did.”
She admits she was nervous about working in an office of all males, but nerves were quickly brushed aside as she soon realized, after an interview with Porter, that she would be treated the same as the rest of the staff.
“Every day I sit and laugh because I’m the only girl…but it’s been fun,” said Robison. “I consider myself one of the boys now. We all fit together.”
