Not Just The Water Boy

He works hard at every basketball practice and game but he is not a player. He helps with drills and urges players to do better but he is not a coach.

Jesse Parker takes pride in his work as the Utah State basketball team’s equipment manager, which most people would say is just a glorified term for water boy.

But thinking that Parker just fetches water for tired players would be way off the mark.

Parker, a 23-year old USU student does a lot more than just hand out paper cups to thirsty players.

“I tally up all the stats each game, pack all the bags before away games, help out with team warm-ups and other stuff like that,” Parker said.

And he loves every minute of it.

“I would say my favorite part about my job is hanging out with all the athletes. They are really fun,” Parker said. “I also get to be around and learn from coach. Stew Morrill is one of the best coaches in the country so it’s a great opportunity.”

And hanging out with players doesn’t stop at the end of games or practices.

Parker is roommates with Preston Medlin, who plays guard on the team.

Parker is majoring in physical education and wants to pursue a career as a high school counselor and coach.

But his real dream is to one day become a division one basketball coach.

“I really want to work on a masters degree and then coach at the high school level. Then working up and coaching division one ball would be great,” Parker said.

Parker is not the stereotypical water boy. He was a three-sport athlete at South Summit High School in Kamas, Utah.

“I played football, baseball and basketball,” Parker said.

It’s the love of sports that keeps him working so hard.

“He’s a great guy and helps us out a lot,” Steven Thornton, a freshman point guard for the Aggies said. “I feel like he’s just another guy on the team.”

Parker agrees that he would seem like just another player with all the time he puts into being the equipment manager.

“I probably spend over 40 hours a week with the basketball team,” Parker said.

Spending all that time on the court and still getting good grades as a full-time student is a daunting task.

“I hardly ever see him,” said Sean O’Sullivan, a USU student who lives across the hall from Parker. “He’s a pretty busy guy and when I do see him, he is always going somewhere.”