When Michael Callahan \u201905 \u201909MBA \u201917EdD graduates this weekend with his third degree from UCF \u2013 a doctorate in higher educational leadership \u2013 those in the audience at CFE Arena likely won\u2019t notice any difference between him and the others receiving their diplomas.<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s exactly what he has been accustomed to in his double life as Knightro\u2019s head coach and a former mascot.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou walk out of the tunnel on game day, and people are screaming Knightro. I walk into a building and people ignore me. It\u2019s night and day difference,\u201d Callahan said. \u201cWhen you get that much attention, I have seen through this program that one individual has the ability to make change if they want to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before his senior year of high school, the Massachusetts native was visiting his grandmother in Leesburg, and she encouraged him to visit \u201cthis college that\u2019s in the newspaper.\u201d After touring UCF and learning more about its affordability and academic programs, Callahan knew he had found his school.<\/p>\n
His decision led to one of the longest relationships of his life: Knightro.<\/p>\n
After seeing the beloved mascot perform at some football games, Callahan thought it looked like a fun job and tried out for the team in the spring. He said he made the cut not because he had the best skillset, but because the coach believed in his dedication.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe saw something in me from a work ethic standpoint that he just couldn\u2019t turn me away,\u201d Callahan said. \u201cThat changed my life for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now he\u2019s the one in charge of selecting the talent and team that brings Knightro to life.<\/p>\n
He has had to juggle his career as the director of information systems with the Burnett Honors College, his personal life as a husband and father of three (including 3-year-old twins), and years of classes and coursework in his pursuit of master\u2019s and doctoral degrees.<\/p>\n
But he\u2019s been showing up every day, without fail, for the last 12 years \u2013 ever since UCF\u2019s spirit program head coach Linda Gooch \u201985 asked him to come say a few inspirational words to the team and offer some advice. When he showed up to practice, she introduced him to the group as Knightro\u2019s new head coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s when it hit me, \u2018Huh, I\u2019ve taken on a coaching responsibility,\u2019\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Gooch laughed playfully: \u201cI have my ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
In her defense, she knew he was the man for the job. Gooch said one of the most challenging aspects of serving as Knightro\u2019s head coach is finding the right team of student performers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe interesting thing about selecting a mascot is if you were in a room with them, you might pick out the guy who is the cut up or who seems really funny. But a lot of these kids are reserved and quiet in person. And then you put that head on them, and they transform. He\u2019s able to see those qualities that we need,\u201d she said. \u201cHis true gift is empowering the people who are part of the program to be able to work together as a team. It is truly a labor of love for him, no question about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Their weekly routine consists of two practices a week. They work on skits for game day and practice flag-waving, his walk and his signature. They discuss scheduling for the most popular guy on campus. And over the years, they\u2019ve had to implement social media strategies or learn the latest dance crazes.<\/p>\n
On game days, in addition to critiquing the student\u2019s performances, Callahan is in charge of maintaining Knightro\u2019s minute-by-minute schedule from tailgate appearances to his on-field antics.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring tryouts, the first thing I preface to everyone, when you think about it logically with other sports it makes sense: The football team plays for three hours on Saturday, but how much time do they spend in the weight room and practice and video and everything else?\u201d he said. \u201cThis is no different than any other sport. You have meetings. You have to do costume repair and practice and planning. You will spend more time outside of costume to get ready for that one-hour event or game day.\u201d<\/p>\n
While it is exciting to be part of the game day atmosphere and athletics\u2019 daily life, Callahan said his favorite aspect of the job has always been the community involvement.<\/p>\n
Gooch recalled that when he was a student, Callahan made a personal goal to log 100 events in the community in one year in addition to his responsibilities and duties at athletic events.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you think about it, you\u2019re basically doing an event every three days,\u201d she said. \u201cHe was an awesome guy. So dedicated and really helped us to develop the program as a mascot himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
His longstanding history of love and commitment to Knightro has even resulted in a children\u2019s book called \u201cHello, Knightro!\u201d which was published in 2013. Callahan credits his wife, fellow alumna Lauren, for making the book a reality.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody who is a UCF fan that sees it thinks it\u2019s the coolest thing out there. It\u2019s a good feeling to know you\u2019re touching people in the community and making a positive change. Hopefully in a few years the children who grew up reading the book will want to come here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Perhaps some future Knightros will be among those children. For Callahan, that\u2019s what it all comes back to \u2013 the students.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorking with all the students is a great reward, and I\u2019m only able to do it because of what UCF has done for me,\u201d Callahan said. \u201cIt\u2019s my way of saying thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When Michael Callahan \u201905 \u201909MBA \u201917EdD graduates this weekend with his third degree from UCF \u2013 a doctorate in higher educational leadership \u2013 those in the audience at CFE Arena likely won\u2019t notice any difference between him and the others receiving their diplomas. And that\u2019s exactly what he has been accustomed to in his double life as Knightro\u2019s head coach…","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":80128,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-twocol.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"lazy_load_responsive_images_disabled":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[1004,202],"tu_author":[],"class_list":["post-80127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colleges","tag-commencement","tag-alumni"],"yoast_head":"\n