Jason Pacanowski Hometown: Arlington Heights, Ill. High School: Barrington Position: Graduate Assistant Birthdate: 01/29/1982 Experience: 1st year

Few people appreciate how much work is done behind the scenes by the team managers.

Graduate assistant coach Jason Pacanowski is one who knows. He spent his entire undergraduate career working as a manager for Saluki Basketball. Along the way, he picked the brains of some of college basketball's best and brightest minds -- coaches like Bruce Weber, Matt Painter and Chris Lowery.

Pacanowski quickly realized that coaching was his true calling. In between washing uniforms and running errands for the coaches, Pacanowski would draw up plays in a notebook.

He became a more active contributor during practices and games during his senior year, and when the graduate assistant position came open, Pacanowski was the obvious choice.

In his role as GA, Pacanowski breaks down film, supervises workouts and handles a variety of administrative matters.

Pacanowski, 24, earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Southern Illinois in 2006.