Opportunity Seized

Maddie Manning has been described as opportunistic player on the court. Her instincts and versatilty guide her as a player. ?

Careless with the basketball?

She steals it and sprints to the other end for a transition lay-in.

Leave her wide open at the top of the key?

She buries the 3-pointer.

But opportunistic is also the best way to describe Manning's academic track since she arrived at the University of Oklahoma.

When Manning moved to Norman the summer of 2012, the Ankeny, Iowa, native thought the next four years would include four successful years of playing college basketball and receiving a Bachelor's degree. Then look to jump into the coaching ranks after her playing days were over.

Little did she know, there would be a few bumps along the way.

The first obstacle was an ACL injury that ended a promising true freshman year during the 2012-13 season.

The second, came just nine months later as another knee injury prior derailed her second season with the Sooners.

Two years lost on the court, but not in the classroom.

Manning

Fast forward to 2017, Manning is completely healthy, has already received her Bachelor's degree and is working on a Master's while enjoying her most successful season as a Sooner.She's averaging nearly 12 points per game, has already set a career high in 3-pointers made this season and leads the Big 12 in steals per game.

But the long road back to the hardwood is just a small part of the journey for the redshirt senior.

“I don't think I ever could have realized at the time, what the injuries would do for me. I wanted to go into coaching and knew I would need a Master's degree, and Coach Coale told me that from the day I got here. I didn't know the significance of getting a Master's and furthering my education.”

During the grueling rehab process, the 6-2 guard spent her days at practice on the sidelines soaking in all the knowledge she could.

In the classroom, she graduated in just three years to earn her Bachelor's degree.

After her graduation, Manning immediately enrolled into OU's College of Education, looking to earn her postgraduate degree in adult and higher education with a concentration on intercollegiate athletics.

“I feel like it's taught me so much about balancing my time, my energy, compartmentalizing my life,” Manning said. “When I'm on the basketball court, I'm on the basketball court, but when I'm in the classroom that's where my attention needs to be.”

Instead of attending a normal class schedule like most of her teammates, Manning's class load usually does not start until after the Sooners' complete practice. On week nights, while most of her teammates head home from practice or workouts, Manning is attending class from 4:30-9 p.m.

It's a unique schedule ? one that comes with plenty of learning opportunities.

“My classes are lot different. I've been pushed to learn in a different way. We've learned a lot about learning and on how adults learn and how they process information,” stated Manning. “That's what I want to do, teach college athletes. There's plenty of things to learn from my classes than I hopefully can apply as a coach one day.”

Manning easily admits that this was not the road she imagined she would travel when she landed in Norman over five years ago. The idea of Master's degree was the furthest thing from her mind as an 18-year old freshman.

The setbacks she experienced early in her career have turned into life-changing opportunities.

With just three credit hours left in Master's program, Manning will graduate with her second degree from the University of Oklahoma this spring. To her, it's just another step in continuing to pursue her passions in the game she loves the most.

“This going to have a significant impact on me as a coach,” she said. “I'm not sure if you put a bunch of cards in a pile that anyone would pick my story here as an athlete. But, I've had a chance to learn a lot because of those injuries, because I had to sit out and because my career was extended.”

Just another opportunity seized for Maddie Manning.