Posted by Alexa Rivetti, UCB Student Intern, UCOP. “People know me as the guy who walks everywhere. I work in the athletic department so I have to be in shape!” laughed Michael Koetsier, UC Irvine’s Director of Athletic Network and Technology Services (ANTS). A true anteater, Koetsier got his start in information technology at UCI working as a volunteer and moving his way up. He also graduated from UCI as a triple major with degrees in French literature, history, and political science.
Athletics IT is fast-paced, so Koetsier likes taking the scenic route between his many meetings on campus. From testing the latest gadgets to researching new cloud services, he’s always busy, enjoying the rapid and innovative nature of his work.
Koetsier maintains a tight ship. For example, if a network outage occurs during a basketball game, all hands must be on deck. And whenever the Olympics come around and a talented staff person competes in a place like Athens or Beijing, ANTS is responsible for making sure the athletes stay connected abroad.
Next time you watch a game at UCI, don’t forget to cheer for the IT athletes behind the scenes. Zot, Zot, Zot!