Catching Up With Former Women’s Soccer Player Angela Gillisse

TAMPA, Fla. - A key member of the 1998-01 women's soccer teams, Angela Gillisse sheds a little light on her life since graduating from The University of Tampa and how her experience at UT has helped shape her into the individual that she is today.

The 2002 graduate was a force to be reckoned with on the defensive end, playing center back and left back for the Spartans. Gillisse competed in a total of 58 games in her four years with Tampa and was a member of the 2000-01 squad when the Spartans were ranked as high as 17th in the nation.

Gillisse majored in sport management but found it difficult to find her place in the world following graduation, "As exciting as graduation was, it was also very confusing," said Gillisse. The former Spartan knew that she wanted to work in the sports field, but was not exactly sure where; thus, she decided to test the waters and begin working with a professional team. Sooner than later, Gillisse found that pro-sports was not her forte.

After working on the professional level, Gillisse decided to look for a place where she could make an immediate impact. The former center back decided to go back to school to get her Master's in Education specializing in sport management. Soon after, Gillisse found her home at St. Mary's Episcopal Day School in Tampa, Fla. and moved up quickly in the ranks.

Now the Athletic Director at St. Mary's, Gillisse oversees the middle school's athletic program which consists of 18 teams within 11 sports as well as the physical education program and all after school intramural activities. Recently, the UT alumni became responsible for the implementation of the new "Owning Up" class at St. Mary's which teaches students about media literacy, social competence, and the importance of treating one another with dignity.

"Playing soccer at UT instilled a sense of pride and confidence in all of my work," says Gillisse. The balance of a full academic load and participating on the University's women's soccer team was challenging for the former Spartan, but it helped her develop useful skills such as time management and priority setting that she uses in her current position every day.

The starting defenseman for the Spartans enjoyed the small classes and caring professors that UT offered. One of her most valued professors at the university is former Athletic Director, Dr. Bob Birrenkott. "He was very demanding of the student athletes but understanding of our schedule, he cared about our education and what we were doing on the field" said Gillisse.

Gillisse's most memorable moment of attending school at UT was when the men's soccer team won the national championship during her sophomore year. Since then, the former athlete's most unforgettable moment of her life has been backpacking through Australia and Western Europe.

The UT alumni leaves a piece of advice to current athletes, "Do whatever you have a passion for, find something equally fulfilling as your athletic career after graduation and take pride in your work to make a difference in your community."

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