A Michigan native returned to his home state as Ferris State University Athletics announced the appointment of Ben Mackey as the school's new Athletics Equipment Manager prior to the 2016-17 campaign.
Mackey had spent the past five plus years as the Manger of Athletic Equipment Services at Bowdoin College in Maine and brought more than 13 years of experience in collegiate athletics equipment rooms to FSU. He replaced longtime FSU Equipment Manger Ben Mumah, who retired from full-time service in June 2016 after 33 years in the position.
While at Bowdoin College, Mackey managed all aspects of athletic equipment needs for 31 NCAA Division III varsity programs in addition to club, junior varsity, staff and student organizations. His duties included purchasing apparel and equipment from a variety of vendors along with fitting athletes in uniforms and gear with an emphasis on football, ice hockey and lacrosse.
The Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA) member also served as an administrator for the department of student affairs during his tenure at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME. He played a key role in protecting the college's graphic identity standards as it related to uniforms and equipment while also managing budgets and purchasing cycles for all department and team uniform, apparel and equipment expenses.
Along with his role at Bowdoin, Mackey coordinated apparel sales for NCAA merchandise at several NCAA postseason events and gained experience working in the locker room and on the sideline for the National Football League's (NFL) New England Patriots along with laundry services for the Boston Red Sox.
Mackey was a member of the Bowdoin College Athletic Awards Selection Committee and was also a member of Bowdoin's Globally Harmonized System Taskforce for workplace chemical safety.
A Houghton Lake native, Mackey earned his bachelor's degree in general education from Saginaw Valley State University. While at SVSU, he began his athletic equipment career as a student assistant before moving into the role of head equipment manager for football at the fellow Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) institution. Along with his equipment-related duties, he also provided on-field services, maintained aerial lift and van certifications, managed on-field coaches' communication devices and oversaw the video staff.
As part of his duties as the Athletics Equipment Manager at Ferris State, Mackey plays a key role in the university's continued partnership with the Under Armour brand thru an agreement with BSN, as well as serving as a Senior Staff member on the athletics administrative team.
Mackey and his wife, Angela, have two daughters, Cadence and Danika.
Ben Mackey
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- Title:
- Equipment Manager
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- Phone:
- (231) 250-1114
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- Email:
- mackeyb3@ferris.edu
Bio