McClanaghan Shares Life Experiences With 'Cuse Athletics
4/27/2022 12:01:00 PM | General
Rob McClanaghan, a member of the Class of 2001 who was a walk-on with the men's basketball team, returned to campus last weekend to speak to members of Syracuse's athletics department about professional life and mental-health matters.
McClanaghan gave two presentations -- one to Syracuse student-athletes and one for staff, including coaches and administrators, in the athletics department. Both were delivered to full auditoriums on campus.
His personal story takes him from an undergraduate at Syracuse to CEO of Rob Mac Basketball, Inc., where he became a skills development trainer and confidant for NBA starts, including Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook.
In addition to sharing his expertise on networking, McClanaghan also discussed his personal mental-health challenges. The latter was detailed in an essay he wrote for The Players' Tribune in 2021, entitled "Do Not Disturb."
"We appreciate having Rob McClanaghan, one of our alumni, come back to Syracuse to explain some of his life experiences to our athletics department," said Salatha Willis, Associate Athletics Director for Diversity, Culture and Climate. "We believe these opportunities to engage improves the experience of our student-athletes and staff."
He has had a remarkable journey from the time he attended Syracuse to the present. While his basketball experience at Syracuse started slowly after a failed open tryout with the program as a freshman, his determination to earn a spot with the Orange ignited a passion for the sport. He worked his way on to the team as a sophomore and was a squad-member for three full campaigns. McClanaghan credits Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim with helping him get started after college, by recommending McClanaghan for a position on Seth Greenberg's staff at South Florida.
From South Florida, McClanaghan got involved as a skills trainer at IMG Academy (Fla.). He began building contacts across country and before long he was flying cross-country for individual skill sessions with some of the NBA's best talents.
McClanaghan has also enjoyed success as an author, having written "Net Work: Training The NBA's Best and Finding The Keys To Greatness," in 2019.Â
Â
McClanaghan gave two presentations -- one to Syracuse student-athletes and one for staff, including coaches and administrators, in the athletics department. Both were delivered to full auditoriums on campus.
His personal story takes him from an undergraduate at Syracuse to CEO of Rob Mac Basketball, Inc., where he became a skills development trainer and confidant for NBA starts, including Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook.
In addition to sharing his expertise on networking, McClanaghan also discussed his personal mental-health challenges. The latter was detailed in an essay he wrote for The Players' Tribune in 2021, entitled "Do Not Disturb."
"We appreciate having Rob McClanaghan, one of our alumni, come back to Syracuse to explain some of his life experiences to our athletics department," said Salatha Willis, Associate Athletics Director for Diversity, Culture and Climate. "We believe these opportunities to engage improves the experience of our student-athletes and staff."
He has had a remarkable journey from the time he attended Syracuse to the present. While his basketball experience at Syracuse started slowly after a failed open tryout with the program as a freshman, his determination to earn a spot with the Orange ignited a passion for the sport. He worked his way on to the team as a sophomore and was a squad-member for three full campaigns. McClanaghan credits Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim with helping him get started after college, by recommending McClanaghan for a position on Seth Greenberg's staff at South Florida.
From South Florida, McClanaghan got involved as a skills trainer at IMG Academy (Fla.). He began building contacts across country and before long he was flying cross-country for individual skill sessions with some of the NBA's best talents.
McClanaghan has also enjoyed success as an author, having written "Net Work: Training The NBA's Best and Finding The Keys To Greatness," in 2019.Â
Â
Women's Lacrosse Media Availability | April 14, 2026
Tuesday, April 14
John Desko | Syracuse Ring of Honor
Monday, April 13
Syracuse Softball vs. Boston College (4/12/26)
Sunday, April 12
John Desko Press Scrum
Sunday, April 12
