Marilyn McManus is a vocational program manager for a private, non-profit organization in Columbia, SC, that provides services to people with lifelong disabilities. She has been both a sports fan and participant for as long as she can remember and has always enjoyed reading and writing.

Born in Schenectady, NY and raised in North Carolina, McManus participated in volleyball, softball and track at Hendersonville High School (NC). She set several records for the mile run; however, that was because she was the first female to run in that event. Title IX had just been passed; several sports for girls were added during her junior year. What, no basketball? “In those days, in North Carolina, girls’ basketball was the half-court game, with six players to a side. I played it in gym class, but I never could adjust to it. So I passed on that and continued to play The Real Thing–5 on 5, full-court--with the kids in the neighborhood.”

McManus is a graduate of East Tennessee State University, with a BS in Psychology and Political Science. Shortly after her arrival in Johnson City, TN, she remembers hearing the buzz about a new, young basketball coach just “down the road” in Knoxville. And she has been following the career of Pat Head Summitt, ever since. At ETSU, she was able to watch some pretty interesting coaches at work, too, Sonny Smith and Susan Yow, among them. Marilyn participated in numerous intramural sports at ETSU, leading her teams to 2 Women’s Football Championships (one runner-up), and a Free Throw Shooting Championship. She was the first female hired as an official for Intramural Football at ETSU, working both men’s and women’s games, and was selected to work the championship games.

McManus has followed the South Carolina women’s basketball team since moving to Columbia in 1984 and with even greater interest since USC joined the Southeastern Conference.  "I think it’s the best conference for women’s basketball, always has been. I suspect it always will be, just because of the nature of competition, the very competitive coaches and players in the SEC and the very high standard set by Tennessee. I know that there are MANY people (well, only ACC, Big East, Big 10 and Big 12 fans) who disagree with me, but I think there’s more than a little truth to the rumor that it’s easier to win a national championship than a SEC championship." She is affiliated with a loosely organized group of USC fans that call themselves "The Loud Crowd" and do their best to (loudly) promote and support the women’s basketball team.

In addition to watching sports, she enjoys playing tennis and basketball and weightlifting. She wouldn’t turn down a pickup football game, either. She belongs to a mystery book club that has been meeting for over 15 years and has volunteered at a local theatre for almost as long. She hates yard work and is much more likely to be found reading, drawing or painting than raking the yard.

McManus wrote book reviews and various columns for VIRAGO, a monthly feminist newsletter in Columbia, for several years. She is very excited about writing on a regular basis, again, for SECWB.