Swimmer Kevin Gilloolly is featured in this installment of "Know Your Profs". Last season, he qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 50 free and 100 backstroke and on the 200 and 400 medley relays and 200 freestyle relay. The championships were canceled because of COVID-19. However, he received All-America honors from the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America. A Rowan Scholar-Athlete, Gillooly was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Swimmer of the Year and was the conference's Swimmer of the Week six times.
What was the biggest factor that led you to choose Rowan?
I chose Rowan because I saw a school with a small atmosphere while still having the excitement of a big school. Rowan is a place where I have been able to build up my platform and shine in the way I want to shine without getting lost in the sea of a big school. I saw a school that offered this type of experience with a team that was willing to risk everything to be as successful as possible and I knew it was my future home.
What is your most memorable moment in sports, whether at Rowan or before?
My most memorable moment in sports is by far winning the Metropolitan Conference Championship with my team this past February. When we won the meet my freshman year it was nice, however I did not fully cherish it because I did not know what losing felt like. After losing my sophomore year, I was devastated. The team became obsessed and goal oriented, and to be able to come back after a hard loss the previous year and jump in the pool to celebrate an incredible win was an unforgettable feeling.
If you could play any other sport in college, what would it be and why?
I would definitely play basketball. Being 6'6", the automatic question everywhere I go is "where do you play basketball?" It is one of my favorite sports to play in my free time and I feel that I have the potential to get some serious buckets. A few weeks with Coach Crispin would have me feeling right to get some runs in with the men.
Who was your biggest role model growing up?
In terms of sports, I would have to give that title to the late Kobe Bean Bryant. People outside of the sports world really don't understand how real Mamba Mentality is. I'm a big advocate of the mental side of sports myself. I always say that if you don't truly believe that you are the best to ever do it at your level, you are setting yourself up for failure from the start. Confidence is key and if you lack the confidence of the greats you will never have a shot at joining them. My Dad also pushes me constantly to be the best I can. So yeah, shoutout to my Dad.
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?
I'm a fan of big cities so normally I would go with something along the lines of London or Paris. Right now though I just miss my Grandma more than anything, so Pennsylvania in the dead of winter sounds fine to me. Big Grandma's boy.
What's your choice – Netflix, YouTube, Cable TV? Favorite show?
Netflix to me is like Wawa, it will always be an industry staple that keeps me coming back, but in the back of my mind I know the quality has dropped significantly in the past few years. Picking one show is tough, but Billions, Breaking Bad and The Sopranos are some classics I swear by. I also watch a lot of content on Twitch. The creators on that platform are incredibly original, which is part of why it has seen such large growth recently.
Who is your favorite professional athlete or team?
My favorite Pro athlete definitely has to be Lebron. GOAT debates aside, every time he steps on the court we witness history in some form of the word and I appreciate that greatness. Lebron has also driven me to build my own social platform as an athlete to speak up for what I believe is right, as many other NBA players have. My favorite professional team is the Philadelphia 76ers. I am a firm believer that if NBA executives never chased Sam Hinkie out of the league, we would be witnessing a dynasty in Philly right now. That man had the vision.
Who is your favorite follow on social media?
I have to give a shout out to the real ones running the Rowan Athletics Instagram page on this one. Ryan treats his job for this department like he is running media for the Los Angeles Lakers and it definitely shows. I am always excited to see what work is being put out when I get the post notification for that account, so I would say it definitely takes the cake.
Which do you prefer – online classes or in person?
Online classes began as a nice breath of fresh air as we were experiencing something new, but I definitely miss being in the classroom every day. There is something incredibly rewarding about returning home after a long day of practice and class that just isn't there when all of your classes are remote. One day soon I am sure we will all be back to our normal schedules Profs, it's just a matter of taking the right precautions now.
What is your major at Rowan and what are your career aspirations?
I am currently majoring in Exercise Science at Rowan. Recently I have become very fascinated with the idea of Healthcare Administration. The response to the COVID pandemic from some private health systems in our country definitely shocked me and it made me realize that there needs to be a change to these systems from the inside in order to ensure safety for the American people. I plan on getting my Masters in Healthcare Administration and looking at American Health from the policy level.
What's the best thing about being a Prof?
The best thing about being a Prof has to be the honor that comes with the title. Every time I would walk down the halls of Esby (pre-pandemic) and see a Rowan Athletics staff member smiling back at me, it felt like such an honor just to be a member of the same program as them. I have yet to meet someone here who doesn't devote their entire purpose into making my life as a student-athlete more successful and that is a blessing that not many schools have.
