Maria Urbina has been a member of the University Custodial Team for 15 years. Her day job is to take care of and make sure the GSU Sports Arena is clean, but she is a diehard basketball fan as well. She goes to away games on her dime.
We talked about the history of the men’s basketball program, her prediction of this upcoming basketball season, speaking Spanish with athletes and more. During this interview, multiple people greeted her when they saw her.
Krystal: What do you love the most about your job?
Maria: I love what I do here. I like the students, people and basketball players. I love it.
Krystal: What’s your favorite memory with the basketball programs?
Maria: When [the men] won the championship is my favorite moment. When they went to New Orleans, I drove there and cheered. When they won the game, I congratulated my players and told them, “Congratulations, my champion.” I call all the players “champion.” I give them hugs and kisses.
Krystal: Where is the farthest you have traveled to watch the men’s basketball team?
Maria: New Orleans is the farthest. I watched the team win the Sun Belt Conference Championship against Georgia Southern back in 2015. This is the game Coach [Ron] Hunter tore his Achilles. I was so excited when they won the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Baylor [University]. All I saw was good things about Georgia State in the news. “Georgia State went to NCAA [Tournament].” “Georgia State is doing a great job for the school.”
Krystal: What are your predictions for the men’s basketball season?
Maria: This season, I’m sure we will have a good season. Coach Lanier is an excellent coach. I saw a practice, and he is working hard with the team. Every morning, the team is here at 6 o’clock. They are in the weight room. They practice twice a day, I think. We have great assistant coaches.
Krystal: What do you think of the new players joining the men’s team?
Maria: I’m so happy with the new players. Eliel Nsoseme is coming from Cincinnati. JoJo Toppin came from Georgia. I call all of them my “best champion.” Joe Jones III is a transfer too. He is so tall and outstanding. The players last year were excellent. Damon [Wilson] is good. Chris [Clerkley] is good. When they see me, they yell out, “Champion!”
Krystal: When you are watching the game, what excites you the most?
Maria: When they shoot three-point and dunk, oh, my God, I get so excited!
Krystal: What are your predictions on the women’s basketball season?
Maria: Last year, they had a good season. There were a lot of injuries last year. This year, we have a lot of new players. We can have an exciting and enjoyable season under Coach Hill. I cannot wait to see my girls.
Krystal: Do you think the men will go back to the NCAA Tournament?
Maria: Yes. We will have a good season and win the Sun Belt Conference title. I am ready to travel and watch my players. I’m also prepared to watch them on television. Sometimes things happen. If we do not make it this year, next year we will be in the first place.
Krystal: Two weeks ago, you were tutoring a volleyball player in Spanish. How close are you with the players?
Maria: I’m super close to the athletes. Lauren Bandera, from the volleyball team, [speaks] in Spanish with me all the time. Sometimes the athletes will come to me and say, “Hey Maria, I have a question about Spanish in one of my classes. Can you help me out?” I say, “Okay!” We sit down, and I help them.
Krystal: Is there anybody who speaks Spanish with you fluently?
Maria: Lauren [Bandera] from volleyball, Angela [Alonso] from cross country and a player from the women’s soccer team. I try to speak English to [the soccer player], but she responds in Spanish every time. I tell her, “No, English! English! No Spanish! I want to learn more English.” She said, “No! No! No! You speak good English. You do not need any more English.”
Krystal: What is a funny moment you had with someone at the GSU Sports Arena speaking in Spanish?
Maria: Sometimes, when I see Mike Holmes [associate athletic director of communications], I say, “Hola! ¿Cómo estás?” He said, “Estoy bien [I am well].” When I continue talking in Spanish, he tells me, “I do not know what that means, Maria.” I talk in Spanish with the coaches, like the track and field coach Chris England. I love to speak in Spanish with Chris Kreider, assistant coach for men’s basketball. We only talk in Spanish.
Krystal: Coach Lanier mentioned you in his introductory press conference. Why did that happen?
Maria: When the first time [Athletics Director] Charlie Cobb and [Georgia State University President] Mark Becker introduced the new head coach, Coach Lanier talked about me. At the conference, he said, “I’m new here at Georgia State. I’m still trying to learn everyone’s name, but I know one person. I know Maria. Everybody knows her and loves her.”
Krystal: How did you meet Coach Lanier?
Maria: The first time I met him was outside. I saw a big black car. I knew [Rob Lanier] was the new head coach. I saw a picture of him and his family on the website. I said to myself, “This is him.” I went outside because I had to let him inside. I saw his son, Emory. I ask him, “You are the son of the head coach?” He said, “Yes.” I said, “I’m Maria!” We had a long conversation. You would [have thought] we had known each other for years. Coach Lanier walked over to us. I told him, “welcome.” He had a surprised look on his face, probably because he did not know me at the time. He remembers me because I introduced myself. The first person he met was me.
