When Mike Noyes prepared to leave the small-town he grew up in at the start of his freshman year at UConn, he did not have an exact plan for what lay ahead of him. He knew he liked basketball. A state champion with the Bears in 2013, it was obvious that he had a knack for it. Ten years later, his connection to the sport has taken him to places not even he could have imagined.
A gifted basketball player, Noyes’ skillset as a high school student encompassed far more than just his athletic ability. In his own words, he “wanted to pick college for school,” and would consider himself lucky if basketball would follow as part of the package.
Uncertain about the career he envisioned for himself, Noyes’ experience at UConn began to shape his post-college profession. Noyes remembers, “I knew I liked math, and I knew I liked sports, but never in my younger years did I envision being able to marry the two.” Enrolled in the actuarial science program, Noyes rekindled his involvement with the game of basketball when he walked on to Kevin Ollie’s Huskies by his sophomore year. He credits the experience for providing him with skills that serve him in his day-to-day role now, a player development coach with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.
Shortly after graduation, Noyes initially planned to assume a role working as an actuary at The Hartford. Three days before his scheduled start date, the Grizzlies came knocking on his door with an offer to work as a data scientist, a position placing him around a team whose roster was comprised mostly of players older than he was. Reflecting on his age similarity with many of the players he works with today, Noyes mentioned, “Being part of a college locker room at UConn gave me important insight into what players go through on a day-to-day basis, which was invaluable when making the transition to working in the NBA.”
After six years he now finds himself working out with players directly, and added with a touch of humor that his unique position lends him the privilege of losing on-court drills against some of the world’s best basketball players.
Although his career has taken him far from the Constitution State, Granby continues to have an impact on Noyes. Speaking of Granby, he remembered, “Growing up in a small town gave me the confidence to dream big. I had a great support system, from my friends and family to my teachers and coaches. This sense of community helped me develop relationships that shaped who I am today. More than anything, I miss the people from Granby.”
In the future, Noyes aspires to take the reins of an NBA franchise and pace the sidelines as one of 30 head coaches in the league. In order to get there, he remembers some of the lessons that came to him from growing up in a small community, noting “If Granby has taught me one thing, it’s to dream big.”