Get to know KYSFMA member: Andrew O’ Rourke

“Andrew’s positivity and dedication to improving both himself and those around him have truly defined his role in the industry. His willingness to help others and continuously challenge himself are qualities that make him stand out as a respected professional. These traits, combined with his strong work ethic and collaborative spirit, have earned him recognition among peers and colleagues across the state.

When Andrew isn’t managing athletic venues or overseeing campus grounds at Murray State University, you can often find him behind the DJ booth, entertaining crowds at events throughout southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee. This unique blend of professional excellence and personal passion highlights Andrew’s ability to bring energy and connection to everything he does.” —KYSFMA, Vice President, Eric Harshman

-How did you get into field maintenance?

I started at the Murray State University Grounds shop 8.5 years ago on the heavy equipment crew. After a few years, I was given the opportunity to become the Irrigation Tech on campus and immediately started working on the athletic fields.

-What’s a typical day out here look like for you?

We start early and make sure everyone if fully caffeinated. Our Director, Peter Reimnitz, has the main game plan and we start looking at forecasts, game schedules and any other work orders. Our Athletics Lead, Chris Byrd, and his crew (Ethan Phelps and Carter Selk) do an excellent job keeping the fields finely detailed and in top shape. We take a gator to check all the fields for irrigation coverage, grass growth, paint, clay moisture and get ground level eyes in any areas that may need attention. As Assistant Director, I am also checking with our other crews - Landscape, MET (Mowing, Edging, Trimming), Heavy Equipment and Student Workers.

-What part of the job do you enjoy the most? 

The characters on our crew are hilarious. We have an awesome team!

-What’s the toughest part about keeping this field in good shape?

Unpredictability of the weather

-How do you decide what needs to get done on a busy day? 

We check the game schedules and any high priority work orders from the AD, Coaches or Athletics Dept. We then delegate tasks in order to get everything ready for game time.

-What kind of equipment do you use the most?

Irrigation is my strong suit and I always carry a trench shovel. Works great for digging up irrigation heads, clearing soil around valves and I use it when doing overall irrigation audits.

-Ever had any funny or unexpected things happen while working on the field?

2“ Water main break 30 minutes before first pitch! We had to turn off the main and redirect water to make sure the field was playable. After the game, we started digging and finally got the break fixed early the next morning and no games were affected.

-How do you handle the field after bad weather? 

Pump water from outfield, check drains, pull up wind screens, give it time.

-What’s something most people don’t realize goes into keeping a field looking good?

The amount of attention on a daily basis. Our team does an excellent job at assessing the field daily and keeping up with maintenance. Future planning for seasonal weather is also crucial.

-Which tasks take the longest or require the most patience? 

Replacing irrigation valves

-How do you work around team practices or games? 

Communication with the coaches and staff. Our crew is flexible and is great about covering weekends and late nights when needed. During the busy season, our athletics crew is putting in long hours. They are amazing!!!

-What’s one thing players or coaches do that makes your job easier? Harder?

They let us know when they will be off the field or out of town to give us time to water heavy after over-seeding etc. However, they sometimes like to get a practice in that we did not expect. Communication is key and I think we all do a good job.

-Is there anything you wish people understood better about field maintenance?

The cost. Supplies, labor, equipment maintenance can get pricey, but the result is worth it!

-What’s your favorite season for field work? Least favorite?

Favorite - Early summer. I love getting the water going heavy, doing audits and seeing the bermuda take over.

Least favorite - Winter.

-If you could upgrade anything about the field or equipment, what would it be?

Irrigation system. I’m always worried about all the breaks and repairs from over the years A new irrigation system would be nice!