Kacey Browning Field Maintenance

Page content

Kacey Browning
Field Maintenance

Kacey Browning, a junior majoring in sustainable plant systems, is a student assistant in athletic facility maintenance. While he helps maintain all the athletic fields for Ohio State’s teams, a major focus of his duties throughout the fall includes maintenance on the football team’s five practice fields at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and the turf at Ohio Stadium.
Gallery image 1
A normal football week for Browning and the facility maintenance team includes mowing the natural grass fields four times. “We replicate the practice fields as much as possible to an actual game because the team practices on it every day throughout the week.”
Gallery image 2
Because the natural grass is Kentucky Bluegrass mixed with Perennial Ryegrass, it often dents during practices which means Browning sands and seeds the field to level out divots. “It helps the grass grow back and mature, plus you don’t want anyone rolling an ankle. Player safety is our main goal and everything we do supports that.”
Gallery image 3

Kacey Browning, a junior majoring in sustainable plant systems, is a student assistant in athletic facility maintenance. While he helps maintain all the athletic fields for Ohio State’s teams, a major focus of his duties throughout the fall includes maintenance on the football team’s five practice fields at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and the turf at Ohio Stadium.

A normal football week for Browning and the facility maintenance team includes mowing the natural grass fields four times. “We replicate the practice fields as much as possible to an actual game because the team practices on it every day throughout the week.”

Because the natural grass is Kentucky Bluegrass mixed with Perennial Ryegrass, it often dents during practices which means Browning sands and seeds the field to level out divots. “It helps the grass grow back and mature, plus you don’t want anyone rolling an ankle. Player safety is our main goal and everything we do supports that.”

Major: Sustainable Plant Systems

Job: Student Assistant, Athletic Maintenance

If you’ve ever attended an Ohio State football game, you’ve probably felt that initial awe of seeing the pristine field. Now, pretend that’s your office.

For Kacey Browning, that’s reality. The Ohio State junior helps maintain the Ohio Stadium turf and the five football practice fields at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

“It’s a dream job,” said Browning, who also helps maintain practice and playing fields for other Ohio State teams. “I grew up in Columbus and went to many football games. I’d look out on that field and think, wow, maybe someday I’ll work on that. That someday is here.”

And for a student who hopes to oversee athletic field maintenance for a university or team one day, it’s the perfect experience. Under the guidance of Brian Gimbel, athletic grounds superintendent, Browning is learning the science and routine of maintaining both grass and turf fields. That includes everything from painting and cleaning to seeding and impact testing — and plenty in between.

“Player safety is our main goal,” said Browning, who has also been a field maintenance intern with the Columbus Clippers and plans to work on a golf course this summer. “I’ve learned a lot more here at Ohio State than I would have anywhere else.”