Born and raised in Alcolu, Brian Mance grew up with a love of sports. A love that is instilled in him to this day.
A graduate from Manning High School, Mance played football, baseball and basketball.
He then attended Clemson University where he also played football. Mance then went to football camp with the Washington Redskins and played two seasons in the Arena Football League. Mance continued to impress fans with his exceptional talent and skill on the field.
Mance then tackled a new position transitioning to coaching roles. He took a player development role for head Coach Dabo Swinney. Later, he coached at North Greenville University and then joined the coaching staff at Wofford, under Head Coach Mike Ayers.
In 2016, Mance began having headaches. Two weeks after an emergency room visit, he was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease of the nervous system, Neurosarcoidosis.
This caused Mance to essentially become paralyzed. At this time, Mance was newly married to the love of his life, Torrun, and their son, Jaden, was a year and a half old.
“I don’t think anyone can make it through my situation without faith, that’s all I have and all I can hang on to,” said Mance. I know there’s more for me. That this isn’t it because I know where I come from. When this started, I couldn’t move my head from side to side. I couldn’t blink my eyes, could only drink water through a straw, couldn’t talk, couldn’t move anything, couldn’t even touch my face … to be where I am now, recently working out with Elmer Bench, doing leg presses, in therapy, getting stronger everyday. I know the sky’s the limit, I know I have to put in the work just like in anything else in life and I am up for it. Eight years, ten years, fifteen years, I am up for it. Because I don’t believe this is it.”
