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Coaching and Sport Education master's student Kanchana Paromita Venkatesh wanted to dive deeper into strength and conditioning coaching. She chose WVU because it integrated science with the art of coaching.

Coaching and Sport Education

Sarah Gould Wright, B.S. (1995) sport behavior, is all too familiar with the necessities and importance of developing resources needed to thrive. Originally from Cabot, VT, Wright has traveled up and down the east coast serving under-resourced individuals through her commitment to enhancing programs, policies and systems inclusive of these populations.

With her extensive expertise in coaching, leadership and student-development, Wright has directed projects for the greater good of innumerable organizations. Her background includes leading new initiatives and working diligently to transform “good” programs into “award winning” level ones.

As conversations regarding the profession of sport coaching and support of coaching as a profession continue to expand, the Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Studies in the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences is one of the first programs in the United States to support the academic preparation of potential coaches, coach educators and coaching directors.

Kristen Dieffenbach, associate professor, coaching and performance science, served as guest editor and key contributor for a special issue on sport coaching in the 32nd volume for the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, the official journal of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.

The outlook for the West Virginia University men’s lacrosse team this season is high. Coming off the team’s best season in school history, there are numerous expectations to look forward to in 2020.

No one may be more confident than junior defensemen Jake Purdy, who was recently named team president and co-captain for the upcoming campaign. Purdy, a native of Granville, OH, is an athletic coaching education major with a sport communication minor.  

A West Virginia University graduate has worked his way through the collegiate athletic administration ranks to reach the top leadership role at a respected New England university. Marcus Blossom, M.S. (2005) sport management, is the new director of intercollegiate athletics at College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Mass.

As announced last year, Blossom oversees the development of Holy Cross’ 27 NCAA Division I teams as members of the Patriot League, Atlantic Hockey Association and the Women’s Hockey East Association.

Three CPASS Sport and Exercise Psychology graduates share stories about how they landed positions in Southeastern Conference universities. They talk about their typical day at the office, why they chose WVU and how their CPASS degree has helped them succeed in the industry. Each one offers advice for students wanting to enter the field. Although their paths might be different, they share one thing in common. They are passionate about the people they met and family connection they created during their experience as Mountaineers.

Sport is a global phenomenon that transcends beyond what we see on the court, field or pitch. It is a driving force that connects individuals around the world. In an ongoing international partnership, Carla Tagliari, a doctoral student from Brazil, recently arrived on the West Virginia University campus to complete a short residency training at the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences.

Tagliari will work under the supervision of Dr. Gonzalo Bravo, CPASS associate professor in sport management, from the spring 2020 semester into the summer. During this time, she will continue working on her dissertation on perceptions of service quality of grassroots participants in southern Brazil.

Renowned specialists in the field of strength and conditioning and sport science will participate in the third annual National Strength and Conditioning Association West Virginia State Clinic, featuring speakers typically found on a national platform. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with industry professionals from a range of specialties.

The event, scheduled for April 3-4, 2020 on the West Virginia University campus, WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute Human Performance Innovation Center, will highlight cutting-edge research and application.

Chris Mann, B.S. (2002) sport management, serves as vice president of partnerships at Dignitas, a professional esports organization in Newark, N.J. He knows how to craft connections.

When Dignitas and Verizon announced the new state-of-the-art Esports practice facility, Verizon 5G Gaming Center in Los Angeles, Mann provided leadership and expertise to ensure that the initiative was solid.

Caitlyn Lyons, senior sport management student, will showcase her research at this year’s Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol, targeting the West Virginia Higher Education community and those in state government. Lyons, a Sparta, N.J., native, will present her study, Camp FeWI: Addressing the decline in female youth sport participation.

Lyons explains the importance of youth sport. “Being able to take part in this event means a lot. Every child deserves access to playing the sport they choose, yet across the country we are seeing a rapid decline in youth sport participation for various reasons.”

Steve Shelton’s interest in coaching and movement led him to major in health and physical education and pursue a career to merge these two interests. Now Shelton helps others earn a degree, while guiding them as educators. He credits faculty members in the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences master’s program for their leadership and expertise. Shelton pulled insight from that experience to ensure his success as an instructor. Since his time in the program, he has encouraged several Radford University graduates to enroll at WVU. He plans to continue this pattern. 

The College congratulates our outstanding group of December 2019 graduates for their many accomplishments throughout their student career, as we eagerly look forward to their future successes within their chosen field. Students credit their peers, faculty, staff and alumni for help and guidance in reaching this milestone, all while being a student-athlete, ambassador or volunteer. Students took advantage of internships, field trips, study abroad and mentorship opportunities. Others seized leadership roles as peer advisors. Some changed majors before they found their passion. Regardless of their paths, they all agree on one common thread. Get involved as you make WVU your home. 

Dancers often face the same difficulties in their training and performance as athletes: physical and mental barriers, including nerves, anxiety and self-doubt. While coaches and instructors work with their students through physical challenges, internal barriers can be tougher to overcome.

West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences alumnae Ashley Cranney (2016) and Chelsea Wooding (2014) have first-hand experience with these challenges. The book, “Every Count Matters: Mindset Training for Dancers,” utilizes their background in competitive dance and mental performance to reach dancers of all styles and skill levels.

An upcoming WVU Abroad trip will highlight the business facets of sport in Europe. Students participating in the summer 2020 study abroad adventure will visit Ireland, England and France.

Students will gain firsthand experience about the European sport model and club sports unique to Europe during the May 17-28, 2020 trip.

Students in the college’s sport and exercise psychology program are learning key concepts in the classroom with the help of digital media. As time and technology progress, faculty members are using different platforms to support networking in the sport industry. 

Dr. Scott Barnicle, teaching assistant professor and program coordinator, sport and exercise psychology, has played an instrumental role in the application of digital media within the classroom. Barnicle has applied a variety of techniques at WVU, including Skype, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.