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We want to introduce you to four graduate coaching and sport education students who gained valuable professional experience from coaching youth and college level athletes to coaching coaches. These hands-on learning opportunities allow graduate students to build their resumes while focusing and building on their primary career interests. Graduate students employ classroom learning to the field, while applying technique, psychology and administrative elements. Sport coaches must develop the essential skills and knowledge required to work with athletes in a variety of contexts across their lifetime.

Hometown: Killam, Alberta

Alfred “Al” F. Ware, a devoted West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences alumnus, died on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at the age of 93 after a short illness in Franklin, Tennessee.

Ware, of Rupert, and his late wife, Dolores “Dee” Ware, had an unwavering history of support for CPASS through their wide-ranging philanthropy and leadership roles.

Blake Costalupes is passionate about exploring mindfulness interventions within sport and exercise psychology, focusing on student-athletes’ goals to help them excel.

Costalupes’ research, “A Smartphone Mindfulness-based Intervention Pilot Study with Competitive High School Baseball Players,” was selected for publication of the special student edition of the Journal of Kinesiology and Wellness. 

The next WVU Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Sciences Virtual Town Hall Fall Series is Oct. 29, 12:30 p.m. The discussion will cover ‘Tips and Highlights from a Youth Sport Program Model that Works in WV.’ The focus will explore how a youth sport program can help grow program numbers, increase diversity and inclusion and support youth enjoyment and development.

Using the long-term athletic development (LTAD) concept, presenters will take a look at how the Mountaineer United Soccer Club's pre-academy program aligns with current guidelines and recommendations for best practices in youth sport as well as how they have designed and implemented the program.

A College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences alumnus credits his college mentors and active involvement in extracurricular activities as a student for his ongoing progress in the sports industry. Ryan Stamski, B.S., sport management, May ’20, is currently pursuing a career in player development in Major League Baseball. As he chases his dream career, he reflects on where his passions started. 

His interest in player development surfaced from his internship experience with the West Virginia Black Bears, where he worked closely with the Pirates’ player development staff. Stamski’s love for player development evolved during his student manager position with the West Virginia University baseball team. As an intern with the team, Stamski worked with many talented college athletes while gaining player development technology experience. 

The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences’ newest staff member is focused on making learning accessible and engaging for CPASS students. Michele Korgeski, from Dunmore, Pennsylvania, says when she joined the college, she immediately noticed that administration and faculty care and want to help each student thrive.  

“My goal is to provide a consistency in learning, so the student and instructor can focus on the content they are learning and succeed in their studies,” Korgeski said.

Meet five undergraduate sport management students who grabbed hands-on learning opportunities to build their resumes, an important step to gain direct professional experience in the sports industry. Internships help students stand out within the sports field while establishing a critical networking component on their pathway to a career in sports. Multiple assignments and settings help students zero in on their area of interest in the field.   

Hometown: Warrenton, VA

The COVID-19 pandemic has made physical activity for youth more important than ever—and a West Virginia University organization’s focus on providing opportunity, motivation and access for every child to play sports has been identified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Sciences at WVU, one of the first organizations to join the National Youth Sports Strategy Champion program, is part of a growing network to foster a lifelong love of sports and physical activity for youth.

This fall, the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Science will support coaches, sport leaders and families in West Virginia through the continuation of their free, online town hall event series. Each event will bring together a unique panel of sport and coaching leaders and experts to explore and discuss important sport science related topics that impact youth and scholastic athletes and sports.

The Center will host these free, live virtual meetings through Zoom on August 27, September 24, October 29, November 19 and December 17. The Center will post registration details for each event on the CACSS website . Recordings from spring events are available through the website.

COVID-19 has caused an upheaval in higher education. Nearly every aspect of academia has needed to reboot, including learning, teaching and anything related to travel. In planning for their fall conference, the National Strength and Conditioning Association is no exception.   

The 2020 Advanced Periodization Virtual Clinic was initially intended, even prior to the pandemic, to operate on a virtual platform, establishing the event as a unique national conference. Once COVID-19 affected travel, NSCA staff decided that, instead of the speakers flying to NSCA headquarters in Colorado Springs to film their presentations, they would send a representative to each of the speakers at their respective institutions.  

A West Virginia University alumna with two degrees has returned to campus to guide wellbeing efforts. Amy Sidwell, Community Health Education M.S. (2000) and Kinesiology-Physical Education Teacher Education Ph.D. (2009), is serving as the new director of the WVU Office of Health Promotion and Wellness.  

The office is dedicated to cultivating the well-being of the campus community by coordinating efforts between all well-being initiatives at WVU. The group is led by Dr. Tara Hulsey, vice president, Health Promotion and Wellness. 

Imagine receiving on-the-job experience at a West Virginia University Big 12 conference football game. Or how about having a working assignment at a WVU Women’s soccer match? Now, an innovative partnership will make it possible for College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences students to gain firsthand learning opportunities through internships with the West Virginia University Athletics department.

As a one-stop shop for your passion in sports, Mountaineer GOAL: Gaining Opportunities in Athletics Leadership Program, provides students with a jump start in the growing sports industry. According to Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal, in 2019 the North American sports industry will increase by nearly 3 percent for the third consecutive year to a record 73 billion U.S. dollars, as reported by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Two well-established and highly respected professionals within the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences will retire from their respective positions as of June 30, 2020. Carol Straight and Robin McKinney share the common threads of loyalty, reliability and commitment, as noted by their colleagues. Between the two, they represent more than 65 years of service with CPASS.   

“With the retirements of Robin McKinney and Carol Straight, CPASS is losing two long-term employees who have served the college extremely well for nearly 70 years total. Their positive influence and efforts have certainly helped CPASS continually evolve into a better college over the years. They have helped to create and maintain a great culture for students, staff and faculty. We are thankful to them for all they have done for the College and we will miss them greatly. We wish them happiness in the next phases of their lives,” said Jack Watson, dean and professor, CPASS.  

Damien Clement, acting dean, Honors College, and associate professor, Sport and Exercise Psychology/Athletic Training, College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, has received Fellow status in the Association of Applied Sport Psychology. AASP will announce Clement’s appointment to Fellow status during the 2020 AASP Annual Conference this October in Orlando, Florida.

“Damien Clement’s election to Fellow is a well-earned recognition of his contributions to AASP and to the field of sport psychology. As an AASP Fellow, Clement will vote on matters involving ethical principles, along with the group’s leaders who are committed to the support and stewardship of AASP,” said Sam Zizzi, Dr. Pat Fehl Endowed Professor and associate dean for research, CPASS.

A faculty member at West Virginia University has received national recognition for her work with students while promoting physical activity and wellness within West Virginia and across the country. 

Eloise Elliott, PhD was chosen as the 2020 Mentor of the Year by the Society of Health and Physical Educators of America. Elliott was to have received the award at the SHAPE America National Convention in Salt Lake City in April. Due to COVID-19, the conference was canceled, however, SHAPE has released a video honoring the award recipients.