Latest News

A  West Virginia University  College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences faculty member will lead the new Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Sciences (CACSS). CPASS athletic coaching education faculty member Kristen Dieffenbach  will serve as director of the facility.

CACSS focuses on projects designed to improve the work of those who coach, train coaches, and conduct and support research related to coaching and coach development. The Center highlights projects that promote multiple aspects of applied coaching science simultaneously.

A local community outreach program combines physical activity and education while teaching responsible behavior and self esteem and encouraging lifelong friendships. The popular summer program promotes a healthy outlook toward an active lifestyle.

Young campers learn the value and benefits of proper nutrition, good health practices and the importance of having a well balanced lifestyle.Hosted by the WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, the program helps kids improve physical fitness through sports. NYSP blends a strong educational focus, including sessions about career guidance, personal safety and community service.

Brooke Towner and Cory Breithoff, CPASS graduate students, have been selected to participate in the West Virginia Inaugural Summer Policy Institute 2016. The WV Center on Budget and Policy will host the gathering on the West Virginia Wesleyan College campus, July 29-31.

This program will allow students from accredited universities across the state to come together and learn about critical West Virginia specific policy issues. 

A team of CPASS faculty members will lead an effort to study the moral, political, social and applied behavior aspects related to sports ethics.

The Russell “Bud” Bolton Center for Sports Ethics will enhance offerings in athletic coaching education, sport management and sport and exercise psychology programs. The center will promote the use of specialized lectures, case studies, guest speakers and research related to the topics of ethics in sports as integral parts of the courses in each of the programs.

Scott Barnicle, Ph.D., will join the CPASS faculty in August as the new teaching assistant professor for the sport and exercise psychology program. Barnicle earned his Ph.D. in sport and exercise psychology from the University of Idaho. Since graduation, he has worked with the military and collegiate athletic teams focusing on performance enhancement. Most recently, Barnicle has simultaneously served as an adjunct instructor at several institutions.

Barnicle feels that sport and exercise psychology is especially important to society. “Sport and exercise psychology has the ability to benefit and shape multiple aspects of our lives,” Barnicle said.

Kibum Cho, a graduate student in the CPASS Coaching and Teaching Studies program, was awarded a 2016 SHAPE America Research Council grant. The Committee selected Cho’s grant proposal titled: Exploring Appalachian Guardians’ Opt-In and Out Decisions of Children School-Based Health Screenings and awarded Cho $2,215 in funding.

The grant recognizes an elite group of students. “This is a competitive process that funds five to six awards to doctoral students nationwide per year,” explained Emily Jones, assistant professor, Physical Education Teacher Education.

Alyxis Harper, SEP undergraduate student, received the Women of WVU Enrichment Fund scholarship on May 27, 2016.

Originally from Ashburn, VA, Harper is currently pursuing a BS degree in sports and exercise psychology, while minoring in strength and conditioning. Harper will graduate in December of this year.

Three projects, two months, one eye-opening opportunity. For Manon Eluère, her overseas internship experience at CPASS this summer will offer partnerships and a new perspective in her academic studies.

A scholar from Rennes, France, Eluère, 22, is studying at the Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Sciences this summer to further her research on sport psychology and coaching education. Eluère is spending seven weeks at CPASS, between June 6 and July 22.

A  West Virginia University faculty member has been selected to join an elite group of international coaching experts to create a network of coach developers across the world.

Kristen Dieffenbach, associate professor in WVU’s  College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences  athletic coaching education program, has been selected into the Nippon Sport Science University Coach Developer Academy as part of the Japanese government’s Sport for Tomorrow program. As a fully funded initiative leading up to the 2020 Olympics to be hosted by Japan, the program targets athletes, coaches and coach developers.

A favorite expression among  West Virginia University alumni are words to live by for a College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences graduate. The sentiment, “Once a Mountaineer, always a Mountaineer,” lands close to the heart for CPASS grad James Higginbotham and has led him to establish a new scholarship for the College.

Higginbotham is quick to credit his experiences as a WVU student as the “best four years of my life. The friends that I made almost 50 years ago in Morgantown remain as my closest companions today,” Higginbotham said.

The National Inclusion Project has once again partnered with West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences to continue a program designed to break down barriers between those living with disabilities and those without through one simple, yet powerful, everyday activity — play.

The continuing partnership will support training for instructors and student mentors in Lifetime Activities programs including the WVU National Youth Sports Program, swim lessons, and gymnastics classes.

Every spring semester, juniors and seniors majoring in sport management are required to take Leadership in Sport Organizations SM 350. In this course students get the opportunity to learn and discuss the basic tenets of leadership theory and its application to sport.

Last spring, Dr. Gonzalo Bravo, associate professor and course instructor, decided to go beyond the books and invite industry front-runners to the classroom to discuss their perspectives on leadership in various fields such as community development, collegiate athletics, outdoors expeditions and higher education administration. From February to April, five high profile heads visited CPASS and provided students with various perspectives of how direction occurs in and outside the domain of sport.

College of Physical Activity and Sport Science’s Honor’s College student Brady Nolan. Brady has earned significant recognition during his career as a student. Nolan’s awards were a result of passion to excel and hard work.

Nolan is a senior athletic coaching education major. He was named a 2015 WVU Foundation Outstanding Senior and selected as 2015 Mr. Mountaineer, served as a New Student Orientation leader and as a member of the Mountaineer Marching Band for three years. Nolan was named as the alternate Mountaineer Mascot for 2014-2015. He was sponsored by the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences.

Multiple Sport and Exercise Psychology current and former graduate students have recently received academic-based recognition, career offers and interviews for competitive positions.

“These SEP graduate students have done a fantastic job and worked very hard for all these opportunities. I’m impressed with their amazing accomplishments,” said Sam Zizzi, professor, SEP.

A desire to repay West Virginia University for positive experiences has led Steve Hyer to establish a new endowment for the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences that will provide scholarships for CPASS students.

“This gift offers excellent opportunities for our students. The funds fill an ongoing need at CPASS as we expand our programs and learning experiences for students,” said Dana D. Brooks, CPASS dean and professor of Physical Education.