Latest News

Tyson Thompson, sport management MS 2010 graduate, was honored by a national tennis magazine for his contributions to the United States Tennis Association. Thompson is the USTA community program and training coordinator in North Carolina. 

Racquet Sports Industry magazine recently released their annual “30 Under Thirty” list recognizing members in the tennis community who are helping the industry grow.

Melissa Baus arrived at West Virginia University as a freshman with a few ideas, but no concrete plan for college.

“I was not quite sure what I wanted my major to be,” Baus said, “I knew I was very sports orientated and liked the field of teaching so I decided to enter into the PETE program.”

CPASS is honored to announce that Tyler Elvin, senior Sports Management major, has been elected to the 2013 Homecoming Court. Elvin is very active throughout campus participating in the American Red Cross Blood Drive and Trunk or Treat. He is a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, currently serving as president this year. Elvin serves on the Greek national board of governors. In the 2012-2013 school year Elvin was named Greek Man of the Year for his outstanding work in the Greek community. Elvin is an active member of Alpha Lambda Delta, College Republicans, Sport Management Club and Ski/Snowboard Club. Homecoming King and Queen will be announced on October 19 at half-time during the WVU football game against Texas Tech.

Jack Marucci, CPASS athletic training grad, and director of athletic training at Louisiana State University, was featured recently in USA Today about how his company, Marucci Bat Company, is rivaling the Louisville Slugger.

Jack Marucci’s hobby of making baseball bats in his backyard led him to start his company in 2002 to meet the demand of big league hitters. What no one knew was how successful the bats would become and that they would rival the infamous Louisville Slugger.

James C. Jenkins, a Physical Education Teaching Education graduate, has become a jet setter since earning his degree. Jenkins, certified in both physical education and mathematics, has been teaching internationally for nine years.

“I spent two years in Bangkok, Thailand, two years in Tel Aviv, Israel, and five years in Hong Kong,” Jenkins said.

Michael “Mickey” Bennett credits his education from the College for his success in landing a summer position with the Rec PAC Program in Fairfax County, Virginia. 

“I feel like I have been extremely prepared for my future with so many things the CPASS program has offered me. It goes beyond learning in the classroom,” said Bennett.

Michael Jackson, West Virginia University sports management major, recently completed a summer internship with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, a professional baseball team in the Atlantic League, Waldorf, Maryland.

Michael is a fifth year senior at WVU and transferred from Liberty University in 2011 where he played football. Jackson learned in November 2012 that he got the internship.

Justin Isberg, a 2013 graduate of the Physical Education Teacher Education program, will begin teaching full time at one of North Carolina’s top performing middle schools this month. Isberg interviewed with a variety of schools for physical education/health teacher positions and learned that thanks to the WVU PETE program, he stood out from the other candidates in many ways.

The WVU PETE program focuses on developing students into physical educators and has established itself as a national leader in physical education teacher training. The program has a unique approach to teaching skill analysis and by enabling students to gain hands-on experience; most graduates are generally employed as elementary or secondary health and/or physical education teachers and athletic coaches.

James Wyant, Physical Education Teaching Education Ph.D. graduate, has officially moved to California to begin his position as an assistant professor in the health, exercise and sports sciences department at University of Pacific in Stockton.

Wyant selected the College of Physical Activity and Sport Science’s doctoral program because of the unique opportunities and valuable experiences it offers to students.

Dr. Ryan Flett, assistant professor, Athletic Coaching Education, was recently awarded a grant from The Association for Applied Sport Psychology. The AASP grant will provide funding for a pilot study examining the perspectives of school decision makers in Monongalia County, such as athletic directors and higher-administration, regarding the role that student-athletes can have in reducing bullying and facilitating a positive school environment. 

Flett focused on positive youth development (PYD) through sport in underserved settings during his doctorate and hopes this study will be an effective pilot for an exciting line of research. Since beginning his work in the department of Coaching and Teaching Studies, his focus has shifted from youth development in underserved settings to PYD in the school setting.