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Finding career motivation comes in different places and times. Paul Downey discovered his vision during a special topics class with a focus on sport psychology.

“Upon learning about sport psychology and student-services, I knew that I wanted to work with top level student-athletes to help them achieve their goals,” said Downey

As a high school junior, Howard Ticker combined his passion for sports with an interest in business to guide his college selection process. Growing up, he had followed Mountaineer football, paying special attention to the Pat White Era, (former WVU quarterback who played all four seasons, 2005-2008, with the Mountaineers, becoming the first QB to finish 4-0 in bowl games, including two BCS wins in the 2006 Sugar and 2008 Fiesta Bowls).

Meanwhile, he liked the proximity from his home in Maryland to Morgantown. It was then that Ticker decided to attend West Virginia University to study sport management.

From learning in the class room to applying knowledge on the field, the WVU athletic coaching education program helps undergraduates acquire skills to compete in the coaching profession.

David Ferraro, assistant coach with the Wesley men’s lacrosse program, Dover, Delaware, says his athletic coaching degree from the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences helped him prepare for this position.

West Virginia University is home to about 28,000 students from all over the world. After earning undergraduate to graduate level degrees, WVU Mountaineers show their pride from around the globe. 

Julio Nakasato is one international student who is proud to be a Mountaineer, approximately 2,100 miles away in Panama. After earning his sport management master's degree (2016), Nakasato worked for Under Armour as a marketing manager in Peru and will now head to Panama as Under Armour’s Latin American brand marketing running manager.

Mt. Vernon, NY native Jared Bartee has found a new home in Washington state, working for the Seattle Mariners in client sales and service associates. The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences 2017 graduate earned two minors in business administration and communications to go along with his sports management major.

"With CPASS I was able to study in a great sport management program that is one of the top programs in the country. All while at a top D1 sports school, whose connections with the local minor league team helped me secure my first internship working in sports.," Bartee said.

Karin Torchia grew up as an army brat, moving every one to two years through junior high school. As she settled into new towns, she found that the best way to make friends was through sports.

"I was a tomboy; I loved playing every sport that I could. It was fun for me and it was something that I could do anywhere we lived," said Torchia.

A new city holds new adventures, which may be intimidating to most people but for West Virginia native Alyssa Johnston, it represented her career vision.

Johnston (SM 2018) took a chance and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where she landed a job with NBA Charlotte Hornets.

Since the 1970s the child obesity rate in the U.S. has nearly tripled, according to the Centers for Disease Control. As the rates climb, the importance of physical education for children becomes more and more critical.

As a teacher, Shannon Nash, physical education teacher education (BS 2009), realizes the need for leaving a lasting impression for a healthy and active lifestyle for every student.  

It’s been eight years since Joe Mazzulla helped lead the West Virginia University Mountaineers to the NCAA Final Four, and now he’s returning to the basketball court. Except this time, he is on the sideline as head coach for the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons men’s basketball team.

Mazzulla, from Johnston R.I, spent four years playing for Coach Bob Huggins, 2007-2010. During his time at WVU, he recounts one of his favorite memories with the team.

Maryland native Erik Schwarz says his internship experiences as a West Virginia University sport management student convinced him to take the Division I Athletics path.

“I was a student football equipment manager for five years. During my last year of school, I did an internship with the football administrator. Working with the Mountaineer football team from 1988-1992 was unbelievable experience,” Schwarz explained.