Honorary coach program brings faculty to the locker room
Corazon Riley
Issue date: 12/7/06 Section: Sports
The honorary coach program is an opportunity for faculty to experience a college game firsthand. It provides a chance for professors and staff to see the life of a student athlete.
An honorary coach will participate in pre-game, halftime, and post-game meetings. Also they will be able to sit on the bench and experience the game up close.
This program is meant to help faculty relate to the student-athletes. Professors often don't have a chance to interact with their students outside the classroom and this program will allow them so see their students in their element.
Honorary coaches will be able to sit-in on men's and women's basketball games during their conference schedule.
Head women's coach Jessica Mazeau is optimistic about the impact that this program will have on the relationship between academics and athletics.
"I think that this program will help bridge the gap between the athletic department and academics," said Mazeau. "There isn't as much unity between the two as we would like, and hopefully this will help that."
Having a professor or faculty member on the bench and in the locker room during the game could be distracting. However, players aren't worried about losing focus.
"I think this is a unique way to help professors see their students in another light," said Grace Hartman. "I don't think it will be a distraction or take away from the intensity of our team during games.
"If anything, it may help because we want to show our commitment to our professors."
Men's player Ryan Cooper has mixed feelings about the program.
"When I heard about it, I thought it was a little strange to let a professor sit on the bench," said Cooper. "But I think it will help the staff understand that we spend a lot our time devoted to our sport and we take it seriously. A lot of our time is spent preparing for games so hopefully this will help them understand the demands of being a student-athlete."
An honorary coach will participate in pre-game, halftime, and post-game meetings. Also they will be able to sit on the bench and experience the game up close.
This program is meant to help faculty relate to the student-athletes. Professors often don't have a chance to interact with their students outside the classroom and this program will allow them so see their students in their element.
Honorary coaches will be able to sit-in on men's and women's basketball games during their conference schedule.
Head women's coach Jessica Mazeau is optimistic about the impact that this program will have on the relationship between academics and athletics.
"I think that this program will help bridge the gap between the athletic department and academics," said Mazeau. "There isn't as much unity between the two as we would like, and hopefully this will help that."
Having a professor or faculty member on the bench and in the locker room during the game could be distracting. However, players aren't worried about losing focus.
"I think this is a unique way to help professors see their students in another light," said Grace Hartman. "I don't think it will be a distraction or take away from the intensity of our team during games.
"If anything, it may help because we want to show our commitment to our professors."
Men's player Ryan Cooper has mixed feelings about the program.
"When I heard about it, I thought it was a little strange to let a professor sit on the bench," said Cooper. "But I think it will help the staff understand that we spend a lot our time devoted to our sport and we take it seriously. A lot of our time is spent preparing for games so hopefully this will help them understand the demands of being a student-athlete."
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