PITT-BRADFORD TAKES ADVANTAGE OF NCAA PROGRAMMING
Through the leadership of Director of Athletics Bret Butler, Pitt-Bradford students and staff have been able to take advantage of NCAA programming to both kickstart careers for their students, and enhance the careers of current staff members and coaches.
Over the course of the past academic year, Pitt-Bradford has sent students to the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum, the NCAA Career in Sports Forum, and the NCAA Convention. Additionally, multiple coaches have had the chance to enhance their careers at the D3 Institute for Administrative Advancement and the Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) Program.
“It is an honor and a privilege to nominate our students and athletics staff for these wonderful opportunities," stated Butler. "It behooves me to assist when and where I can, to indirectly provide these rich experiences. I was afforded excellent guidance as a young, aspiring athletic professional, and I want to give back where I can. To whom much has been given – much is expected. The benefit we receive back as an industry will pay back one hundred-fold.”
NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum
Pitt-Bradford men's soccer player Will Smith and women's basketball player Katie Woolson attended the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in Indianapolis in April. Created in 1997, this event has served as a life-changing experience for more than 5,000 student-athletes who have grown personally and professionally as a result of their attendance. Student-athletes selected to attend the forum return to campus with invaluable leadership skills, a refined understanding of the relationship among personal values, core beliefs and behavioral styles, and the support of a close personal network of like-minded peers to provide continued connection and dialogue after the program concludes.
NCAA Career in Sports Forum
In April, UPB students Ty Bowen and Abdul Elola attended the NCAA Career in Sports Forum. This forum is an annual educational program that brings together 200 selected NCAA student-athletes to learn about and explore potential careers in sports, particularly college athletics. This unique three-day forum helps student-athletes chart their career paths. Participants network with and learn from current athletics professionals.
NCAA Convention
Ty Bowen and Abdul Elola also attended the NCAA Convention in Phoenix in January through the D3 Immersion Program. In 2015, at the recommendation of the Division III Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, the Division III governance staff and the NCAA Office of Inclusion partnered on a new program that brought 40 ethnic minority students to the NCAA Convention. The selected students are fully funded to attend the Convention, and they are exposed to Division III, its members and its governance process. In addition to the scheduled Division III programming, grant recipients receive DiSC training, and attend welcome and debrief meetings. The goal is to build a pipeline of talented ethnic minority candidates, with an interest in Division III coaching and/or administration, in an effort to ultimately diversify the division.
D3 Institute for Administrative Advancement
The Division III Institute for Administrative Advancement is a partnership between the NCAA and the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA). It seeks to provide professional development and networking opportunities for administrators from under-represented populations in Division III athletics.
The Institute’s primary purpose is to provide the selected participants with a unique experience to learn more about themselves as administrators, gain additional skills and tools to grow within their current roles and leave better prepared to advance into more senior administrative roles within Division III, if desired. Most importantly, participation in the Institute will encourage mentorship to the next generation of administrators and coaches of color who will consider Division III as their professional destination.
Pitt-Bradford head women's basketball coach Kaserra Owens, along with Mount Aloysius College head men's basketball coach Marcus Thomas, both attended the program this past spring.
"Having the opportunity to attend the D3 Institute for Administrative Advancement is something I am very grateful for and will allow me to continue to gain invaluable experience in my career, stated Owens. "I was able to gain unique skills and tools to grow within my current role as a head coach as well as dive deeper into understanding the roles and commitment of more senior administrative positions that I hope to be part of in the future. I am thankful for the people I was able to connect with and mentors I established."
Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) Program
Pitt-Bradford assistant athletics director, head softball coach and SWA Tina Phillips attended the SWA Program in October. The program’s goal is to provide professional development and networking opportunities for SWAs, in particular those seeking to become athletics directors and/or conference commissioners. Topics discussed will cover a variety of professional development topics that may include preparing your resume and cover letter for the athletics director search, networking, budgeting, positioning yourself to become an athletics director, the presidents perspective, working with and collaborating with athletics directors, and discussing the SWA’s current role and responsibilities.
"The SWA program is a great program coordinated by NCAA. It was a great learning experience for the evolving SWA program and position, leadership and role in our athletic department, stated Phillips. "It was an opportunity to hear from great speakers and to connect with other SWA’s in Division III and create a mentorship that is valuable. My class is a great resource in various areas."