College Coaches Research Articles

“Suck it up, go play”: Mental health stigma in college coaches and their use of mental illness microaggressions

Objective: This study explored the extent to which college athletic coaches endorse mental illness microaggressions toward their student-athletes and the importance of mental toughness in sports, and how these impact support for help-seeking among student-athletes. Methods: Fifty-eight coaches at Northeastern U.S. colleges in the National Collegiate Athletic Association completed an online survey, including measures of mental illness microaggressions, mental toughness, and questions about vignettes portraying scenarios with a physically injured athlete and an athlete with anxiety. Results: Multivariate analyses revealed that endorsement of mental illness microaggressions was negatively related to willingness to refer an athlete with anxiety to counseling services and positively related to willingness to allow a physically injured athlete to return to play. However, mental toughness was not predictive of microaggressions or vignette responses. Conclusions: Endorsement of mental illness microaggressions appears to be related to how coaches respond to athletes experiencing a mental health issue or physical injury.

Experimental Estimates of College Coaching on Postsecondary Reenrollment

Abstract College attendance has increased significantly over the last few decades, but dropout rates remain high, with fewer than half of all adults ultimately obtaining a postsecondary credential. This project investigates whether one-on-one college coaching improves college attendance and completion outcomes for former income state aid recipients identified as low- and middle-income who attended college but left prior to earning a degree. We conducted a randomized control trial with approximately 8,000 former students in their early to mid 20s. Half of the participants assigned to the treatment group were offered the opportunity to receive coaching services from InsideTrack, with all communication done remotely via phone or video. Intent-to-treat analyses based on assignment to coaching show no impacts on college enrollment and we can rule out effects larger than a 2 percentage point (5 percent) increase in subsequent Fall enrollment.

Exploring the Multidimensional Model of Leadership Through the Lens of Coaches: An Examination of the Relationship Between Personality, Leader Behaviors, and the Coach–Athlete Relationship

The Multidimensional Model of Leadership hypothesizes that leader personality characteristics impact leader behaviors, which in turn influence collective and individual outcomes. While the Multidimensional Model of Leadership has received substantial research attention over the past four decades, the full hypothesis including antecedents, throughputs, and outputs has rarely been tested in one study. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to test the relationship between adaptive and maladaptive personality characteristics (i.e., perfectionism and passion), leader behaviors, and the coach–athlete relationship in college coaches. National Collegiate Athletic Association coaches (N = 380) completed the Sport Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale-2, the Passion Scale, the Leadership Scale for Sports, and the Coach–Athlete Relationship Questionnaire. Structural equation modeling revealed that perfectionism and passion accounted for 65% of the variance for leader behaviors. Specifically, adaptive dimensions of perfectionism and passion positively predicted leader behaviors, whereas maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism negatively predicted leader behaviors. Furthermore, leader behaviors explained over half the variance of the coach–athlete relationship. The results provide support for the Multidimensional Model of Leadership from the perspective of sport coaches. Applied implications for coaches and sport psychology practitioners are discussed.

Experimental Estimates of College Coaching on Postsecondary Re-Enrollment

Experimental Estimates of College Coaching on Postsecondary Re-Enrollment

Experimental Estimates of College Coaching on Postsecondary Re-Enrollment

Experimental Estimates of College Coaching on Postsecondary Re-Enrollment

Impact of turning points and transitions on work and family orientations: insights from collegiate coaches

ABSTRACT Research Question The purpose of this study was to: (1) identify the kinds of transitions and turning points college coaches experience (particularly normative vs non-normative), (2) examine how various transitions and turning points in individual lives influence work orientations, and (3) examine how work orientations, transitions, and turning points impact individual work and life outcomes. Research Methods This study utilized in depth interviews with 30 head college coaches from the United States. The sample consisted of 12 women and 18 men who were 35 years or older and had several years’ experience coaching. Results and Findings Expected and unexpected transitions came from a variety of situations. Coaches discussed coping strategies for managing expected transitions, and the challenges of unexpected transitions, which at times also became turning points that changed work orientations. Several coaches adopted a stronger calling work orientation, while others became more job oriented, however none of the coaches became more career oriented. Also, turning points influenced coaches’ level of family engagement, often increasing family involvement. None of the coaches reported reducing family involvement following a life turning point. Implications These findings help sport administrators to understand the importance of being in tune with their coaches and realizing the influence of life transitions and turning points. These findings also provide needed theoretical insight and understanding about coaches’ lived experiences of transitions and turning points, and their impacts on orientations toward work and family.

NITEO: an innovative mental health and education program designed to reengage students with mental health conditions in college

Objective: The prevalence of mental health symptoms on university campuses is high and rising, resulting in detrimental effects on academic performance. Few resources exist to address the needs of students who must leave school for mental health reasons. Participants: Seeking to understand the effect of a college reentry program (NITEO) to assist students in reengaging with undergraduate studies, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with all college coaches (N = 5), triangulating our findings with interviews of NITEO students (N = 31). Methods: We used a rapid and focused ethnographic approach with thematic and content analysis using NVivo software. Results: Two major themes arose from our analyses affirming the role of the college coach in (1) developing a strong working alliance as a foundation for coaching; (2) promoting self-determination. Conclusions: Programs that enable students with mental health conditions who have dropped out to reenter college are needed; college coaching can be an effective approach.

A-50 A Review of the Dangers of Misdiagnosing Concussions as Depression

Abstract Purpose Underrepresentation of concussion diagnoses is of increasing concern for the health and wellbeing of young athletes. Similarly, there is increased attention on the mental health of student athletes. Less addressed, however, is potential for misdiagnosis between these concerns. This literature review explains the underpinnings of the potential misinterpretation of concussion symptoms under the guise of depression. Methods Peer reviewed studies published within the last 25 years were included in this review. Specific statistics referring to current high school and collegiate athletes included peer reviewed articles from 2020-2023. Results Depression and concussions are correlated, further, experiencing TBI and concussion puts an individual at increased risk for developing depression. Additionally, many symptoms of concussion overlap with diagnostic criteria for depression such as: fatigue, suicidal ideation, anhedonia, sleep difficulties, and low mood. The risk of misdiagnosis of depression in concussed athletes is apparent. However, no known study has demonstrated the rate of this misdiagnosis. Treatment for concussion recovery and depression management is fundamentally different, which calls for accurate differentiation between the occurrence of depressive symptoms and head trauma induced symptoms. Conclusions Future research regarding affordable and accessible methods to differentiate depression from concussion will help reduce the chances of misdiagnosis. Understanding the considerable overlap in symptomatology and importance of recognizing both concussion when it occurs as well as depression is essential for individuals working with student athletes. Improved education for high school and college coaches and athletes, along with clinicians and physicians is a key component in this change.

Transition Game: WNBA All‐Star Builds Her Place in College Coaching

Transition Game: WNBA All‐Star Builds Her Place in College Coaching

Mothers as Others in Collegiate Athletic Departments: The Impact of a Gendered Organization on Women Coaches

Work–life conflict and the underrepresentation of women in college coaching have been widely examined topics in sport research. However, more limited attention has been devoted to exploring the influence of parental status on the careers of coaches. The purpose of the study was to understand the experiences of women who voluntarily left the coaching profession because of its perceived incompatibility with motherhood. Utilizing Acker’s Theory of Gendered Organizations framework, the current study interviewed six former National Collegiate Athletic Association women coaches whose collegiate coaching careers ended prematurely due to the difficulty in balancing parental and professional responsibilities. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, three high-order themes were constructed: (a) no space for women; (b) getting out, wanting to be in; and (c) impact of gendered society. Findings indicate that women coaches with children experience unique barriers and challenges, which can ultimately lead to women exiting the college coaching profession. Findings dispel the myth that women “don’t want to coach” and implicate the compounding stress of gender roles in the family and broader society.

Pembinaan Prestasi Atlet Pencak Silat Se-Kabupaten Rembang

In general, the development of achievement has not been in accordance with the results obtained, which are not as expected. The problem in this research is that the achievements of the pencak silat athletes in Rembang Regency have not been as expected because the training has not been clearly programmed and structured. The purpose of this study was to determine the achievement development of pencak silat athletes in Rembang Regency. This research method uses descriptive qualitative with methods of observation, interviews and documentation. The research sources consist of 1 chairman of the National Association, 1 chairman of IPSI, 3 college coaches and 15 athletes from 3 different colleges. This research was conducted in Rembang Regency, the data analysis technique used was data triangulation, data analysis, data reduction, data presentation and conclusions drawn. The results showed that (1) the stages of coaching: massing was carried out if the admission of new students to school was through the mass media, the nursery was carried out with a match test as a benchmark for the recruitment of athletes, the achievement strategy was implemented with special training, (2) there was a training program but it was not written down. , (3) the condition of the athletes is not appropriate, (4) the existing facilities still need updating and additions, (5) the research has not been running as it should, (6) the competition conducts try outs and try ins (7) the organization is managed by members of each college the chosen ones, (8) the existing funds at IPSI are obtained from sponsored KONI and college fees under the auspices of Ipsi, for colleges it comes from membership fees and schools that have pencak silat colleges under the auspices of IPSI. The conclusion of this research is that the development of pencak silat achievement in Rembang Regency does not work as expected or the system implemented has not given the desired results. Suggestions that can be given (1) for fighters in Rembang Regency to pay more attention to the pattern of coaching that has been running so that the objectives of the coaching are obtained maximally, (2) the pencak silat coach to always learn new things in order to add knowledge so that it can be applied to his athletes, (3) the Pencak silat college of Rembang Regency to add more existing facilities to facilitate the athlete coaching process.

Practical Recommendations for Transitioning from Student-Athlete to College Coach and Implications of Covid-19

Attaining a first collegiate coaching position as a former student-athlete can be overwhelming, tedious, and intimidating. After candidates apply for a particular coaching position, interviews usually follow. Even though there is some literature addressing early academic career positions, there is little research regarding student-athletes securing an initial college coaching position. Additionally, literature regarding best practices for college athletic coaches moving from one academic institution to another is also limited. This article provides recommendations for candidates pursuing their initial college coaching position and securing further college coaching positions. Although this article focuses on early career college coaching positions, most of these recommendations can be applied to any coach early on in their career. This article incorporates personal experiences, athletic search committee evaluations, athletic administrator feedback, faculty input, Title VII regulations, Title IX regulations, marginalized communities’ implications of Covid-19, as well as recommendations for the resume, interview process, and negotiation of contracts. These important components are associated with attaining a college coaching position.

Sports Nutrition Knowledge and Disordered Eating Attitudes of College Coaches and Athletic Trainers

Participants will be able to understand the relationship between the sports nutrition knowledge and attitudes towards disordered eating in athletes for coaches and athletic trainers at Division III universities.

What if I had made a different decision? Experienced regrets of college coaches

ABSTRACT Regret is a negative emotion elicited by thoughts that different actions or inactions would have yielded better outcomes. Although experienced feelings of regret can have negative consequences, anticipated regrets may positively impact decision-making. Coaches make numerous decisions daily, yet there is a dearth of information related to coaches and regret. Coaches’ emotions are commonly neglected in sports literature. To fill that gap, the current study explored experienced regrets of college coaches. Coaches were emailed an electronic survey. A total of 125 male and female coaches from a variety of sports responded, and 83.2% admitted having regrets. All regrets were content analysed, revealing three major themes: (a) sport-specific decisions, (b) coach-athlete interactions, and (c) personal. Current findings provide initial insights into college coaches’ regrets, and the researchers provide suggestions for minimising similar regrets among future coaches.

Improving Assessment Strategies and Culture through College Collaboration and Coaching

Improving Assessment Strategies and Culture through College Collaboration and Coaching

The Transition of an Applied Sport Psychology Training Program at a U.S. University From a Face-to-Face to a Virtual Mode: An Autoethnographic Case Study

We studied the transition of an applied sport psychology training program at a public U.S. university from a face-to-face mode to a virtual mode in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to identify challenges of this transition for supervisors and student consultants and best practices for virtual consultancy. This autoethnographic case study involved interviews with three program supervisors, ten student consultants, and one college coach. We also examined researcher observations and lived experiences during the transition. A blended ethnographic and codebook thematic analysis was undertaken. We identified two superordinate challenges: (a) program challenges and (b) consulting challenges. We also identified three superordinate best practices: (a) supervisor best practices, (b) student consultant best practices, and (c) best practices in sport psychology delivery. These findings can usefully inform efforts by individual consultants and applied programs at universities to adopt virtual modes of consultancy.

Deontic Fallacies and the Arguments against Conscientious Objections

AbstractThe respect for one’s conscience is rooted in a broader respect for the human person. The conscience represents a person’s ability to identify the values and goods that inform her moral identity. Ignoring or overriding a person’s conscience can lead to significant moral and emotional distress. Refusals to respect a person’s conscientious objection to cases of killing are a source of incisive distress, since judgments that it is impermissible to kill so-and-so are typically held very strongly and serve as central moral commitments in one’s moral identity. I think it is wrong for a college basketball coach to pay his players, but I think it is really wrong to kill people. This article argues that any and all arguments for not respecting a conscientious objection to abortion commit a deontic fallacy. Briefly, arguments for the permissibility of abortion are structurally such that abortion is at best permissible, not obligatory. Now, arguments to justify overriding or ignoring a person’s objection to performing action (α) must understand action (α) as being obligatory. Thus, arguments for ignoring conscientious objections to performing abortion are incongruent with the actual philosophical justifications for abortion. Such arguments, then, commit a deontic fallacy.

“This is Our Family”: LGBTQ Family Narratives in Online NCAA D-I Coaching Biographies

ABSTRACT Intercollegiate sport in the US is known to be heteronormative, heterosexist, and often an unwelcoming space for LGBTQ individuals, including coaches. A decade ago, scholars documented the scarcity of LGBTQ family narratives in online coaching biographies on athletics Web sites. In the years following, a socio-cultural and legal shift occurred pertaining to LGBTQ rights and visibility in the US. This study extends and replicates Calhoun et al.’s research by examining family narratives of a sample of all NCAA Division-I head coaches of women’s teams (N = 3601). Data collected in 2018 as part of the annual Women in College Coaching Report Card™ illustrated despite socio-cultural changes, very few (n = 18, .05%) online biographies included a same-sex family narratives—all were women. Eleven of the 18 head coaches were interviewed, and Erving Goffman’s work was employed to theoretically ascertain why and how these women managed identities, stigma, enacted power, and performed character, namely courage. Implications and future research are offered.

Student, Faculty, and Coach Perspectives on Why Athletes Excel in Medical School: A Qualitative Analysis

Phenomenon Medical schools are tasked with selecting applicants who will excel in a rigorous curriculum and successfully perform as future physicians. While many studies have assessed quantitative prematriculation data for predicting success in medical school, fewer studies have assessed for qualitative prematriculation factors influencing medical school performance. A recent study revealed that medical students with at least one year of varsity level college athletics participation outperformed their peers on United States Medical Licensing board exams and clinical clerkships. The current study sought to explore medical student, medical school faculty, and college coach perspectives about factors explaining why medical students with collegiate athletic experience succeed in medical school. Approach: In 2019, the authors conducted semi-structured interviews with medical students with collegiate athletic experience, medical school faculty with experience educating student athletes, and college coaches with experience training student athletes who matriculated into medical school. The interview transcripts were systematically coded and analyzed for themes using a grounded theory approach. Participants were recruited and interviewed until saturation of data was reached. Findings: Fifteen medical students with collegiate athletic experience, five medical school faculty, and three collegiate coaches participated in the study. Six themes were identified as important factors explaining the academic success of these students in medical school and each of these themes appeared in student, faculty, and coach interviews: goal setting, goal pursuit, and performance appraisal; development of time management, planning, and organizational skills; development of team values and teamwork skills; development of communication and interpersonal skills; acceptance of, coping strategies for, and resilient response to stress and adversity; and prioritization of personal wellness. Participants described meaningful connections between these attributes and skills, suggesting the students’ development, transfer, and application of them is interrelated. Insights: In this study, academic success of medical students with collegiate athletic experience was attributed to specific skills and attributes developed during college. The grounded theory life skills transfer model can explain transfer of these attributes and skills from college to the medical school setting. Theoretical frameworks and empirical study findings from the sociology, educational psychology, sports psychology, and medical education literature provide helpful lenses for understanding why these skills and attributes confer success among student athletes in medical school. These findings offer important insights on skill development that may support the academic success of all medical students.

Posh Pipeline: Gaining College Admission at Any Cost

The President of prestigious Beacon University is dealing with a nationwide scandal involving its admissions and athletics operations. For years, a network of corrupt admissions consultants, standardized test proctors, and college coaches operated a lucrative underground pipeline into top universities, and it has recently infiltrated Beacon. Under the piercing scrutiny of global media attention, the President must develop a strategy to lead Beacon University through the turbulence caused by an FBI investigation and criminal prosecutions associated with the scandal.