Molding a New Generation of Leaders: Building the Falcon Leadership Academy

Jan. 14, 2009

By Hannah Archer, BGSU Athletic Communications - During a time when professional and collegiate athletes are expected to be leaders and role models for peers and fans alike, some find the high expectations hard to live up to. The same roles apply to student-athletes at Bowling Green State University. At BGSU, student-athletes are expected to live up to the high expectations of leaders both on and off the playing field. To some, leadership is inherent, but to others it's a trait to be learned; to be mastered.

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The concept of leadership training for Falcon student-athletes was born out of sport program reviews in the spring of 2007. BGSU's coaches commented that while they had "good kids" on their teams, there seemed to be a lack of leadership skills among their seniors. It seemed that more needed to be done in order for leadership to impact the overall success of Falcon teams.

"A common theme from almost every coach was the desire to mold new leaders on their teams," said Director of Athletics Greg Christopher. "We all know the impact of strong leadership. What we needed to build was a road map to help our student-athletes grow."

So the Athletics senior administrative staff took action. After discussing a variety of ways to help coaches and student-athletes learn the basics of leadership, the end result was developing a student-athlete leadership course. The goal of this one-credit hour seminar class for student-athletes is to teach "rising sophomores" the fundamentals of leadership, enhance their effectiveness as student leaders, and assist them in realizing their own leadership style. This class would teach the best of the best, requiring each student to be nominated by their respective coaching staff.

Brian Moore of the BGSU hockey team talks about the Falcon Leadership Academy

In preparation for the implementation of this program much research and literature reviews were done. As part of their research, athletics administrators went to the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) in hopes of learning as much as possible about similar classes taught at other universities. In response to their inquiry, they received only a few modest examples of such classes but more than 60 requests for copies of the syllabus once the BGSU course was implemented. It became clear that leadership seminars for student-athletes were almost non-existent but were in high demand.

The administrative staff used a variety of resources and meetings to design this class in a few months time. The first class was taught in the spring of 2008. With 22 students, the goal of at least one student-athlete from each of the 18 sports, the instructors were pleasantly surprised at the student-athletes' `hunger-for-more' attitude towards the class. Student-athlete and class participant Brian Moore of men's ice hockey said, "All in all it showed that the Athletics Department is not just saying `18 sports, 1 team,' but they are actually living it out."

Each class lasted approximately two hours and consisted of detailed discussions and activities, rather than lectures and notes. Students were required to keep a journal about what they were learning both inside and outside the classroom, complete a written assignment, write a brief autobiography and complete a presentation for their classmates on how to take their team to the next level.

"The MAC is ultra-competitive on many levels," said Christopher. "So many of our institutions and even student-athletes are alike. This leadership focus and academy is something that sets BGSU apart."

What differentiates this course from all others is that it is designed in a way so the instructors can continue to work with the students for the rest of their college career (as part of the vision for a Falcon Leadership Academy). One way they planned to do this was to ask previous students to do a presentation for their coaches and teammates on how they think their team can be more successful. Also, in November, the course instructors will meet with the student-athletes from the first class to gain feedback that will help them make the second group a continued success for the next generation of rising sophomores.

Women's tennis player Christine Chiricosta said, "The practical skills taught in this course have given each of us student-athletes a better understanding of what it means to be a positive role model and an effective team leader. Fortunately for us, these new skills will aid us in achieving success for the rest of our lives."

Four instructors worked with this class to make it a success: Christopher; Janna Blais, Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator; Mary Ellen Gillespie, Assistant Athletics Director/Development; and Mark Shook, Assistant Athletics Director/Student-Athlete Services.

"Feedback from the student-athletes was positive, but it was also fulfilling from our end," added Shook. "This class isn't a short-term fix, but instead part of a long-term plan for BGSU Athletics."

The new class is the first step towards creating the Falcon Leadership Academy. Goals for the future include a meeting for all freshman student-athletes that will cover an introduction to values in decision-making as well as introductory leadership theory. In addition, the inaugural class will still meet regularly during their junior and senior years, in order to build upon the leadership experience they started in the introductory course.

Spring 2008 Class Roster
Barker, Robert - Men's Soccer
Bates, Carly - Track & Field
Bireline, Garrett - Men's Soccer
Bland, Samantha - Women's Soccer
Boso, Katelynn - Softball
Brewer, Amber - Gymnastics
Breske, Tara - Women's Basketball
Brown, Jahmal - Football
Chiricosta, Christine - Tennis
Clapper, Sarah - Women's Basketball
Forstein, Sabrina - Track & Field
Galvin, Mark - Baseball
Glew, Lauren - Women's Golf
Jakubowski, Joe - Men's Basketball
Kordan, Colleen - Women's Soccer
Luther, Shari - Volleyball
Meisler, Logan - Baseball
Mitchell, Bryan - Men's Golf
Moore, Brian - Ice Hockey
Page, Kyle - Ice Hockey
Pereira de Almeida, Andrea - Women's Cross Country
Polk, Otis - Men's Basketball
Richardson, Megan - Swimming & Diving
Sheehan, Tyler - Football

Spring 2009 Class Roster
Arney, Lindsay - Softball
Bader, Megan - Women's Golf
Bojicic, Benjamin - Football
Bowman, Melissa - Softball
Brown, Darnell - Men's Basketball
Burston, Sarah - Swimming & Diving
Ebling, Byard - Men's Soccer
Ehler, Jeffrey - Men's Cross Country
Fillmore, Kasey - Gymnastics
Fink, Tanner - Men's Soccer
Glew, Marisa - Women's Golf
Harper, Elizabeth - Swimming & Diving
Hennegan, Maggie - Women's Basketball
Hooten, Sarah - Tracy & Field
Kelsey, Megan - Women's Cross Country
Kintzel, Samantha - Tennis
Malewitz, Matt - Baseball
McNeal, Brittani - Track & Field
Podgornaya, Anna - Gymnastics
Powers, Barbara - Women's Cross Country
Schlater, Ryan - Baseball
Solway, David - Ice Hockey
Spitler, Noelle - Volleyball
Stephenson, Katie - Women's Soccer
Tiesling, Patrick - Ice Hockey
Torresso, Nick - Football
Uhl, Jennifer - Women's Basketball
Zlabis, Alex - Volleyball

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