College Conference Shakeups

This summer the college sports world was turned upside down as major institutions and conferences played a few rounds of musical chairs.

Everywhere you looked, there were rumors of what school would go where and why.  The majority of the switches, proposed changes, and general hot-stove discussions were about money and power.  Schools and conference were attempting to position themselves best for financial success (primarily).

In these economic times, financial stability is not only a viable concern, but it is also reality.  To me, the panic was understandable as individuals tried to ensure the best situation for their institutions.

How much does this really have to do with Goshen College Athletics and the Mid-Central College Conference (MCC)?  After all, there are no 100,000 fan football games and multi-million dollar television deals.

The answer may surprise you.

Over the course of the last few years, more and more "small" colleges have been examining the position of their athletic programs.  While economic feasibility certainly weighs into the discussion, the more common themes have revolved around the question, "Where do we fit?"

Where do we fit academically? Where do we fit competitively?  What are the goals of our athletic program?  What can we say about our student-athletes experience?  What do we hope to say about it?  Where do we fit in terms of mission (spiritually)?

All that brings us to the current state of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) and the the MCC.  Each year for the past few (or more) a number of programs are leaving the NAIA and a number are newly accepted into the organization.  As recent as two years ago, the NAIA and NCAA looked at potential partnerships that would help NAIA programs answer the above questions without choosing to make significant changes.

Since adding Spring Arbor University to the conference in 2004, the MCC has always had at least a little interest in finding a 10th team.  The debate has always come back to the "right fit."

Later this week (Nov. 10), the nine institutional president's of the MCC will decide if we have indeed have found that fit.  Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Ohio) officially applied for membership to the conference and over the last few months president's have been gathering the pertinent facts as well as feedback from athletic departments.

From the MCC Procedures Manual:
"Membership in the MCC shall be at minimum a four year liberal arts college or university that embodies the fundamental characteristics of NAIA Champions of Character program.  Given the history of the original MCC membership, institutions with similar faith-based traditions will discover a unique affinity with the conference. Institutions of interest shall be entities of similar size, have a traditional undergraduate residential program, educational philosophy, and athletic philosophy and are geographically acceptable; defined as institutions that are located within 240 miles or less travel distance from the average distance of all current MCC institutions combined."

With that in the forefront, here are some possible reasons for accepting MVNU's application:

• 10th team gives some sports second automatic bid to national tournaments
• They are a fit academically, in size, and in faith-tradition
• They have a strong athletic tradition and history of success like the other members of the MCC
• They need a place to go.  Their current conference (American Mideast) has been disbanding as institutions have made different decisions based on answers to the question of where they fit today and for the future.

Some potential reasons opposing accepting MVNU's application:

• The distance: Mount Vernon, Ohio would add a trip of up to five hours for conference schools.
• The cost: Adding a trip of that distance could affect budgets
• The need: In most MCC sports, more than one program already makes the national tournament field via at-large berths.  Would adding another strong competitor limit opportunities for current members?  Is the need for a 10th team really there?

Those lists are in no way meant to be complete and exhaustive.  The school presidents have their own lists of pros and cons.  Let me assure you, that unlike the Big 10/ Big 12 shakeups, they are not entirely financially based.  Once again, it goes back to questions of who we are (as conference and as individual institutions), what we want to become, and how this move would benefit or hinder those decisions.

We will find out in the coming days if Mount Vernon Nazarene University will become the 10th member of the Mid-Central College Conference.  Opinions aside, trust that the presidents of nine outstanding institutions will make the best decision for everyone involved and not just for No. 1.

I do.

If MVNU were to be accepted, they should count themselves fortunate to be part of associations (NAIA and MCC) with quality institutions (academically and missionally).  We all should count ourselves fortunate for the situation we are in as athletic departments.  The MCC is among the best in the nation.

Coaching Philosophies

As a Sports Information Director it is sometimes easy to get wrapped up in the to-do list, the everyday tasks dealing with wins and losses, or the statistical achievements of our teams. 

Over the past week I have gotten the tremendous opportunity to sit down with several of our fall coaches and talk to them about their coaching philosophy.  Segments of those interviews will soon be available as part of our revolutionary new video sport guides.  I can't wait for you to get a glimpse of these guides, but in the meantime I wanted to give you a preview of some our coaches philosophies and why I am so impressed and honored to work with some of the best in the business.

Sports – even at the college level – can be as cutthroat of a business as any other.  The only thing that tends to matter is wins, losses, and money.

I am comforted by the fact that we have coaches that care deeply about winning, but care even more about being "successful" in the long-term project of developing young men and women of character who will impact future generations positively.

Here is some evidence of that:

"The most important thing for me is 10-15 years down the line, what kind of doctor, lawyer, teacher they are going to become.  In the end the X's and O's of the games are important, but not near as important as what they become later in life." - men's soccer coach Tavi Mounsithirj

"Our life journeys often times teach us so many things.  I always viewed my coaching as an opportunity to share my testimony with players and to truly find a way to define God to the world." - women's soccer coach Thavisith Mounsithiraj

"My favorite part is the interaction with the kids.  Win or lose, the interaction of watching the players come in and get better, learn to work as a team, and then see an end result is what I enjoy." - volleyball coach Jim Routhier.

Look for more on these coaching philosophies in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, look for the wins and the losses to matter, but count on the lessons learned from both to be the most important thing 10-15 years down the line.

An Introduction

The job of a Sports Information Director is one that changes often and requires the ability to adapt quickly to a variety of tasks.  In part due to the variety of roles I play, I often get the chance to hear stories of successes as well as struggles from coaches and student-athletes. While some of these instances or events make it into game recaps and feature stories, I often struggle with the fact that so many go untold.  Whether they are small notes or personal stories, they often provide me with a behind the scenes look at what is happening with our student-athletes and staff and how this great world of Goshen College Athletics is changing lives.  I hope that this blog can fill some of those gaps and tell some of those stories.  I hope you enjoy!


I original started this concept of writing during the 2009-10 academic year as a test run for the idea.  I have included several posts from that time to start this blog.  Thanks for reading!

Multi-Sport Athletes, WOW!

I like bragging about the tremendous student-athletes we have here at Goshen College and not just because it is my job.  I like doing it, simply because they often amaze me and they deserve more recognition than they get.

Today’s group of choice is the multi-sport athlete.  Let me start by saying that in high school I was a four-sport letterman – although one year of varsity basketball and a quick dip in golf barely count – and managed to remain near the top of my class academically.  While I understand the rigors more than some, that was high school and the difference in college is drastic.

At Goshen College we have nearly 20 student-athletes who play on more than one of our intercollegiate teams.  While some of these are naturally fits like cross country runners competing in the distance events in track, others make drastic in school-year switches.

Take junior Kelsey Herschberger (Goshen, Ind.).  Just a few weeks ago, she was a crucial defensive force in the Maple Leaf volleyball team’s run to the MCC Championship game.  In her first season as a libero, Kelsey rattled off 529 digs and earned first team all conference honors.

While Kelsey was fighting along with her volleyball teammates in win or go home situations, her Maple Leaf basketball teammates were kick-starting their season without her.  The basketball team is still nearly four months away from the conference tournament, instead playing non-conference tournaments to prepare themselves for the season ahead.

“Going from competing in a championship volleyball game to a preseason basketball game is very difficult mentally,” Herschberger later said.  “I went from playing with a team that was at its peak, playing every point completely focused knowing that it could be the last you play for the season to a team at the beginning of its season still working out the kinks like every preseason team.”

Herschberger had just one basketball practice before making her season debut in a big Goshen win over Trinity Christian.  As Herschberger entered in the “mop up” minutes of the contest, her and Coach Wiktorowski had to quickly run through plays, figuring out which ones she was familiar enough with.

The basketball playbook is a momentary issue that Herschberger will conquer quickly, but it is also probably the easiest part of her transition.  “The hardest part of transitioning from one sport to the next is being in shape for the next sport,” Herschberger explains.  “At the end of volleyball season, we aren’t doing much conditioning and it’s hard to be physically ready for basketball.”

Herschberger must also adjust to a much different role on the Maple Leaf basketball team.  After playing nearly every point during the volleyball season, the junior will be coming off the bench for the basketball team.

“I know that my role on the team is not to play every minute of every game,” she added.  “It is different that what I was used to in high school and volleyball, but it’s nice to be playing a little different role to help the team.”

With all the adjustments on the court, it is easy to forget Herschberger’s full-time gig as a junior Sports Management Major.  The most amazing part of a multi-sport college student-athlete is that they are able to handle all of the rigors of transitioning from one hard season to the next and still be a college student.

Kelsey’s transitions are not over either.  After missing last year’s track and field season due to a knee injury, the junior will return to participate in the jumps and relays for the Maple Leafs.
To Kelsey and all of the Goshen College multi-sport student-athletes, we stand amazed!

The Numbers Behind Academics

My world is constantly surrounded by numbers.  I spend time literally everyday working on statistics, records, and even playoff probabilities.

Many of those numbers are told often (i.e. 19 MCC Men’s Soccer Championships), but the ones that are not as public have impressed me the most lately.

Take a look at these numbers:

• 50 NAIA All American Scholar-Athletes in 2008-09
• 52% of our 2009-10 incoming class entered with high school GPA’s of over 3.7
• 22% of that class entered with 4.0 high school GPA’s

Nearly every college athletic program in the country sells their academics as a big part of their programs.  Most of them, rightfully so because in the end, we are educational institutions.

After two years at Goshen College, however, it still amazes me what talented and intelligent student-athletes we have here and how well we are preparing them for their future outside their sport.  I constantly hear stories of alumni who have gone on to be doctors, scientific researchers, teachers, and engineers.

The numbers don’t lie.  The Maple Leafs 50 All American Scholar-Athletes last year was far and away the most in the conference and more than double any other year in Goshen history.  To me, that only says we are still moving forward.

Recently, my assistant Jordan Kauffman (who did an excellent job, BTW) and me had some fun with the student-athlete concept.  With the help of senior Tina Peters – a 4x NAIA National Champion race walker and 2-time All American Scholar-Athlete – we created this video that features what Maple Leaf athletics is all about in regards to academics.  Hope you enjoy!

The Real Heart of College Athletics

I have had people say to me, “You have the best job in the world.  You get to sit around and watch sports all day.”  While I agree that my job has perks that revolve around athletics – like getting to go to the Minneapolis Metrodome for a baseball game – those people miss a good portion of the truth.  They miss the fact that coaches and athletic staff often put in 60-plus hours a week, spend days at a time on the road away from family – the accommodations, food, and rest are hardly five-star vacations – and most often do it all for pay that is hardly upper class.


So why do we do what we do?  Is it for love of our sport(s) alone?  Is it just the most tolerable job we could find?  I can guarantee that those who get into college athletics for those reasons alone, do not last long.  It may hold someone for awhile, but the hours and the road trips all catch up far too fast.  With that being said, this is not a post to complain or to sell the negatives, instead it is a plea for understanding of the real heart of college athletics.

In my experience and opinion, the heart of college athletics is built around two facts.
Think about your four years (or more, it’s alright to admit it) of college.  Think of who you were when you entered your dorm room for the first time and then think of who you had become by the time you walked down the aisle to receive your diploma.  My guess is that they often seem like two different people.  College is often the time in a person’s life when they develop the most into who they will become.  In normal development, it serves as a transition from childhood to an adult.  That is the first fact.  Those four years (or more) are critical to who an individual will become as an adult.

The second fact is that athletics provides a backdrop for development.  I know that some will disagree, but where else can you fail, succeed, set attainable goals, work as a team, lead, follow, teach, experience, be challenged, overcome obstacles, be kept accountable, learn responsibility, develop toughness, learn to concentrate and improve discipline as much (and as safely) as when you are on an athletic team?  Those traits naturally develop in the sports arena, but they are not exclusive to athletics.  Those are areas we all need to foster to be successful in all areas of our lives.
Put the two together and you get student-athletes in some of their most developmental years in a situation (athletics) that naturally is conducive to growth.

Let me illustrate with an example.  At the beginning of my coaching career, I had a student-athlete that I will likely never forget.  He was an intense individual, but was at times quiet and slightly awkward in social situations.  During his freshman season, we often had our guys pray as a team.  While he was more than willing to participate, he often stumbled heavily on words as he struggled to articulate his thoughts in front of even a small group of peers.  His intensity led to positive moments on the field, but it also led to trials on and off it.  On one occasion, the student-athlete got in a verbal confrontation – almost turned physical as well – with an assistant coach.  The incident resulted in severe consequences, but eventually led to that same coach hiring him for summer employment.  While there were numerous failures and difficult times on the path, the student-athlete grew tremendously (as did the coaches and staff who worked with him).  By his senior year – now married – he and his wife led a mission and service team to South America.  He went from a kid who could not even put words together for a simple prayer in front of a group to a man who now leads a small congregation as their pastor.

I do not take credit for that development, not even for a second.  While I failed that student-athlete on countless occasions as a coach, I hope that he can look back and see that as a friend, I did everything in my power to provide opportunities for him to develop into the man he is today.  That is why I do what I do.

I love my job, but not for the reasons you may have thought.  I love my job because I get a front row seat to the development that will set the stage for the rest of a student-athlete’s life.   I love my job because it makes a difference.  That is the heart of small college athletics.