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STUDENT ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT

UNH Athletic Department
Student Athlete Development

Cathy Coakley
Coordinator, Student Athlete Development
University of New Hampshire
145 Main St. Durham , NH 03824
603-862-4051 - cathy.coakley@unh.edu

An Overview:

The office of Student Athlete Development exists to assist UNH student athletes learn and perfect skills necessary to be successful in the classroom, on the playing field, in the university and seacoast community and in life- long endeavors. We coordinate comprehensive, sequential educational programs that enhance personal welfare and growth. In so doing, we utilize the expertise and services of many departments and organizations on campus. Included in these programs are: Health (substance use/abuse, sexually responsible behavior, sport specific nutrition), Hazing, Diversity and Inclusion (gender, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation), Career Planning and Preparation, Financial Responsibility, Leadership and Community Service.

Activities:
Chameleon Connection- student athletes serve as Big Brother/ Big Sisters in a mentoring program with the Newmarket Community Center.
Read Across America- groups of athletes visit local elementary and middle schools to read and facilitate discussion on the importance of education and staying in school
Athletes Supporting Athletes- teams attend the competitions of other UNH teams, to foster support, encouragement and friendship among athletes and the student body.
Holiday Food and Toy Drives- cases of food delivered to the UNH food pantry and boxes of toys delivered to Toys for Tots


Events:
Annual Halloween Costume Contest for all athletic department personnel, judged by student athletes.
“Sno-Ball” – winter social event to bring student athletes from all sports together, to promote interaction and comraderie
Career Planning Night- for juniors and seniors to meet former alumni and business people. The evening was a series of workshops, discussion and networking.
Alternative Spring Break- student athletes traveled to New Orleans and West Virginia to assist in community rebuilding
Presentation by John Underwood, President of American Athletic Institute to all coaches, athletes and athletic department personnel on effect of substance use on physical & cognitive performance.
Hosts for a 7th grade field trip- student athletes conducted tours, discussions, games and contests for 90 youngsters visiting the Field House and the Whittemore Center
Tunnel Restoration Project- SAAC and UNH athletes are teaming up to paint and add graphics to the Main Street tunnel  

Student Athlete Advisory Committee: SAAC
This is a leadership group, selected by coaches and teammates, that act as liaison between the athletic administration and student athletes. All teams were represented this year.
The purpose of SAAC:
To provide communication and feedback to the athletic administration regarding student athletes concerns, policy and procedures.
To disseminate information from the administration, campus organizations and the conference to their coaches and teammates.
To promote UNH Athletics in a positive way, across campus, in Durham and throughout the seacoast area.
To build “community” within the Athletic Department by involving all teams in activities, events and educational programs
To be a voice in the America East Conference and NCAA, regarding legislation, policy and community outreach
To increase student body, faculty and staff attendance at athletic events by increasing athlete visibility and involvement in campus activities
To organize community service projects that involve all teams, collectively and individually

SAAC Officers: 2010-2011
Co- President: Allie Duclos, Lacrosse
Co- President: Kyle Auffray, Football
Vice President: To be elected
Vice President:  To be elected
Secretary: Janae Semoffsky, Gymnastics

Student-Athlete Development …
2009-10 … Community Service Outreach ... The Year in Review

Overview: The office of Student Athlete Development assists UNH student athletes learn and expand skills necessary to be successful on and off the “playing field”, in the classroom, in the community and in their life- long endeavors. In coordinating comprehensive educational programs that enhance personal development and welfare, the expertise and services of many campus organizations and departments are utilized. These programs include Hazing, Substance Use/ Abuse, Sexually responsible behavior (versus harassment, abuse, assault), Diversity and Inclusion, Leadership, Financial responsibility, Career planning and Community service.

Community Service Projects and Activities: all teams involved

Chameleon Connection:  42 student athletes serve as mentors (Big Brother/ Sister) to youngsters who attend the Newmarket Community Center… these athletes have committed  1 and a half to 2 hours per week since September to work with and be a role model for their assigned youngster.  (estimated 1,560 hours)

Thanksgiving Food Drive:
with the combined contributions of all teams, we delivered 20 complete food baskets to Cornicopia Food Pantry (estimated 25 hours)

Christmas Toy Drive:
every team contributed a minimum of 2 toys/games and we donated 10 boxes to Toys for Tots   (estimated 10 hours)

Read Across America: groups of student athletes have visited 8 elementary and middle schools in the seacoast area to read and discuss the importance of education, staying in school and the avoidance of  drug use  (estimated 115 hours)

Alternative Spring Break:
18 student athletes worked  in Louisiana rebuilding homes with Habitat for Humanity  (estimated 1100 hours)

Merrimack Middle School's Seventh Grade Field Trip: 20 athletes, representing most of our teams, hosted and led tours of the athletic facilities, supervised games and contests, conducted discussion on “commitment” and teamwork.  (estimated 50 hours)

Note: this totals 2,860 community service hours of collective athletic team activity.

In addition, teams choose to participate in their own projects.
Such examples: Lacrosse, a 5 mile “Walk for MS” in Manchester, NH…est. 80 hrs
                        
Football - Spring Clean-up at Wagon Hill Park, Durham, 270 hrs

Ice Hockey -  Clean – up projects with Durham Rotary, 80 hrs
Bobcat Bolt, a fund- raiser at ORHS for a Durham Youth center… 70 hours  

Swimming and Diving -  Walk for Mitochondrial Disease and Relay for Life…. 80 hours
                
Volleyball… Dig for a Cure, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Volley for Holly, fundraiser for Jimmy Fund and cancer research, Players coach local Jr. Olympic Teams….. est. 250 hrs

Skiing… Garrison School Clean-up, Durham neighborhood clean-up with Northeast passage, teaching skiing to the handicapped..  est. 80 hrs.

Women’s Basketball… Conduct practices for Special Olympics teams and local Youth teams… est. 60 hrs

Men’s Soccer… Route 4 highway clean-up… 100 hrs.

Gymnastics… Holiday food baskets donated to UNH Cornucopia Food Pantry, Volunteer at Ronald McDonald House, Jimmy Fund Walk for Life and Relay for Life, Read Across America at Stratham Memorial School and Lincoln School, Wrap Christmas presents w/ Salvation Army at Fox Run Mall, Teach sport to community youngster, kindergarteners and Special Olympic athletes…. Estimated 250 hours

Women's lacrosse...  Turkey Toss, Jingle Run, Cornucopia Food Basket, Inn at Spruce Wood, Hoop It Up, Toys for Tots, BANFF Mountain Film Festival, Read Across America, Hamel Scholar Program... Est. 357 hrs

Note: These individual team projects total 1,320 hours. A conservative estimate of our Athletic Department community service hours (Athletes, coaches and staff) exceeds 4,000 hours for the academic year 2009-10



          

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