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
Rachel’s Challenge- a multi media presentation to the
Athletic department and all student athletes on developing
behaviors based upon leadership skills, core values and
inclusion.
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
Spring Fun Day and BBQ- a spring social event for student athletes
to wrap up the school year
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:
2009-2010
Co- President: Ally Yost, W Soccer
Co- President: Greg Frost, M Soccer
Vice President: Allie Duclos, Lacrosse
Vice President: Kyle Auffray, Football
Secretary: Julie Marcum, Track
Student-Athlete Development …
2008-2009 … 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: 53 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 2,067 hours)
Thanksgiving Food Drive: with the combined contributions
of all teams, we delivered 30 cases of food to the UNH 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 100 hours)
Alternative Spring Break: 23 student athletes
worked in Louisiana rebuilding homes with Habitat for
Humanity (estimated 920 hours)
Seventh Grade Field Trip: 22 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 55 hours)
Note: this totals 3,177 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
Note: These individual team projects total 1,320
hours. A conservative estimate of our Athletic Department community
service hours (Athletes, coaches and staff) exceeds 4,300 hours for
the academic year 2008-2009
