By Dr. Jennifer Roth Michigan State University, Institute for the Study of Youth Sports The youth sport environment can be a great place for youth to learn important life skills that they can transfer to other areas of their lives. However, this doesnāt happen automatically for kids who participate in youth sports, rather the coachā¦ Read More »
Current Student Spotlight – Mariah Dunham
My native name is “Geezhebowahsay” which means “Circling in the Sky.” My family comes from Sault Ste. Marie, MI on the Sault Ste. Marie reservation, Band of Chippewa Indians. I am 36 and married for 10 years to my wife Brigitte who is also an MSU graduate. We adopted our daughter Amya last November. Sheā¦ Read More »
Conflict Management for Sport Coaches
By Lauren Secaras Michigan State University, Institute for the Study of Youth Sports As described by conflict scholars, āConflict is normal, ubiquitous, and unavoidable. It is an inherent feature of human existence. It is even useful on occasion. It is difficult to conceive of a situation which is conflict-free. Indeed, the very presence of conflictā¦ Read More »
New Faculty Spotlight – Dr. Nick Mortensen
I started my career instructing at aĀ communityĀ college in Arizona after completing my bachelor’s degree in clinical health fitness from Central Michigan University and my master’s degree in exercise and nutrition science from Lipscomb University. I absolutely loved teaching, but the position was far from my family, so I movedĀ back to Michigan.Ā I was happy to beā¦ Read More »
Starting the Journey: Goal Setting for Coaches and Their Teams
By Corinne Hobbs & Chelsi Ricketts Michigan State University, Institute for the Study of Youth Sports The days leading up to New Yearās Eve are often filled with people discussing their āresolutionsā for the new year. The phrase ānew year, new meā gets tossed around in conversations about personal visions for the upcoming year. Coachesā¦ Read More »
Alumni Spotlight – Jenna Taylor
Jenna Taylor is the Girls Pre Academy Technical Director (U6-U8 Age Groups) at Liverpool International Academy Michigan’s Central site headquartered in Pontiac/Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Her roles include coaching soccer teams, overseeing age groups, mentoring coaches, and empowering young girls in sport through workshops, camps, and role model collaboration with older teams. Along with her Technicalā¦ Read More »
Alumni Spotlight – Wade Russell
Currently, I work at Total Package Hockey (TPH) in London, Ontario. My title is Head of Hockey and I oversee all of our on-ice programming. We work with players ranging from first-time skaters up to professionals. We run a variety of programs and offer third-party assistance to minor hockey players, teams, and programs in theā¦ Read More »
Meet Dr. Jenny Roth
Jenny plays many roles, both internal and external to MSU. At MSU, she is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, a Faculty Affiliate for the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, and Co-coordinator of the MSU Summer Coaches’ School. She is also Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for theā¦ Read More »
Current Student Spotlight – Lexi Harley
Lexi Harley is currently serving as the Executive Assistant to three executive leaders at Michigan State University Athletics. She was born and raised a Spartan, growing up ten minutes down the road from MSU. Her role involves providing support in compliance, sales, and marketing, as well as Champion – Resources. She plays a crucial partā¦ Read More »
Current Student Spotlight – Jordan Kurtz
Jordan Kurtz is the Assistant Cross Country & Track and Field Coach at Jessup University, a private Christ-Centered university in Rocklin,Ā California that currently competes in the Golden State Athletic Conference in the NAIA. They will be joining the PacWest conference in NCAA Division II starting in the Fall of ’24. After working in a varietyā¦ Read More »