Ferris State University’s communication program is in the process of developing a minor centered around coaching. The minor is expected to be added to the program within two years.
Communication Area Coordinator Dr. Kristi Scholten and communication professor Dr. Jen Coburn are heading this project.
While the curriculum for this project is still in the early stages, the coaching minor has been on the minds of the communication faculty for the past year.
The idea of the coaching minor began with the concept of a singular coaching class but quickly developed into something larger and more promising.
Scholten and Coburn noted that the development of this minor came after much interest from students. Between alums going into coaching fields and students clamoring for some form of a coaching class to be made available, it seems the time is right for coaching education to be added to what the program offers.
In fact, according to Coburn, the biggest inspiration for adding this minor is purely feedback from communication students themselves.
“I did some exit interviews into my classes last spring, where I said ‘Hey, if you had a chance to take one of these four classes, which one would you choose?’” Coburn said. “The top two were always coaching, and something on conflict and negotiations.”
Coburn also noted that many of the courses being considered will build upon other communication skill sets, providing students with a well-rounded communication toolbox, regardless of the coaching situation a student pursues.
The coaching minor would be made available to communication studies and sports communication students. Additionally, the coaching minor would focus on not only coaching sports but also other possible areas such as life coaching, success coaching and health coaching.
The minor will offer foundational coaching communication courses, along with classes on conflict negotiation, interviewing, motivational speaking, contract negotiation, sports psychology and several others that are still under consideration.
Coaching is a multi-faceted career that requires knowledge of several different disciplines. The goal of the coaching minor is to prepare students for supporting a team, supporting families, advocating for teams and creating a positive culture.
For Scholten, the emphasis on team culture and a positive learning environment is vital to the success of this new program.
“You create the culture that people want to be a part of, and then you will get the athletes that you want, right?” Scholten said. “People will want to be there, and then success will happen as well.”
The program is also putting a heavy emphasis on developing this minor to be as versatile as possible. The end goal is to have a curriculum that can be changed and adapted to the needs or desires of students.
Sports communication junior Morgan Lockhart was one of the students surveyed by Coburn who stated their desire for a coaching minor or coaching class at Ferris.
For Lockhart, the desire for a coaching minor comes from her own sports experience, as well as a desire to see others succeed.
“My mom is a coach, and I just want to follow in her footsteps and be a great coach,” Lockhart said. “Coaching is hard, it is very time-consuming, you put all your effort into it, and the thing I would get out of it is definitely seeing other girls succeed.”
The next step in development is for the communication faculty to gather and deliberate on courses that will be offered for the minor, which is expected to take place this upcoming spring.
Following that, faculty will prepare and submit paperwork to the university for approval before a curriculum change can take place.