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Date 3-14-06
Contact Chinika Hood 601.266.5568
LONG
BEACH—The University of Southern Mississippi’s School
of Human Performance and Recreation (HP&R) has introduced a
new master’s program that seeks to produce more highly qualified
personnel within the coaching industry.
The Sport Coaching
Education program, housed at Southern Miss Gulf Coast, also strives
to increase the professional growth of current and aspiring coaches.
Southern Miss is the only university in the state to offer this
program in its online and traditional format and one of only a handful
across the country, according to College of Health Assistant Dean
Mark Maneval.
Maneval expects
the program to position the state at the top of the ranks in regards
to graduate coaching education. “We will become known for our sport
coaching education excellence and should attract top students from
around the country, giving the state a leadership role in an area
where we normally lag far behind.”
HP&R assistant
professor Lindsey Blom believes the program will set higher standards
nationwide, which will eventually help the industry’s coaching professionals.
“For many years, coaches have been individuals who have played the
sport or volunteered to lead a team and haven’t had certification
within the field,” she said. “Furthermore, education institutions
have not offered educational opportunities for these individuals
to receive degrees in the field. Offering a master's degree, especially
one online, begins to set a new standard and for improving the formal
education for coaches.”
The sport coaching
curriculum was once a part of Southern Miss’ sport administration/coaching
program, but the autonomy of the courses was needed in order to
achieve superior training for coaches across the nation, said Maneval.
Registration for the program is currently underway. For additional
information, please contact Maneval at 228.214.3419 or the School
of Human Performance and Recreation at 601.266.5578.
Last updated:
03/14/06 |
