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A hallmark of CPASS education is learning outside the classroom. Here are just a few of the things our students immerse themselves in at home and abroad:

CPASS students and faculty participated in the Curt Roberts: Step Up to the Plate event, February 5 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Roberts was the first African American to play for the Pirates, beginning on April 13, 1954. The Pirates initiated the event to provide a unique opportunity for diverse students to interact with hiring managers and receive a perspective on the business of professional baseball. CPASS sport management students met with panelists and other organizational representatives, including a member of the Pirates’ associate council, a community outreach coordinator and scouting personnel.

The College recently caught up with CPASS alumni and students, to learn more about their experiences in Major League Baseball. We asked about their typical day, career goals, WVU mentors and advice for anyone wanting to get into the sports industry. See their responses, below, to learn how their Mountaineer experiences have helped them succeed and where they see themselves in five years.  

West Virginia University graduate André Schneider credits the holistic approach he learned as a master’s student in helping him succeed as a coach. The Brazil native had little time to evaluate and modify the U15 Team of Porto Vitoria in the beginning of October.

“It was only two and a half months. The biggest challenge the coaching staff (Hugo Gava, fitness coach, and Rafael Pinheiro, goalkeeper's coach) and I faced was, in such a short period of time, change the play style of the team, and have them playing a possession, yet aggressive, style of soccer,” he explained.  

Forging connections is important in any industry, but for sport and exercise psychology doctoral student Carra Johnson, WVU outdid itself.

Through a partnership with the New York Mets, Johnson spent June through September working hands-on with the minor league affiliates.  

Sport and Exercise Psychology student Abby Reid is using her minor in strength and conditioning and internships at Division 1 universities to pave the route of her career path.

This past summer, Reid interned for the strength staff of Georgetown University’s football team. “It was my first time working with football and the strength staff let me have a lot of coaching time with the guys. That really helped me decide that I would want to pursue a possible career as a football strength coach in the future,” explained Reid.

The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences athletic  coaching education program has partnered with West Virginia University Club Sports for the third year in a row. This unique arrangement allows graduate assistant strength coaches to provide physical training to sports club participants. Both ACE students and club sports athletes have benefited from the collaboration. 

Prior to this program, a lack of resources left club teams to provide their own strength and conditioning training. Athletes receive a higher level of coaching originally only offered to competitive teams.

Recent CPASS graduate Zachery Vaji embodies the meaning of determination as a Mountaineer by taking the initiative to make his goals a reality.

Vaji, from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, enrolled at WVU in 2012 and by August, 2015 he had earned his bachelor’s degree in sport management. He continued his education and graduated with a master’s degree in sport management in August 2016.

Ashley Morgan, BS Sports and Exercise Psychology 2015, wanted to put her degree to good use. Once she explored her options she discovered an interest in public administration. CPASS faculty guided Morgan through her decisions to make the next step in her career.

“After a long conversation with Dr. Zizzi, he had me thinking that there might be another program out there,” Morgan said. “This is when he introduced the public administration Master’s program to me.” After meeting with several faculty members about the program, Morgan decided this was the track for her.

College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences graduate students have been immersed in a unique sports marketing experience as interns for the West Virginia Black Bears, a minor league baseball team.

A collaboration between Rich Baseball Operations and the WVU graduate sports management students began in September 2014. Rich Baseball Operations approached CPASS professor Dr. Dallas Branch to partner with his sports marketing class to execute a “Name the Team” fan contest.

CPASS graduate Nadine Dubina recently landed a prestigious internship with the United States Olympic Committee in their coaching education division.