As part of Division III Week, Oswego State coaches participated in Coaches in the Classroom from April 2-6, spending the week attending courses with their student-athletes.
Division III Week is observed by athletics programs across the nation to celebrate the impact that student-athletes have on their campuses. This year was Oswego's first time hosting Coaches in the Classroom, and 15 Laker coaches took the opportunity to sit in on a class with their student-athletes.
Coach Evan Magnussen attended an ornithology class with cross country and track and field student-athlete Morgan Bronner. It was a familiar setting for the first-year coach.
"This class was very similar to what I studied in school, so it was like a little 'throwback' for me." Magnussen said about the experience. "I hope most of the professors are like the professor in Morgan's classroom since he had a very engaging lecture."
Gabriella Vertuccio, a first baseman and outfielder on the Laker softball team, also praised the professors at Oswego.
"They are really helpful and want to see us succeed out of college." Vertuccio said. "The connections and opportunities the professors have given me are pretty unique."
Fellow Laker student-athletes Charlie Pelnik and Jordan Emerson also emphasized the importance of taking advantage of the opportunities provided by Oswego.
"We have opportunities every day, going to class," said Pelnik, who is in his second season with the men's ice hockey team. "You get what you put in and it is the same with hockey."
Emerson pointed out that even outside of classes and athletics, there is plenty to get involved with.
"I find that I have a lot of time to do other things on campus as well," Emerson stated. "It is not just with the hockey team. I can join any other clubs I want to and I have time for both."
Emerson's coach, Diane Dillon, attended a psychology class with her. Dillon believes that coaching at the Division III level is a special experience.
"You get to be the kind of coach you want to be," said Dillon. "Part of my job, our staff's job, is to help them get ready for life, whatever it is. Hockey is just the tool in which we use."
Men's soccer coach Dan Kane agreed with Dillon, expressing the importance of both athletics and academics for student-athletes."Being a Division III coach… allows us to see student-athletes in both of those roles, as students and as athletes," Kane reflected. "It is fun for me to see the students be intrinsically motivated in both their work and their pursuit of being on a championship team."
Overall, the Laker coaches appreciated the opportunity to experience classes firsthand with their student-athletes. Division III Week wraps up on Sunday, as Laker teams compete in various mini-games and events for the inaugural Lakerlympics.
