GSM Live: COVID-19 & Coaching in the “New Normal”
This event took place on 6/5/2020. View the recording here. To stay up to date on upcoming events, sign up for our newsletter.
Sport is returning. Expected profit losses are discussed daily prompting most to rush a restart, while for others it's an end to their team. As we see parts of the world reopening with eyes on sport in particular, it will be the coaches that will deal directly with success or fallout moving forward.
During the pause, Assistant Coach Geoff Arnold leads Zoom Sundays, an online gathering of coaches from all levels and experience, co-hosted by Dr. Scott Brooks. The calls are a way to bring guidance, community and guest speakers to coaches around the nation. Topics around career advancement, NIL ruling, media scrutiny for coaches of color, and what this “new normal” means are just the tip of the iceberg.
All levels of coaches today face a growing number of challenges to navigate: physical safety requirements, strict policies on training and live games, not to mention job safety. In addition, they are tasked with bringing the best out in their team through mental stress they, their staff, and their players may be experiencing.
In today's world with the pandemic and recent racial justice protests at the forefront, how will coaches' roles expand even further beyond the playbook?
On this episode, we bring together high school and collegiate coaches to discuss their role in today's world, the realities of being a coach of color, and what the "new normal" looks like.
Joining the conversation:
Venessa Jacobs | Head Volleyball Coach at Southern University. Venessa Hackett-Jacobs is the head women’s volleyball coach at Southern University and A&M College. During the Hackett-Jacobs era, the Southern University volleyball program elevated its profile from a dormant status to the league's conference tournament runner-up in her second season in 2014. Hackett-Jacobs is a 1996 LSU graduate who earned a volleyball scholarship from the Lady Tigers. Hackett-Jacobs’ coaching style promotes a focus on technique, repetition, and teamwork while utilizing relational concepts/heuristics for athletes of all ages. Hackett-Jacobs provides training for athletes ages 8-17, and prospective coaches as a master coach for club and volleyball camps to grow the sport.
Kerrick Jackson | Head Baseball Coach at Southern University. Kerrick Jackson is the Men’s Head Baseball Coach at Southern University. As a result of the Jaguars success on the field, Coach Jackson was chosen as SWAC Coach of the Year, as well as LSWA (Louisiana Sports Writers Association) Coach of the Year. In 2018, Jackson was asked by the American Baseball Coaches Association to serve as chair for their Diversity committee focused on minority recruiting and sustainability for players and coaches of color in baseball. Prior to joining Southern University as Head Baseball Coach, Kerrick Jackson served as an MLB Certified Player Agent for the Boras Corporation, where he was responsible for identifying, evaluating and recruiting premier amateur baseball players from across the country, along with helping them prepare for the MLB Amateur Draft.
Geoff Arnold | Assistant Coach for Mens Basketball at Rider University. Geoff Arnold is the Rider Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach. A 1986 SJU graduate, Geoff Arnold was part of three of the Hawks’ four Atlantic 10 Championships, as a player in 1986 and as an assistant coach in 2014 and 2016. Prior to making his return to Saint Joseph’s, Arnold was the associate head coach at Drexel University for seven years. While there, he was instrumental in the Dragons’ recruiting efforts that helped them reach the postseason four times in seven seasons, including a 23-9 record in 2006-07. Originally from Sharon Hill, Pa. and Darby Township High School, Arnold is the uncle of former Saint Joseph’s star Langston Galloway, who is currently with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. In 2018, Arnold was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame – Delaware County Chapter.
Lou Richie | Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland Boys Basketball Coach, Co-founder of Triple Threat Academy
Dawn Staley | American basketball Hall of Fame player, South Carolina Women's Basketball Coach, three-time Olympic gold medalist, Naismith Player of the Year '91 & '92, Naismith Coach of the Year '20. Staley is still recognized for her body of work as a one of the most decorated participants in United States women’s basketball history. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame solidified that legacy with her enshrinement as part of the Class of 2013. The Phoenix Club of Philadelphia established the Dawn Staley Award recognizing the nation’s top guard in women’s Division I basketball in 2013 as well. Staley was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2012 and was one of the final nominees for induction to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame the same year. In the summer of 2011, the WNBA recognized her as one of the league’s “Top 15,” honoring the most influential players in the league’s history. At the helm of the Gamecocks over the last 11 seasons, Staley has been named National Coach of the Year (2014, Basketball Times), a Naismith National Coach of the Year Finalist (2014, 2015, 2016), SEC Coach of the Year (2014, Coaches and AP; 2015, Coaches; 2016, Coaches and AP) and BCA Female Coach of the Year (2012).
Led by:
Scott Brooks | Director of Research at Global Sport Institute
Global Sport Matters Live is a conversation series presented by Global Sport Institute at Arizona State University and Global Sport Matters. Diverse thought leaders and experts will come together virtually to give their perspective on the most relevant issues impacting sport. From their corner of the globe, a rotation of guests will discuss what they’re facing locally, take questions and ideas from a virtual audience, and share solutions that improve the world of sport.
