July/August 2020 - 19

week - and then, unfortunately, COVID happened, but I
was making it back to practice maybe once or twice every
week or two.
" It's hard to get away from it all when you're so
entrenched in it and have built such strong relationships
with all the girls, so it was kind of hard for me to totally
move on. I was lucky enough that they let me stick around
for that third year. "
While time management is a crucial part of the process
for Ochoa, Adams, and Odenwaelder, there's more to
the process. They also have to communicate effectively
with those they deal with on a daily basis so they can
properly manage themselves and allow time for all the
responsibilities they have on their plate.
" [It involves] getting on the same page with your boss,
or bosses, your coordinator, and whatever program it
is you're applying to from the get-go, making it known
that this degree is your priority, " Odenwaelder said.
" Coaching is what you want to be doing. Coaching is what
you want to do for the rest of your life, but this degree is
giving you the tools for you to be the best coach that you
can be down the road. So, at this point in time, while you
may not want it to be your first priority, you need to make
it your first priority. You can't just go in one foot in, one
foot out. You've got to dive in with both feet. "
But even with time management skills and effective
communication, the volume of work can be draining.
These student-coaches need the drive to improve, much
like they did as student-athletes - something Wesley
Padilla, the athletic director and softball coach at Ogden
High School in Utah, had no issue with while taking
online courses at Ball State.
" I always tell people that are coaches: I'm not going to
go to a doctor that is a part-time doctor, or I'm not going
to go to a mechanic that's a part-time mechanic, " Padilla
said. " I completely agree that that's [on] the same playing
field as sports. [The job] requires a degree that needs to
have evidence-based practices and needs to have qualified
people in charge of that to give kids an optimal experience,
or athletes the optimal experience. And give them the
benefit of the doubt and allow them to become better with
someone that's qualified that's teaching them. "
That's why Padilla emphasizes the importance of
continuing education, despite the juggling act that comes
with schooling, coaching, and everyday life duties.
" I highly encourage - and I always talk to coaches
about [how] no matter what your degree is, if you want
to coach and impact lives and make yourself better at
coaching, you need to pursue some higher degree or
some higher education in coaching. I always push [for]
the master's of coaching and I always like to push for
Ball State because that's where I went, and I know the
benefits of what it has given me and the opportunities it's
provided for me. "
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July/August 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July/August 2020