ATHLETICS REVIEW
Q : You were a part of a swim program that was really building . How is that special to you , and what do you hope your legacy will be since you are such a cornerstone of that building process ?
A : “ Being part of a program that just started is an honor for me — not only because I have the opportunity to grow with it , but also because being part of something bigger than me creates a sense of meaning and contentment . On the other hand , my hope is to help create a team bond and athletic visualization on a team that will last decades .”
Q : You have very strong grades , and as a student-athlete , that ’ s not easy . Talk about your approach to performing at a high level both academically AND athletically .
A : “ Since I ’ ve been practicing the sport of swimming for almost 16 years of my life , I ’ ve developed skills that have helped me in and out of the water . Organization is the key to success . If you want to succeed at anything , you need to create a plan and follow it . This first year at Life U was definitely a process of adaptation when talking about the classroom and the pool . But , being committed and having a strong base of support will help you reach the stars .”
Q : What would you tell Life U fans about your team that they probably wouldn ’ t know ?
A : “ Life U Swimming is the most united team in the University . We are a family more than a team .”
Q : The Athletic Department ’ s mission is for student-athletes to grow athletically , academically and socially . Can you talk about how you have personally grown during your time at Life U ?
A : “ First , having the opportunity of living at a complex with other athletes was an opportunity to socially expand with people that share the same vision . Second , being exposed to different types of professors and levels of education helped me develop a pressure resistance that I will later need in the working field . Last , not having the same time to work on my sport because of the time to study helped me push myself even harder at the pool . 100 % effort gave me a year of glory .”
PROFILE
Steve Wilcosky
Head Women ’ s
Volleyball Coach
The women ’ s volleyball program started in the 2015-2016 academic year and has quickly become a recognized name within a competitive Mid-South Conference landscape . By year two , the program finished with a 20- 12 record and reached the semifinals of the conference tournament . Since then , a Life U volleyball student-athlete has earned a spot on the prestigious Mid-South Conference First-Team and another ( Liz Mann ) has landed on the NAIA All-American Honorable Mention list . In addition , the program has seen numerous conference Player of the Week honors , as well as Mid-South All-Academic honors . Volleyball has led the pack in team GPA , graduation and retention in their young program history , and the leadership of Head Coach Steve Wilcosky has a lot to do with that .
Starting a program is tough for multiple reasons . Talk about that process and how each year builds off of the year before .
Wilcosky : “ The process for building this program had many challenges from year one to year five , but those challenges are what helped shape decisions and goals for the subsequent seasons . Within the overall program there are many subprocesses which all feed into the “ big picture .” Year one was all about getting the right athletes that were resilient , could adapt to constant change , and wanted to be a part of starting something from scratch . We also had to educate our Athletic Department on the specific needs required for our sport . As we have progressed into our fifth year , we are focused on the value that we add to the whole entire Athletic Department , recruiting a higher-level athlete and most importantly , having each one of our athletes graduate from Life University .”
Q : This is the first year Life University has started the Running Eagles Club , which is dedicated to helping to increase scholarships for student-athletes . From a coaching perspective , talk about how important your scholarship offer is when recruiting for Life University .
Wilcosky : “ As a coach , having the opportunity to have resources that will allow us to pursue the elite athlete levels the playing field for us in our conference and nationally . LIFE geographically has an advantage being in the metro Atlanta area ; however , the resources have limited the caliber of athlete needed to pursue championships on a consistent basis . This fund also allows our student-athletes the opportunity to focus solely on their academics and sport without the added pressures of having a job to help pay for their education while also trying to play college athletics .”
Q : What are you most excited about in the next 3-5 years for your program , the Athletic Department and Life University ?
Wilcosky : “ The most exciting part of the next 3-5 years at LIFE is how invested the University is in growing our Athletic Department and undergraduate programs . By doing so , the landscape of LIFE will change for the better and increase student spirit and sporting event attendance . As a program , I look forward to the continued opportunity to add value to our student-athletes ’ lives through our sport and seeing them graduate from LIFE . I also believe we will be in the national tournament for the first time in program history within the next 3-5 years .”
Alumni . LIFE . edu | 2019
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