Milligan’s new athletic director, Christian Pope, announced through an email last week eight new initiatives for the athletic program. These initiatives included mental health training, an increased number of resources for women athletes, and several resources for the wellbeing of student-athletes.
Since being employed in January, Pope spent much of his time meeting with students and staff in reviewing Milligan’s athletic program. According to Pope, there were no serious issues raised, but he was able to use the feedback he received to create these next steps for the program.
“I did recognize that Milligan needed a higher level of extensive care for its student-athletes,” said Pope. “That was my main concern and area of focus.”
These initiatives allow Milligan’s program to improve in areas such as communication, mental health and training.
“The end goal will always be progress,” said Pope. “For me, these new initiatives are just the tip of the iceberg.”
One of the initiatives is a partnership with ETSU’s guidance in strengthening and conditioning for athletes. Although there is not yet a physical presence of this partnership on Milligan’s campus, athletes will now have better opportunities to be referred to someone who can provide the most efficient care
Burena Edens, Milligan’s athletic trainer, said that in addition to these initiatives, positivity is needed for student-athletes, especially in a time where mental health issues have been on the rise.
“We are trying to take time to make our space more welcoming to the student athletes by being positive even when we may not have the best news to deliver,” said Edens. “We also altered the set up of our office to help better the flow for our students.”
Another initiative set forth for the program is the addition of a senior woman administrator. A current coach at Milligan is already set to fill this new role. Her name will be announced in the following weeks.
“She already does the tasks that this new role requires,” said Pope. “She has been extremely helpful in our program”
Women’s head volleyball coach Doneva Bays said COVID-19 has made the job of mentoring more challenging for coaches, both on and off the field.
“Coaches and student athletes are facing the same hurdles they have for years, they’ve just had limited resources,” said Bays. “These initiatives are being put into place to help provide us with more.”
Most importantly, the initiatives announced last week are to acknowledge the wellbeing and health of student athletes in which the athletic program seeks to maximize.
“I want Milligan athletes to say these four years of college were the best four years of their lives,” said Pope. “That’s what I’m looking to achieve, a good experience for all of our student-athletes.”