Student-athletes are constantly held to a higher standard. To motivate and encourage their athletes to go above and beyond the norm, Pacific coaches make strides to support their athletes both on and off the fields.
One of the many commendable coaches in the athletic department is Head Softball Coach, Liz Yandall, who is in her first year as head coach after working as assistant coach under Tim Hill.
Senior softball third-baseman Kaitlyn Shikada said she sees Yandal as a third parental figure.
“We go into her office to talk about life, get candy and just hang out,” she said. “She is very approachable and you can talk to her about anything.”
Yandall also pushes her athletes to meet a higher standard by focusing on the little things to improve her athletes as players and people in general.
“Focusing on the little things and paying attention to detail is what separates good athletes from great ones,” Shikada said. “By pushing our team to meet her high standards, we are learning to be better softball players and better people.”
Head Wrestling Coach Severin Walsh is another coach who is admired by his athletes. He is entering his sixth year as head coach of the men’s and women’s wrestling teams.
Senior wrestler Eric Harder said Walsh always holds him to a higher standard.
“[He] is always pushing me to give it my 100 throughout every practice, Harder said. “He believes in his athletes which goes a long way.”
Senior shooting guard for the Men’s Basketball team Riley Grandinetti said good motivation from his coaches is vital to his success as an athlete. Grandinetti plays under head basketball coach Tim Cleary.
“Coach is an excellent motivator, and guides us to make the best decisions on and off the court. He is definitely a third parental figure for us at Pacific and would do anything for his players,” Grandinetti said.
No matter the coaching experience, be it Yandall’s first year, Cleary’s fourth or Walsh’s sixth, coaches are revered by their players as someone who pushes them to achieve even the highest goals.
It is their impressive dedication that makes student-athletes at Pacific University great players, great people and great Boxers.
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