SAN DIEGO — On Saturday, August 31st, Snapdragon Stadium buzzed with excitement as the SDSU Aztecs faced Texas A&M Commerce. The game kicked off the season and introduced the newly revamped Faculty Guest Coaches Program, championed by SDSU Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Frank Harris III and Student-Athlete Academic Support Services.
The day was truly special as we welcomed our first guest coaches, including many Directors from our SDSU Graduate Programs. They enjoyed an exclusive pre-game experience with the Aztecs, which included being invited onto the field to witness the team's final warm-ups.
Faculty Guest Coaches:
Dr. Selam Gebrekristos, Program Director - Masters of Arts in Educational Counseling
Dr. Bill Nericcio, Program Director - Masters of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences (MALAS)
Dr. Lance Larson, Co-Director - Graduate Program in Homeland Security
Dr. Congcong Zheng, Graduate Programs Director - Fowler College of Business
“At SDSU, we take immense pride in the excellence of our student-athletes, both in their athletic performance and academic success. Over the past four years, we have reached significant milestones in academics across all our sports, a testament to the dedication and support of our faculty colleagues. The Faculty Guest Coaches Program allows us to honor those faculty members who have made a meaningful impact on our student-athletes' experiences, while also fostering stronger connections with academic programs across campus. Our student-athletes truly value seeing faculty members, who have positively influenced their journeys at SDSU, recognized in this important way,” Dr. Harris said.
A notable enhancement of the Faculty Guest Coaches Program is its expansion to include all Aztec sports. Moving forward, faculty guest coaches will be featured at least one home game for each sport, providing more opportunities for engagement. Additionally, seniors will have the privilege of inviting faculty members to serve as guest coaches during their senior games, establishing this experience as a treasured tradition across all sports at SDSU.
“We take pride in revamping the Faculty Guest Coaches Program, expanding its reach, and deepening its impact. This new iteration not only strengthens the bond between athletics and academics but also enriches the game-day experience for both our student-athletes and the distinguished faculty who help shape their futures. We are especially grateful to our Graduate Program Directors for their participation in our first game, as their leadership and dedication to our students' academic success are invaluable.” -Senior Associate Athletic Director of Student-Athlete Support Services, Danielle Kelly said.
For more information about the Guest Coach Program, please contact Danielle Kelly at dmkelly@sdsu.edu. To learn more about our Student-Athlete Support Services, visit goaztecs.com/SASS.