The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) has launched the Rising Coaches Program, an educational initiative aimed at preparing former and current student-athletes for a seamless transition into the world of college tennis coaching. Through a structured two-week program that combines video content, live Zoom workshops, and assignments, participants gain critical knowledge in coaching, leadership, and career development. Graduates of the program not only earn a certificate of completion but also have their resumes featured in the ITA’s ‘Looking for a Coach?’ database—an invaluable resource for aspiring coaches.
Coaching Preparation and Career Advancement
The Rising Coaches Program provides participants with the foundational skills necessary for a successful coaching career. Through modules such as ‘Assistant Coaching 101’, participants are introduced to the expectations and responsibilities of an assistant coach. The program also delves into the complexities of transitioning from athlete to coach and offers a glimpse into the head coaching role.
Lauren Conching, Director of Coach Education at the ITA, explained, “The ITA created the Rising Coaches program for several reasons. The first was that most student-athletes who transition to coaching roles face some of the same hurdles, regardless of the division or gender they are coaching. We wanted to try to prepare them for some of these challenges by getting them to think about it in advance. We also wanted to introduce the concept of coach education early on in their careers, in hopes that they continue to see the importance of it.”
Additionally, the program offers participants a solid foundation for building their professional network within the college tennis community. Understanding the intricacies of the hiring process is another key focus, giving participants the tools to articulate their skills and values and navigate the job market through the ‘Networking & the Hiring Process’ Module. “We wanted participants to understand the big picture of coaching,” Lauren continued. “So they knew what would be important as they continue in their career.”
The Rising Coaches Program doesn’t shy away from the ethical dimensions of coaching either. Participants engage with both written and unwritten rules of the sport through modules on ‘Rules, Sportsmanship and Ethics’. Taking the ITA Officials Test helps them better understand the impact of on-court behavior and the ethical considerations essential to collegiate sports.
Lauren emphasized that creating universally relevant content across the entire program was a priority.
“We made sure that the material could apply to anyone, regardless of their background or division,”
she explained.
“We also focused on providing solutions to known problems within the coaching world. If a topic got too specific or dependent on many different variables, we didn’t include it.”
Leadership Development & Self-Awareness
One of the most impactful aspects of the Rising Coaches Program is its emphasis on self-awareness and leadership development. Participants take the CoachDISC Profile, provided by Athlete Assessments, which helps them develop awareness of their unique coaching style, explore their leadership strengths, and identify potential areas for improvement. The module titled ‘You: As a Leader’ is designed to foster a deep understanding of participants’ traits and values, giving them insights into their leadership potential.
“The CoachDISC is crucial for helping participants understand their strengths and weaknesses as coaches and leaders in a formalized way,”
Lauren said.
“Self-reflection is important, but it’s only as helpful as the participant is willing to make it.”
The CoachDISC offers a structured way to facilitate that reflection, which is especially valuable as they transition into coaching and the next phase of their careers.
Accompanying the use of the CoachDISC Profile, Athlete Assessments provided tailored content to support the coaches in getting the most out of the process. Founder & Lead Performance Consultant, Bo Hanson also delivered a live workshop with the group to cover DISC in more depth, take them through their results, and apply it to coach development.
Danielle Souness, Athlete Assessments’ Client Success Manager, praised the leadership module, saying,
“We were thrilled to contribute to the success of this program by guiding participants through the CoachDISC Profile. It was exciting to see many participants engage deeply with the content, especially in the live workshops with Bo Hanson. Their level of engagement was impressive, and they were able to connect their own experiences with the DISC model, which enhanced the value of the program.”
Lauren also noted,
“Many of the participants had taken the AthleteDISC as student-athletes, so they were interested to see how their results had evolved—especially now that they were answering from the perspective of a coach.”
A First-Year Success
The inaugural year of the Rising Coaches Program has already garnered significant success, with 20 participants, primarily recent college graduates, taking part in the first cohort. Danielle reflected on the overwhelmingly positive feedback, saying, “We received encouraging feedback from participants who appreciated the interactive elements like the breakout rooms and live Q&A panels. Bo Hanson’s workshop on ‘Your Traits & Values as a Leader’ was a standout highlight for many of them, and it’s clear that they not only learned from the content but also from each other through peer discussions.”
Building for the Future
Looking forward, the ITA aims to expand and build upon the Rising Coaches Program as part of a broader effort to support coach education. Lauren highlighted the ITA’s commitment to its growing suite of coaching education programs, which cater to coaches at all stages of their career development. She added,
“The most important thing for us right now is continuing to build out our current programs—CoachUp, Rising Coaches, and the Mentorship Program.”
The Rising Coaches Program has set a new standard for coaching education in college tennis, providing participants with the tools, insights, and connections they need to succeed in this competitive field.
For aspiring tennis coaches looking to make the leap from being a student-athlete, the Rising Coaches Program offers an unparalleled opportunity to develop essential skills, build a professional network, and grow as future leaders in the sport.
Where to from here?
If you are interested in exploring how Athlete Assessments can contribute to your coaching program’s success, find out more about our Leadership & Professional Development Programs. For coaches seeking personal growth and a deeper understanding of their coaching style, discover the power of our CoachDISC Profiles, designed specifically for the sports industry.
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