SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco State assistant wrestling coach Mauricio Wright was among a select group of 32 coaches from across the country who attended the second annual National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Coaching Leadership Academy, Aug. 5-8, in Delray Beach, Fla.

 

The 32 coaches represented all collegiate divisions and were chosen through a nomination process from hundreds of applicants.

 

The NWCA Coaching Leadership Academy was started in 2009 under the guidance of Dr. Dan Gould, professor of sports psychology at Michigan State University and a nationally renowned coaching development expert.

 

According to the NWCA, the Academy's goals are to help coaches strengthen their CEO skills in an effort to protect their programs and to promote best practices for improving retention and graduation rates.

 

“The NWCA is extending its effort into refining the mission of collegiate wrestling,” coach Wright said. “I believe the greatest addition to the resources that they provide for us coaches is this Leadership Academy.  It's a great forum for discussing ethical, developmental and strategic planning for successful programs.”

 

Among the highlights of last week's gathering included a discussion by Dr. Gould which focused on the emotional preparation for wrestling success.

 

Dr. Coyte Cooper, professor of sports marketing at the University of North Carolina, was another featured guest who presented his study on student-athlete conduct as it relates to strategic planning by collegiate administrators.