UA women's basketball head coach Joan Bonvicini will speak tomorrow about the importance of leadership and teamwork on student athletic teams as a part of the university's weekly Faculty Fellows speaker series.
Bonvicini's speech, titled "Success with Student Athletes," will detail some of the lessons she has learned in her 14 seasons with the women's basketball program. She said the talk should appeal to everyone, not just student athletes or people who work with them.
Bonvicini said many people think her job is only to coach her players during practices and games.
"Really what I am is a manager of people, both the athletes and the people on my staff," she said. "I want to get the very best out of them."
One way Bonvicini encourages the best in her student athletes is by pushing them to take advantage of the academic services offered by the athletics department.
"I think we do an outstanding job with our services here," Bonvicini said. "(Student athletes) have an incredible accessibility to so many different people."
Bonvicini said services like tutoring, résumé writing assistance and help with other job skills are available to help athletes be successful. According to Bonvicini, so many services are offered that many student athletes aren't able to take full advantage of them all.
"It's not until they really take a step back and see all the things we did for them while they were here" that they appreciate it, Bonvicini said.
Shannon Hobson, a psychology sophomore and member of the women's basketball team, said the demands placed on student athletes are tough, but the support that is offered helps ease the load.
"Teachers usually work with us to help us get back in the groove of things," Hobson said. "The sport forces you to ... manage your time."
Hobson said the academic counselors available to student athletes are extremely helpful. The counselors work with the athletes to arrange for tutoring and to set up meetings with their professors, Hobson said.
Magan Alfred, program coordinator for education and outreach for the Dean of Students Office, said while the Faculty Fellows Speaker series usually highlights faculty and their research, other members of the university community are invited to speak.
She said that athletics figures such as Mike Candrea, head coach of women's softball, and Jim Livengood, director of athletics, have been popular with students in the past.
"Anything that would keep student athletes successful in the classroom as well as on the court and the playing fields is beneficial to the entire campus community," Alfred said.
Bonvicini will speak tomorrow at 12 p.m. in the Gallagher Theater in the Student Union Memorial Center.