Rather than moving on, many NSU athletes choose to stay and invest their experience back into their programs. Ten former student-athletes served as assistant or graduate assistant coaches within NSU Athletics this year, all having competed within the last six years.
For some, the idea of coaching felt right even before they were offered the chance.
“Coaching was something I’ve always thought about. I used to help my sister coach a youth team, and I really loved teaching the game to younger girls,” said Sydney Lageyre, assistant softball coach and member of the team from 2017-2022.
For others, the inspiration to coach came when they realized their playing days were coming to an end.
“I first came to NSU to play on the team for two years, but unfortunately, I only had one year of eligibility left, so the opportunity to coach arose a bit last minute towards the end of my last season,” said Freya Davies, graduate assistant women’s tennis coach and member of the team from 2023-2024. “I decided to stay and be a coach because I’d rather be doing that than not be a part of the team at all.”
A clear advantage these coaches have, which could have initially drawn them into coaching, is their first-hand playing experience.
“It helps to be able to tell the athletes things I would have done differently or things they can be doing better than me because that’s what I want to push them towards,” said Nick Smith, assistant men’s basketball coach and member of the team from 2017-2022. “I draw from my own experiences to help give our guys the same great experience I once had.”
Their playing days also taught them the leadership skills needed for this new role.
“I’ve been the captain of my teams before, and last season I was the oldest on the team, so I’ve always had that influential personality, which has really helped me being able to transition into a coach because I have the understanding and experience of leading and lifting up a team,” Davies said.
Upon the start of their new careers, these coaches had the challenge of learning how to work with athletes they recently played with.
“I was just on the team last season, so separating and establishing myself from my former teammates in a more professional way was a big step and tough at times, but it was possible especially with everyone being really great and supportive,” Davies said.
It means a lot for them to work alongside the head coaches they played under. For Lageyre, this is head softball coach Julie LeMaire.
“A big reason why I took this job is because I wanted to work with Coach LeMaire. She taught me so much as a player and has been a huge role model for me,” Lageyre said. “I love the way she sees the game and coaches with such passion, so I really wanted to learn more from her on the coaching side of things.”
Working with their former head coach gives these coaches a better understanding of the expected playing style.
“I played in Coach Crutchfield’s system for four years, and if I wouldn’t have played for him, I don’t think I would know exactly what to tell the players to do, but I feel like I have a good feel of what he wants to do and where he wants everyone to be,” Smith said
Becoming a coach in the program they were just competing in has also shown them what goes on behind the scenes, which student-athletes don’t usually get to see.
“I never really realized all the things that happen off the field. I’ve joked before that my least busy day is the day of a game because there’s so much that goes into preparation for the game and preparing for the season during the offseason,” Lageyre said. “As a coach you’re dealing with the past, current and future of the program all in one day, which is so surreal. I didn’t realize that would be a part of the everyday in coaching.”
Coaches
– Nick Smith: men’s basketball assistant coach, played 2017-2022
– RJ Sunahara: men’s basketball assistant coach, played 2019-2023
– McKenah Peters: women’s basketball assistant coach, played 2021-2022
– Alison Hughes: women’s basketball assistant coach, played 2017-2019
– Sydney Lageyre: women’s softball assistant coach, played 2017-2022
– Freya Davies: women’s tennis graduate assistant coach, played 2023-2024
– Andrew Labosky: assistant strength and conditioning coach, played baseball 2017-2021
– Christian Leone: men’s baseball director of player development, 2020
– Alec Dawson: swim assistant coach, 2017-2022
– Zyan Ferreria De Andrade: men’s soccer graduate assistant coach, 2023
Athletics Staff
– Robert Baroniel: assistant athletic director of athletic external affairs, played baseball 2011-2015
– Cassandra Wright: revenue generation graduate assistant, women’s swim 2019-2022
– Tommy Barberi: athletic operations & event manager, played baseball 2014-2019
– Madison Fine: game operations graduate assistant, played softball 2021-2024
– Stephen Schissler: equipment room graduate assistant, played baseball 2020-2023
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