Great coaches make great Bears

National Coaches Day 2022 from the student-athlete perspective

Athletics are a significant part of life at Lenoir-Rhyne, with 24 teams from the fall season’s football games in Moretz Stadium to the spring’s softball games on Durham Field. To celebrate National Coaches Day on October 6, student-athletes took a few moments to share some of their favorite moments with their coaches, in words and photos.

What is the single most important quality that makes a great coach?

Jessica Laign ’24, nursing, spirit team: Having Coach Brandi Franklin through COVID and our regular season, I am very grateful for her model of flexibility, dependability, and commitment. Regardless of any situation Coach Brandi is confident in our team and ready to inspire and encourage us.

Chloe Telian ’23, nursing, women’s triathlon: A great coach cares about you as a whole person and not just your performance. Coach Harley Mason is down-to-earth and not afraid to say what needs to be said, but she’s also very humble and patient, encouraging me to be the best I can be.

Katelyn Toelle ’26, exercise science, women’s swimming: A great coach is positive and supportive of your goals to help you succeed. Coach Paul Schiffel supports everyone on the team and encourages us to try our hardest at every practice. 

Ginger Truncale ’25, nursing, volleyball: One of my favorite things about both of my coaches — Nicole Barringer and Mark Wimberley — is that they have the same expectations for each player no matter what. They come to every practice with a plan, and you can tell that they genuinely love what they do. It means a lot to have coaches that care about you and believe in you.

Kimberly Owens ‘24, biology, women’s track and field: Coach Seandell Davis will go above and beyond to make sure you get everything you need to succeed on and off the track.

Aasia McNeil ‘24, exercise science, volleyball: I played for Coach Mark Wimberly at Catawba Valley Community College, and he just knows so much about the game, and he loves to share that with everyone. I didn’t know Coach Nicole Barringer before coming here, but she’s awesome. It feels like she’s one of us because she gets so hype in the games and you can tell she really loves her job.

Lucy Whelan ‘21, MBA ‘23, women’s tennis: Coach Erik Scanlan gives us all a voice. He cares about us both on and off the court. He’s a voice of reason, and we all know we can confide in him and trust his advice. He trusts in me to lead my team and he inspires us to all be better people both on and off the court. 

How have your coaches made you a better player and a better person?

Patrik Alvestrand ’23, finance and management, tennis: Coach Erik Scanlan has instilled more discipline into the program, which helps the team to succeed both on and off the court!

Isaac Riggs, ’25, biology, cross country: Coach Kevin Paterson has pushed me to work hard and persevere no matter what challenges may arise. With the many ups and downs of running at this level, he has always supported my teammates and me through it all!

Allison Drum ’23, psychology, spirit team: Coach Brandi Franklin has helped me in more ways than one. From the moment I met her, I knew she was going to leave the best impact on me. She has seen me through many struggles in the past year and kept me motivated. I might not be graduating this year without her motivation.

Ella Haarhoff ’25, political science, women’s lacrosse: Coach Carlee Buck pushes her team hard to get better. She takes time to get to know you and truly cares about you outside of lacrosse. She’s always there if I need to rant or just talk, through the good times and bad.

Noah Julian ’25, business, men’s track and field: A great coach knows his athlete's limits and how to push those. My coach gave me a chance to be a better athlete and be a part of something great after a not-so-good high-school experience.

Why is your coach at Lenoir-Rhyne the best coach ever?

Mikayla Marr ’26, music performance, women’s soccer: Coach Dean Ward not only cares about our performance on the field; he cares about us as people too. He is very aware of our well-being and mental health, so he is very open about being able to talk to him. I know I can rely on him if I need anything. 

Joshua Lanham ’23, sports management, baseball: Coach Chris Ramirez lets us be who we are, and I think that’s what makes us great as a team as well. We stay locked in and love the game more and more every day.

Joseph Cockman ’24, finance, tennis: Coach Erik Scanlan is always looking for ways, no matter how small or specific, for us to improve our game. He encourages us to work harder, be more passionate about the game of tennis and always to be better versions of ourselves. 

Breanna Paul ‘24, instructional studies, spirit team: Coach Brandi Franklin pushes me to be my best self at cheer, in the classroom and in life. She has made me a leader I probably wouldn’t be if I didn’t have her as my coach. She cares so much about our team and would do anything to help us succeed in life. I hope to make her proud one day.

Wade Cuda ‘23, MBA, baseball: The Lenoir-Rhyne baseball coaches are the best because of the energy they bring to the field every day. It is easy for us players to build off the excitement that they have for being at the field every day. We pride ourselves on being a very passionate team, and it starts at the top with our coaching staff. 

Erica Schulz ’23, chemistry, women’s triathlon: Coach Harley Mason takes time to understand each of us as individuals and makes sure we each have the chance to input so we all keep improving. Harley has taught me that I am allowed to have a voice and can be a team player with individual needs. She has made a huge impact on this team and our growing culture of positivity.

Abby Wrede ’25, business, women’s basketball: Coach Grahm Smith cares about every single one of us so much, and he sees us as more than basketball players. He makes sure we know we can come to him if we need anything because he values our mental health and well-being even more than basketball.

Robert Pensabene ‘24, computer science, men’s lacrosse: I had a business relationship with my old coach, and that’s not the case here. With Coach Ryan Crompton I can just stop by his office and talk about anything. Being so far away from home, I know my coach and his staff are going to just be there for me no matter what, no question about it.

What is something you know about your coach that you wish everyone knew?

Alyssa Bailey ’23, nursing, spirit team: Coach Grace Marley is such a talented dancer, and we hope everyone sees her talent not only in dancing but in choreography too! Our whole team loves and trusts her as a role model. She’s a positive influence on us because she prioritizes academic greatness as well as greatness in our sport.

Adie Bjerkness ’23, biology, women’s track and field: Coach Kevin Paterson is a very observant and caring coach and will go out of his way to help his athletes, as well as other athletes from other teams. He put my needs as a person and as a student first, which fostered an environment where I felt safe and at home every time I stepped onto the track.

Nicolas Bohigues Lozano ’23, MBA business analytics and information technology, men’s soccer: People don’t know Coach Jack Winter sings very well. Also, I think his way of communicating his message, values and goals to the players makes us all push toward the same side. We want to win not for ourselves, but for a common good, our teammates, for our family in this university. Great people make great Bears!

Emma Davis ‘24, nursing, spirit team: Coach Brandi Franklin is always there for me. She treats me as if I am one of her own, keeping up with how I’m doing in school and checking up on me whenever I am feeling down. She has helped me become the best cheerleader that I can be, but more importantly, she has helped me to be the best me I can be.

Percy Fyle ’24, engineering physics, men’s basketball: I want people to know I dunked on Coach Everick Sullivan once. He trusts us as players, so we have a better relationship with him, on and off the court. He cares about us, not just the sport. He wants us to be in a good place for life after basketball, looking out for us and our futures, reminding us to be smart about what we do.

What message would you like to send your coach for National Coaches Day?

Jacob Dalton ’23, nursing, tennis: Coach Erik Scanlan, we appreciate the constant dedication and commitment every day that you show us. 

Summer Maddox ’24, nursing, women’s lacrosse: Thank you for always being there for me no matter what the circumstance is, whether I've had a bad day, or I just wanted to pop in the office and say hi to talk about my day or week, I really appreciate the support and encouragement I get from Coach Carlee Buck and Coach Abbie McEntee!

Matthew Raybould ’23, MBA, men’s golf: Coach Elliot Gealy, I would simply like to say thank you. You took me in as a freshman and nurtured me into who I am today. Your high-quality leadership skills have rubbed off on me in more ways than you could imagine. From complete strangers in the beginning to very close friends, if not family at this point. It makes me proud to know you as I do.

Janet Kwambai ’23, nursing, women’s cross country: Coach Kevin Paterson, thank you for inspiring me to be great in everything that I do. You’re a great coach because you don’t only change the game, but you change the lives of athletes. I’m blessed to be a part of your amazing cross country and track team. Thank you for believing in us and being grateful for every effort we put into practice and races. May God bless you!