For college athletes, early mornings and late nights are not out of the ordinary. Many of the athletic teams at Olivet Nazarene University start the day with lifting practices, even in the off seasons. In the heat of the season, practices and games can extend the day long into the evening. A typical college schedule allows for blocks of time throughout the day for homework, meals, social or academic gatherings, and the occasional nap. However, for senior athletes in the School of Education, student teaching drastically alters that flexibility.
School of Education athletes who are in good academic standing are encouraged to compete in their sport during their final semester at Olivet—allowing them to cap off their collegiate athletic careers as they gain vital experience in the classroom. This opportunity to pursue both personal and professional passions is an asset for prospective education students, particularly because it allows them to economically finish their undergraduate degree in four years.
This spring, there are 57 Olivet students who are student teaching, eight of whom are also balancing the rigorous demands of participating in athletics.
“The School of Education is proud to support student-athletes and recognizes the unique qualities they bring to the field of education,” says Dr. Lance Kilpatrick, associate dean of the School of Education. “We believe that college athletes make exceptional teachers. Many student-athletes arrive at Olivet with aspirations to become teachers and coaches, often inspired by a teacher or coach who positively impacted their lives.”
Students choose to attend Olivet for a variety of reasons, but the ability to continue their athletic journey beyond high school is a big draw for many.
“Football was the first reason I checked out Olivet,” notes senior Blake Lamb, who is majoring in special education and completing his student teaching experience at Kankakee Junior High School. “But when I came onto campus, I felt the warmth of the people. The professors in the School of Education seemed genuinely invested in me.”
Tyler Rickert, a senior math education major who is student teaching at Momence High School, was interested in attending Olivet because of the math and education departments. Playing on the men’s volleyball team as a libero/defensive specialist was a cool add-on, but also one that has had an immense impact on his personal and professional outlooks.
“Through my time playing volleyball at Olivet, one of the biggest things I’ve learned is that you need to know how to pick yourself up,” Tyler says. “In any team sport, you must be able to assist your teammates, especially emotionally, and you can’t help others if you haven’t helped yourself. You could be the most talented player, but if you can’t serve yourself emotionally, there are going to be struggles. It’s similar in the classroom.” 
By the time students reach their final season in their sport, they’ve likely trained for more than a decade to become as strong and capable as possible. Their senior year might be the last opportunity to compete at a pre-professional level.
“At this point in their athletic journey, these students have formed close bonds with teammates and coaches and often will have the opportunity to take on leadership roles for the team—whether as team captains or by motivating teammates during tough moments,” Dr. Kilpatrick says. “Competing in their final season allows students to end their athletic careers on a high note, giving them a sense of closure and accomplishment.”
The majority of senior students in the School of Education get assigned to a student teaching position in a local school where they partner with an experienced cooperating teacher. Other students, like Amelia Murray, a senior cross country and track and field long-distance runner who is majoring in elementary education with endorsements in special education and middle school English, is student teaching near her hometown in Wheaton, Illinois. 
To stay conditioned and ready for competition, student teachers often have to adjust their training schedules to accommodate full work days in the classroom. During the week, Amelia runs before and/or after the school day. She also drives to campus each weekend for track meets, to spend time with teammates and friends, and to do the team long run practice on Sunday mornings—seamlessly integrating what she’s learning in the classroom into her training, and vice versa.
“Running teaches you lessons like perseverance, working hard and trying again when you fail,” Amelia reflects. “I went into student teaching wanting to be teachable and ok with making mistakes. In implementing things I’ve learned in my courses, I’ve realized things are different when you’re actually in the classroom. Having a solid academic foundation allows me to explore as a teacher.”
The liberal arts curriculum at Olivet lends itself well to students to engage in a variety of cross-disciplinary activities. Senior Kyle Szymanski, who is majoring in physical and health education, served as a resident assistant for three years and participated in the Student Development Advisement Group, Kappa Delta Pi, National Society of Leadership and Success and the Christian Educators of America. He is student teaching at Liberty Intermediate School in Bourbonnais.
“I chose Olivet for a variety of reasons,” says Kyle. “There is an amazing combination of strong academics, great community, and the chance to keep playing the sport I enjoy so much. I knew I wanted to go into a medical or health-related field and actually started out as a nursing major. Although my passion for nursing fell off, I was able to explore the physical and health education world and immediately fell in love with it. I have always had a passion for working with children, guiding them and helping them learn and grow.”
Competing in collegiate athletics has taught all four of these pre-service educators valuable lessons about how to succeed in both individual and team formats, which is a vital in the field of education. Ultimately, the goal is to provide an excellent academic experience for the young students they get to interact with.
“I want to work in education mainly because I cannot picture myself working any other job,” Tyler says. “This job can be very rewarding if done right. Everyone has that one teacher who influenced them tremendously, and I want to be that teacher for students out there. It’s important to have positive role models out there.”
Having their own supportive coaches and administrative staff has made the tricky process of balancing busy schedules and new responsibilities smooth for the student-athletes.
“Coach [Kyle] Rago always says ‘academics over athletics,’” Amelia reflects. “He tells us how much he believes in us and that running is ultimately for the glory of God, so we should have fun. He emphasizes to trust our training, which has been helpful both in athletics and in the classroom.”
“Student teaching is my #1 priority,” Blake says. “The football coaches were 100% on board with that—so balancing everything has been very easy. In general, the coaches talk a lot about how no one should strive to be average. In your walk with Christ if you’re average, you’re lukewarm. I’ve really tried in my studies and on the field myself to push beyond average and work on being a better man with their encouragement.”
Two of Blake’s football teammates Andrew Cloy and Brayden Cook, are also student teaching, which has added an extra layer of community support. All senior education majors take one on-campus course during the semester that they complete their student teaching. This weekly night class gives the pre-service teachers the chance to connect about the highs and lows of classroom experiences, discuss best practices and prepare a capstone portfolio that sums up their semester of teaching.
Although it is not totally uncommon for universities to allow student-athletes to compete during the semester in which they complete their required student teaching experience, the 2024-2025 academic year is only the fifth year in which Olivet has offered this option. For Dillon Dahl, the head coach of men’s volleyball, the ability to compete while completing his own undergraduate coursework was hugely beneficial for his career as an educator and coach. 
“In my first year, I was head track coach and helped with officiating volleyball games,” Coach Dahl reflects. “By my second year, I was also the assistant volleyball coach. So, it is very beneficial for student teachers to understand and experience both [teaching and athletic involvement] simultaneously. On top of that, I think student teachers who are college athletes are more marketable to school districts. Many schools, especially the small-to-mid-size schools always need to find qualified coaches.”
“Allowing student athletes to student teach and continue their athletic career is a unique experience but one that benefits the student immensely,” adds head and track and field coach, Kyle Rago. “If they are going to be successful, they are going to do it because of self-determination. It teaches them a new level of dedication and pushes them outside what they are probably thought they were capable of. Once you’ve conquered your perceived boundaries, you no longer see limits, just a goal to achieve.”
In the fall, Blake will continue his Olivet journey by enrolling in a master’s program and playing out his last season of athletic eligibility as a tight end on the football team. After they wrap up their final spring seasons of competition and pass their licensure exams, Amelia, Tyler and Kyle all hope to find full-time teaching jobs relatively near to their hometowns. All four have aspirations to coach at some point in their careers.
Having their own supportive coaches and administrative staff, in addition to strong teammate relationships, has made the tricky process of balancing busy schedules and new responsibilities smooth for the student-athletes.
“I think that translating athletic experiences into the classroom will almost be natural,” Tyler says. “On and off the court you must be there for your guys and do what you can to support them. It’s the same in the classroom. You have to be there for all of your students. You must let them know that you care about them and that they are capable of greatness.”
For student-athletes, the teamwork really does help make their dreams work.
“I’m grateful for the support from my own professors, parents, coaches and peers throughout my time at Olivet,” Kyle affirms. “Just as in sports, education requires teamwork, perseverance, and encouragement, all of which I look forward to fostering in my future students.”
For more information about the School of Education, visit Olivet.edu. For more information regarding ONU Athletics, including recruitment information, visit onutigers.com.
From Olivet The Magazine, Think On These Things – Spring 2025. Read the full issue here.
