The Role of Athletics in Liberal Arts

Hosts: • Jakob Barnard and Scot Loyd Guest: • Brian Mistro, Head Coach of Football at the University of Jamestown Main Topics Discussed: 1. Introduction and Background of Brian Mistro: • Brian Mistro shares his journey from Arizona to becoming the head coach at the University of Jamestown. • His experiences in higher education included working at the University of Phoenix and coaching at Northern State and Concordia College before joining UJ in 2019. 2. Athletics and Liberal Arts: • The integration of athletics within the liberal arts framework at UJ. • The holistic student experience emphasizes the development of students beyond the classroom and athletic field. 3. Benefits of Being a Student-Athlete: • Mistro discusses the profound impact of athletics on student development, including learning through adversity, teamwork, and leadership. • The importance of being a well-rounded individual with skills learned outside the classroom. 4. College Experience and Relationships: • Building lifelong relationships and the value of the college experience. • Mistro shares personal anecdotes highlighting the long-term friendships and connections formed during college. 5. Balancing Academics and Athletics: • The importance of maintaining academic performance while participating in athletics. • Emphasizing student-athletes need to focus on their studies to ensure a successful future. 6. Recruiting Philosophy and Student-Athlete Profile: • UJ looks for qualities in student-athletes, including character, teamwork, and academic diligence. • Evaluating potential recruits through their high school coaches and academic performance. 7. Challenges and Changes in College Athletics: • Discussion on the transfer portal and name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. • The potential benefits and abuses of the transfer portal and how it impacts student-athletes. • The impact of NIL deals at the NAIA level is limited compared to larger universities. 8. Leadership Development: • The role of athletics in developing leadership skills in student-athletes. • Encouraging students to be leaders in various aspects of their lives, not just on the field. 9. Final Thoughts and Recruitment Pitch: • Mistro emphasizes the importance of choosing to come to UJ and the opportunities it provides for personal growth and development. • The value of surrounding oneself with amazing people and the supportive environment at UJ. Conclusion: The episode highlights the integration of athletics within the liberal arts framework at the University of Jamestown, emphasizing the holistic development of student-athletes. Through personal anecdotes and discussions on leadership, relationships, and the challenges in modern college athletics, the podcast underscores the value of a well-rounded college experience that prepares students for life beyond sports and academics. As mentioned at the show's end, a journal article by Coffey and Davis (2019) entitled "The Holistic Approach to Academia: Traditional Classroom Instruction and Experiential Learning of Student-Athletes (https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/9/2/125) " is well worth the read!