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Three Duke Coaches Complete First ACC Coaching Development Academy
1/7/2022 1:29:00 PM | Athletics
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Three Duke assistant coaches were among 13 coaches across the Atlantic Coast Conference who recently completed the first cohort of "Coaching the Whole Athlete Academy," an eight-week virtual and immersive development program established by the league office that equips coaches with information, tools and skills of a humanistic approach to better support the needs of the student-athlete.
Duke was represented at the program by women's tennis associate head coach Michelle Dasso, softball assistant coach Jessica Bracamonte and fencing assistant coach Christophe Duclos.
The 13 members of the introductory cohort met on a weekly basis this fall to examine ways to evolve practices and relationships with student-athletes to foster a supportive space to thrive and empower them to reach their potential in athletics and in life.
For Dasso, who was a four-time All-American as a student-athlete at Notre Dame and this past spring helped Duke reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, the developmental program allowed for discourse among coaches from a variety of athletic backgrounds and experiences.
"'Coaching the Whole Athlete' cohort was one of the most useful courses I've ever participated in for my continued coaching development," said Dasso. "The amount of material and information was significant and learning from other coaches from different sports and institutions within our incredible conference made the experience that much more unique. At the end of the day, coaching is about relationship development and genuine investment in our student-athletes as people first. The concrete tools, strategies and terms learned will help any coach in their quest to continue to grow and develop meaningful relationships with their players. I'm so grateful for the ACC and Duke for providing me with this opportunity."
Since joining the Duke softball staff in 2019, Bracamonte has helped lead the Blue Devils to a 67-16 overall record, highlighted by the program's first ACC Championship title and NCAA Tournament berth in 2021. According to Bracamonte, "Coaching the Whole Athlete Academy" provided invaluable opportunities to learn more about leadership and establishing a strong culture within a program.
"So many coaches talk about the importance of putting their student-athlete's welfare and experience above winning at all cost," she said. "Most will say they believe that if you focus on leadership, culture, and relationships, the wins will follow. This course is a great way to figure out if you are taking the right steps to truly create this type of environment. It teaches you why and how adopting a humanistic approach can make such a difference in your program and, more importantly, the people in it. As coaches, we challenge our athletes to take all necessary steps to reach their full potential and taking this course is a great opportunity to lead by example."
Now getting set for his fifth season with the Duke fencing program, Duclos looks to help guide the Blue Devils to a repeat performance at the ACC Championship, which the men's and women's teams swept in 2021. For Duclos, this fall's coaches academy offered a well-rounded education that covered multiple aspects of coaching, developing and supporting student-athletes.
"I left the program with a clearly defined coaching philosophy that incorporates tools and strategies to support the needs of the whole athlete as well as a plan of action for practical implementation," he said. "I highly recommend this coaching education program and support any serious coaching education online and in-person courses, especially in a country like the United States where sport can only improve with professionally educated instructors."
"Coaching the Whole Athlete Academy" is led by lead facilitator Brianna Welch, a 2014 Duke graduate who also served as an assistant track & field coach at Vermont for two years. The winter cohort of the academy will begin in January.
#GoDuke
Duke was represented at the program by women's tennis associate head coach Michelle Dasso, softball assistant coach Jessica Bracamonte and fencing assistant coach Christophe Duclos.
The 13 members of the introductory cohort met on a weekly basis this fall to examine ways to evolve practices and relationships with student-athletes to foster a supportive space to thrive and empower them to reach their potential in athletics and in life.
For Dasso, who was a four-time All-American as a student-athlete at Notre Dame and this past spring helped Duke reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, the developmental program allowed for discourse among coaches from a variety of athletic backgrounds and experiences.
"'Coaching the Whole Athlete' cohort was one of the most useful courses I've ever participated in for my continued coaching development," said Dasso. "The amount of material and information was significant and learning from other coaches from different sports and institutions within our incredible conference made the experience that much more unique. At the end of the day, coaching is about relationship development and genuine investment in our student-athletes as people first. The concrete tools, strategies and terms learned will help any coach in their quest to continue to grow and develop meaningful relationships with their players. I'm so grateful for the ACC and Duke for providing me with this opportunity."
Since joining the Duke softball staff in 2019, Bracamonte has helped lead the Blue Devils to a 67-16 overall record, highlighted by the program's first ACC Championship title and NCAA Tournament berth in 2021. According to Bracamonte, "Coaching the Whole Athlete Academy" provided invaluable opportunities to learn more about leadership and establishing a strong culture within a program.
"So many coaches talk about the importance of putting their student-athlete's welfare and experience above winning at all cost," she said. "Most will say they believe that if you focus on leadership, culture, and relationships, the wins will follow. This course is a great way to figure out if you are taking the right steps to truly create this type of environment. It teaches you why and how adopting a humanistic approach can make such a difference in your program and, more importantly, the people in it. As coaches, we challenge our athletes to take all necessary steps to reach their full potential and taking this course is a great opportunity to lead by example."
Now getting set for his fifth season with the Duke fencing program, Duclos looks to help guide the Blue Devils to a repeat performance at the ACC Championship, which the men's and women's teams swept in 2021. For Duclos, this fall's coaches academy offered a well-rounded education that covered multiple aspects of coaching, developing and supporting student-athletes.
"I left the program with a clearly defined coaching philosophy that incorporates tools and strategies to support the needs of the whole athlete as well as a plan of action for practical implementation," he said. "I highly recommend this coaching education program and support any serious coaching education online and in-person courses, especially in a country like the United States where sport can only improve with professionally educated instructors."
"Coaching the Whole Athlete Academy" is led by lead facilitator Brianna Welch, a 2014 Duke graduate who also served as an assistant track & field coach at Vermont for two years. The winter cohort of the academy will begin in January.
#GoDuke
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