Four years at Pepperdine is not enough time for some students, as many of the alumni stay close to home when it comes to post-graduation — especially past athletes.
Pepperdine Athletics has 33 former players on the other side of the court as coaches and staff guiding athletes through their four years of college.
“We love to hire former students and student-athletes. It is really more about their work they did as a student rather than their athletic career,” said Karina Herold, deputy director of Athletics and senior woman administrator. “It really helps when you work in our department when you are here. For people who have interned while being a sports administration major, they get to know us really well and more importantly, we get to know them really well.”
From the Court to the Office
Skylar Caputo, the new academic support coordinator for Athletics and former Pepperdine Beach Volleyball player, was one of those interns and said she never would have thought four years ago, as a freshman, that she would be in the position she is in today. But when the job was offered, she took it with the thought that it would be enriching for her first work experience and a chance to give back.
“It goes to show what Pepperdine is all about. They like to hire people who understand the culture (obviously not all), but they did so much for me that I wanted to give back, ” Caputo said.
A Pepp Post poll of 50 student-athletes found that 37 of them think that, for the most part, the coaches are better at their job because they know Pepperdine and the culture.
Julianna Chan, former Swimming & Diving member and new Communication Graduate Assistant for Athletics, interned in the Athletic Department her junior and senior year, which she said helped her land a job at Pepperdine that was similar to a job she wants to do in the future. In addition, while gaining work experience, she gets to earn her degree.
“What my position is now is that I get to be a sports information director essentially. I am a graduate assistant but I do the same responsibilities and I have my own teams, which is what I want to do in the future, so basically it was the perfect fit,” Chan said. “I get to broaden my own horizons and do the job I am wanting to do in the future while getting my degree.”
Director of Athletics Steve Potts said they hire people because they know their work ethic and character, they know Pepperdine, they understand their Christian commitment — which is important to the school and Athletics — and they value the characteristics of Pepperdine Waves.
“We (Pepperdine) are different. We intend to be different. It starts with our Christian mission, our strong commitment to academic well-being, and still compete at the highest level,” Potts said.
Roughly 82% of student-athletes responded to the poll that if they were offered a job at Pepperdine, they would most likely take it.
James Gehrels, the director of the Waves Athletic Fund and former Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball Player, came back to Pepperdine after working at other universities because he truly realized just how special Pepperdine and Pepperdine Athletics truly are.
“Pepperdine is doing its best to each and every day live out what it says it is trying to do in terms of preparing students for life after college,” Gehrels said. “There are many coaches here who were coaching when I was a student-athlete and despite having other opportunities to go elsewhere they have remained here because of what this place is and what it stands for.”
Pepperdine Environment
The poll found that coaches and student atmosphere were the two main factors that led athletes to Pepperdine.
However, Potts said he is glad that not every coach is a Pepperdine graduate because they need people who have seen other aspects of different schools. But, with past Pepperdine athletes taking on a different role, it helps carry the standard that needs to be met in athletics.
Student-athletes also responded to the poll saying that a possible downside to Pepperdine hiring past alumni was the lack of fresh perspectives and outside experience.
Herold explained that Athletics focuses on three components within their mission: strengthening spiritual lives, having an enriching academic experience and competing for championships, in that specific order, which goes back to its mission of “competing with purpose.”
“It’s the dedication that Pepperdine Athletics has to the students’ well-being as a whole, like developing not just good athletes but good people,” said Delaney Knudsen, volunteer assistant coach for Beach Volleyball.
Institutional Knowledge
Athletes appreciate the knowledge the alumni have as coaches.
“Delaney is very attuned to what it is like to be a Pepperdine beach volleyball player, and she uses this knowledge as emotional support,” said Simone Priebe, a sophomore International Business beach volleyball player. “She takes on a mentoring role which I think is a huge benefit.”
Potts also acknowledged that Pepperdine Athletics does not prioritize athletics over academics, as they are there to make sure athletes get an enriching, rewarding academic experience.
“I think that’s a huge reason why I have enjoyed this job,” Caputo said. “It’s the meetings that I get to have with the student-athletes and connecting with the struggles they are going through and the amazing grades they get back.”
Only being part of the academic side for not even a year, the athletes can see and appreciate the effort she is putting in.
“She is very resourceful,” said Leyla McFarland, a sophomore psychology major and soccer player. She listened to me and understood that I have a hard time with time management. So, now, she gives me sheets to plan my days and helps me fill them out week to week.”
Out of the 50 student-athletes, 38 of them responded to the poll that they think it is good to hire past Pepperdine students as coaches because they know the culture of the school and are able to relate to their issues.
Pepperdine University, including the Athletics department, differs from other colleges because of the close-knit family bond it instills in its students.
“Everybody is so close. You have one weight room. You have one training room. So, everybody is so close, and you get to mingle with other people on different teams,” Graduate Manager for Men’s Basketball Amadi Udenyi said.
Staff and student-athletes agree that Pepperdine has a special atmosphere.
“First time I stepped on this campus I knew it was different,” Potts said. “It had nothing to do with the view. … It had to do with the people.”
Pepperdine Athletics does more than put players out on a field or a court.
The staff cares about the individual and focuses more on the character, allowing athletes to be successful on and off the field later in life, whether that be at Pepperdine or somewhere else.
Olivia Packer completed the reporting for this story under the supervision of Dr. Elizabeth Smith and Dr. Theresa de los Santos in Jour 241 in Fall 2019. Dr. Smith supervised the web story.
