Character Development in Intercollegiate Athletics: A Phenomenological Investigation of NCAA Division III and NAIA Head Coaches

Abstract

The extent to which sports build character is an increasingly contested topic, and scholarship has recently been focused on how coaches may (or may not) facilitate character development in their programs. Although existing literature examines coaches in youth sport and “big-time” college athletic programs, research on coaches in smaller programs (i.e., NCAA Division III and NAIA) remains scant. This phenomenological study seeks to better understand what character development means to coaches in this context. Implications of findings for small college athletic programs are discussed.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sean Strehlow

a

Sean M. Strehlow ([email protected]) is a postdoctoral teaching fellow for the department of educational leadership at Baylor University. His research focuses on moral formation in higher education and sport.