Football fans head into Houck Stadium to watch the SEMO Redhawks homecoming game on Oct. 14, 2023

Photo by Kora Siebert

Advancements in technology are reshaping the landscape of athletics both on and off the field, with three points of interest emerging at SEMO's campus. These areas include the integration of technology within Houck Stadium, the utilization of cutting-edge technology to enhance athletes' health and the evolving role of technology as a key component in sports itself.

Technology in Houck Stadium

The construction of Houck Stadium started a new age for SEMO. The first phase was built and completed before the start of the 2023 football season, marking the first time in two years SEMO fans had a home grandstand to sit in. The following phases will be built as SEMO gets the funds for the project.

“A lot going into the timeline for completion is related to funding,” athletic director Brady Barke said. “Each component comes with a different price tag, so we will have to work to figure out how we fund that.”

The next phases will include the addition of new seating and the construction of a new building on the east end zone side of the field. The building will be designed for athletes and coaches, creating a more modern space for them to work in.

“That space will include locker rooms and coaches' offices and those types of things as well as a new sports medicine facility, that will not only be used for our student-athletes but also give academic opportunities for health sciences students to get some experiential learning,” Barke said.

One of the changes in the new stadium is a more reliable headset system for football. The new technology in the stadium allows for more stable and clear communication between coaches and players.

An upgraded fan experience was necessary with the introduction of a new stadium. New concession systems and safety measures were put in place to help fans enjoy their game-day experience more.

“We added a new point-of-sale system into the concessions to help speed up that process. Fans should now be able to take credit cards and electronic payments to concessions and get through it quicker.

“Something that a lot of fans don’t typically see is a fire alarm system. With a 90-year-old stadium, there was no fire alarm system in place, so we were able to implement that and keep the safety of our fans in mind,” Barke said.

Technology for athletes’ health

In sports, maintaining athletes’ health is important to a team’s success. Developments in technology have helped athletes recover from strenuous practices and workouts. SEMO football has a piece of equipment called a “Firefly” to help their bodies recover and prepare for the next day of work.

“It looks like a Bandaid that they put on. A player can hit a button and it will send electronic currents through their legs. So they’ll check it out and use it that night in their home and bring it back the next day,” football head coach Tom Matukewicz said.

Another advancement in technology involves the helmets used in football. SEMO football has started to implement a new helmet, the Riddell Axiom, with head-scanning technology to ensure they are a perfect fit for the player. The helmet also has sensors inside of them so the staff can look at who is getting hit the most and where they are getting hit.

“The company makes the helmet fitted to their head. So it used to be where all the helmets were kind of one size fits all and you’d pump them up with air. The helmet is made to their head and that’s what the quarterbacks are wearing,” football co-head athletic trainer Ben Fox said.

A new piece of technology has begun making its way into sports medicine; 3D printing. SEMO senior wide receiver Ryan Flournoy has been wearing a 3D-printed splint on the field during practice and games while recovering from a broken hand.

“We took a scan and this company built us a 3D-printed splint that he was able to take on and off,” Fox said. “It was super protective, but it still allowed him to move.”

With technology in sports medicine being upgraded, SEMO athletics is constantly looking for ways to improve on the technology they already have. They are also seeing what other schools around the country are doing to improve their athletic training and what they do to help their athletes.

“We got what we need to be able to do right now, but we are always looking for the next opportunity. What’s the next product that everybody’s got? That’s something we’re always looking at,” Fox said.

Technology as a sport

According to statista.com, the League of Legends World Championship final peaked at 5.15 million concurrent viewers. eSports has grown into a worldwide phenomenon, with tournaments for games like Call of Duty, Halo, Overwatch 2 and more taking place year-round. SEMO eSports takes place in their own tournaments, traveling to other schools or taking place in tournaments online.

“On our online tournaments and our normal collegiate leagues, we are able to play from our arena where we have our 12 PCs and connect to the other team online,” Assistant director of competitive sports and conferences Ricky Reed said. “Or we have the option of LAN tournaments and usually it’s just taking up a certain space whether it’s a room or gymnasium depending on the scale.”

The constant change in computer technology means SEMO eSports must upgrade in order to stay competitive. New consoles, computers, monitors and keyboards allow players to perform at the highest level, while the most updated software allows the games and tournament connections to maximize things like frame rate and graphics quality.

“We have the most up-to-date consoles and we always try to provide equipment that is top-of-the-line to make it easier for playing. You constantly have to buy new PCs or new equipment and keep them up to date. So we’re probably getting on that time soon to start trying to upgrade our PCs,” Reed said.

The growth of eSports has reached all ages. High schools are creating their own eSports teams and competing in local tournaments. Colleges are creating scholarships for players to come play for their eSports team and professional organizations are paying their players.

“There’s actual professional leagues that are paying players over six-figure salaries to play for a professional team and professional organizations with staff like a professional football team,” Reed said.

The teams in eSports have evolved along with the technology. Single-player games like Pac-Man and Tetris have made way for team games with round-based matches like Valorant. Teams who compete in these tournaments have grown from a few players to include things like substitute players, coaches and other staff members.

“Teams now have marketers, they have coaches, analysts and nutritionists. They also have full-sized gaming facilities. So it’s really come far, especially within the last 10 years,” Reed said.

Technology Improving Performance

The development of cameras has allowed teams and athletes to review their practices and games to see what went right or wrong and help improve their play in their next games. More recently, the addition of drones has been implemented as a cheaper and more efficient technique.

“One of the things that’s changed here is the use of drones,” Matukewicz said. “When I first got here, we put that big filming tower in there for about 200 grand. Now we have flying drones that are better and cost only about a grand.”

The use of digital film allows a team to post their practice and game footage online almost instantly. The ease of access means players can review films from anywhere rather than only in team meetings.

“All the digital film, we go and upload it to a website and the kids can watch it when they get home,” Matukewicz said.

Barke said advances in technology come from different angles. SEMO must adapt to the changes in order to not fall behind the competition.

Graphic by Matt Cagle

Graphic by Kyrie Padberg & photos by Nathan Gladden

The fall of 2023 has allowed two SEMO athletes etch their name not only into SEMO’s record books, but the OVC’s (Ohio Valley Conference) as well.

The first, SEMO volleyball graduate student libero Tara Beilsmith, achieved her goal of breaking the OVC record for digs at Tennessee State on Oct. 14.

“It was a goal of mine coming in as a freshman,” Beilsmith said.

Beilsmith came to SEMO in 2019 after decommitting from Kentucky due to issues with her scholarship offer.

“So she was going to Kentucky. Their offer had somewhat changed, they still wanted her, but the financial piece kind of changed a little bit with their recruiting needs changing,” SEMO volleyball head coach Julie Yankus said.

Once she arrived on campus it was apparent to teammates and coaches she would be an impact player for the Redhawks.

“I knew from the moment that I met her that she was going to break records here. Our very first practice I was like ‘She’s really good’,” middle blocker Talia Gouard said.

Beilsmith earned a similar respect from coaches earning her spot as starting Libero as a true freshman. Beilsmith credits her personal work ethic as being one of the main reasons she’s been so successful.

“We get awarded days off for playing well and having good weeks and weekends, but I don’t really take days off. I think you should never really be complacent with how you're playing,” Beilsmith said.

Just a mere hours after Beilsmith broke the OVC digs record, SEMO graduate student running back Geno Hess broke the conference’s record for touchdowns against Eastern Illinois at Houck field.

Unlike Beilsmith, Hess did not have many offers from other schools to choose from, even though he broke several records in high school.

“He was a great player in high school, set a lot of records, but we were really one of the only ones to recruit him and offer him a scholarship,” SEMO football head coach Tom Matukewicz said.

What he did share with Beilsmith was a desire to get better every chance he got.

“He’s been talented his whole career and he’s been a really good player,” running backs coach Luke Berbinger said. “Really I think the things that he’s needed to change and get better, he’s put a lot of emphasis in.”

Hess’s work ethic has allowed him from a freshman who had to redshirt his first year to the arguably greatest running back in both SEMO & OVC history. Another factor he credits is his love for the game.

“This is still a kid’s game. This is the same game I’ve been playing since I was five years old,” Hess said.

The sentiment of hard work is repeated by former SEMO track & field runner, Miles Smith. Smith said that aside from the hard work, your approach must be to improve every day.

“It’s are you doing the one percent?,” Smith said. “Champions become champions by gaining one percent every day.”

With this approach Smith was able to have one of the most illustrious careers in the history of SEMO athletics. Smith would win 14 OVC championships, was named OVC Track Indoor Athlete of the Year three times (2005-06, 2008) and OVC Track Outdoor Athlete of the Year once (2008) during his time with the Redhawks.

Smith specialized in the 400m race, being named an all-american three times. He qualified for the 400m event in the NCAA finals twice, placing 11th in the 2005 indoor season and 5th in the 2005 outdoor season. His outdoor time of 45.16 seconds set a SEMO record and was the 14th best time in the world season.

The dedication brought by Smith and his teammates also gave them another important factor in their success, confidence.

“We went into our seasons with very high expectations, if I’m being honest," Smith said. “So from the moment I stepped foot on campus at Southeast Missouri, we had really good school records, but we had a really determined greedy group of guys and we expected to break every record that was on board for us.”

One of the biggest distinctions to Smith’s name is that he is a gold medalist at the international level, competing on the USA 4x400m team in the preliminary rounds of the 2005 World Championships.

“It’s a different level of commitment,” Smith said. “I think people gotta understand that it's a lifestyle, and so it comes with a lot of sacrifice. You know in most cases, there are only three spots, you know? Three opportunities to represent the US on the international stage for any given opportunity.”

Though Beilsmith, Hess, and Smith shared very few similarities aside from being SEMO student athletes, they shared two characteristics that separated themselves from other athletes: their dedication to the sport they love and the belief that they could do it at the highest level.

Illustration by Kyrie Padberg

For athletes, the mental game is just as important as the physical game. Athletes who are able to find the mind and body connection excel on the field.

Athletes must maintain awareness of the balance between their mind and body to continue to push their limits both academically and athletically, there are a number ways this can be done, one being through yoga and other meditation or mind-body awareness exercises.

Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India to promote mental and physical well-being through a combination of poses, concentration and deep breathing, according to Medical News Today.

The overall philosophy of yoga is about connecting the mind, body and spirit. English professor Missy Phegley has been practicing and teaching yoga for 23 years.

“The mind-body connection is noticing how you're feeling, noticing how your body feels when you get really stressed,” Phegley said. “Being able to acknowledge your stress and intentionally allow yourself to relax and breathe through it.”

Athletes are constantly pushing themselves physically and mentally which can lead to stress. Phegley said that taking time to allow yourself to be still for five minutes a day can improve cognitive ability, social and emotional responses and improves physical performance.

Phegley said if athletes can focus on breathing in really intense situations, they are able to make snap decisions. She said practicing yoga can help prevent injury because the muscles and tendons become more elastic and athletes are able to bounce back.

Meditation is needed for an athlete's mind. According to Headspace, meditation can greatly improve the mind-body connection, allowing you to discover your optimal zone of performance.

Carrie Vance, a local to Cape Girardeau, considers herself an athlete because her week consists of pilates classes, bike trails, aerial silk art and mindful yoga meditation.

During Covid, Vance took advantage of her free time to feel more connected to her physical self. She would enjoy riding her bike on the local bike trails with her boyfriend, Skye, it was a fun way to hang out while being active.

After riding for 15-30 miles a day, she found time to stretch her body and meditate. Vance was performing yoga and didn’t even know it. She has found meditating before her yoga practice helps her body stay relaxed and the ability to target certain muscles.

“We hold a lot of tension in different parts of our body and when I do yoga, it's a chance to release the tension from work or bike riding or pilates,” Vance said.

Vance has noticed a huge difference in her balance, posture, self-love and overall breathing since picking up the mindful habit.

“I would say if you are interested in getting started in yoga for mental health reasons, do it. It is a great way to cope and not only handle your emotions, but to control them.” she said.

As an athlete, you have to be able to control your emotions. Senior wildlife and conservation biology major Kat McConnel not only has to have a clear mindset for herself but also the animal she is riding.

McConnel is the president of the Redhawks Equestrian Team, a sport club at SEMO. She has been riding horses for over 15 years and started competitive horse riding during her time at SEMO.

Being an athlete who competes with an animal who can not talk can become difficult or frustrating. McConnel said her emotions and body language can directly affect the horse's mood.

Kat McConnel at the annual Ponies on Parker Event.

Photo submitted by Kat McConnel

“I think paying attention to the biology of stress and how stress can affect your body and how your mind works is really important,” McConnel said.

She said practice makes perfect, just like in a collegiate sport. Learning how to be in the right mental state to communicate and trust the animal without talking.

McConnel knows she has to take control of the situation so​​ the horse feels supported and they can both work as a team.

Yoga is a 5,000 year-old practice many people use to find the balance of your body and mind. Phegley said it was important to notice when you are losing the balance; take a few slow breaths to have a clear mind to address the situation and move forward.

College sets up a wide variety of choices and opportunities that force student-athletes to continue, adapt, or leave sports behind.

SEMO Freshman and Seniors find ways to balance sports and everyday life.

Freshmen at SEMO face the challenge of having to adapt to a new environment in the transition from highschool to college

Freshman volleyball player Lucy Arndt (Outside Hitter), understands the journey all too well.

Arndt, as well as other SEMO students, shared her experience and insights on her athletic journey and the decision to continue playing sports at SEMO. Lucy’s journey into sports began at a young age, inspired by her older sister’s passion for volleyball.

“Growing up I would always look up to my older sister playing volleyball and I knew I wanted to play so my career of playing volleyball competitively started in 4th grade.” Arndt said.

For many high school athletes, the transition to college presents a choice, and Ardnt decided to pursue her love for volleyball while continuing her academic career.

“Definitely love of the sport. Playing Division 1 volleyball was a goal of mine ever since I was young.”

Her passion and pursuit of a dream helped influence her to seek opportunities.

Her decision to come to SEMO was easy and her response was infused with enthusiasm as she says “Right when I came to SEMO for my visit, I fell in love with the family feel that I got not only from the team but the coaches. Everyone was so welcoming and so kind and I knew that it was going to be my home away from home.”

Along with Ardnt, freshman Willow Van Haren also chose to continue her journey playing sports in college. Van Haren plays softball and said her decision to attend SEMO was last minute, but she doesn’t regret her decision.

“I chose SEMO two weeks before I moved in. I was originally going to Northeastern State University in Tahlequah but I had a coaching change last minute and Coach Redburn reached out so I moved 8 hours away from home.”

Balancing school, work, life, and sports can be a difficult task, but Van Haren has learned some important qualities from playing sports that transfer over to her everyday routine.

“I learned to be a leader and also having the confidence on and off the field. It definitely makes you emotionally stronger too. I would say putting how much you work on the field you should put into your school work and degree. If you want to be good at something you have to put in the time to get better at your challenges.”

While Arndt and Van Haren embarked on their athletic journeys in college, senior Payton Gronborg embraced intramural sports and a non-athlete college experience. Gronborg’s story began in high school, where she participated in volleyball, ran track and was on the archery team.

She said her decision to not pursue sports in college was difficult.

“When I was younger I thought I might play volleyball for a D2 or D3 school, but once I got into high school I knew I didn’t want to be involved in athletics in college unless it was for fun on a club or intramural team,” Gronborg said.

Gronborg said she found a way to stay connected to sports by participating in intramural sports with her sorority and her coworkers.

SEMO senior athletes discuss hopes and plans for the next stage

Seniors who are on their way out are tasked with the challenge of continuing or adapting their career path.

Adapting to life after sports is in the near future for senior receiver Garrett Todd from the Redhawks football team, who is getting closer to transferring what he’s learned from football into his work life. Todd is a native of Lebanon, Tennessee, and has been playing football since he was 7 years old.

“I get a slight adrenaline rush at times during the game, yes, but mainly I just have fun while I’m playing,” Todd said. “It’s a game. You should have fun while you’re playing it or there’s no reason to be playing.”

Unsure how he will transfer that energy and adrenaline into his work life, Todd said he will be sure to always find fun in his work no matter what he does.

There are many lessons sports can teach you that can be applied to life off the court or field. Garrett Todd said his favorite life lesson he learned from sports would be the importance of teamwork.

“Everyone on the team [has] a role and if everyone does their job correctly, then things will go the right way,” Todd said.

But the benefits of teamwork not only work for sports, as teamwork can apply to many jobs and other tasks as well. Todd plans to carry over this “teamwork” mindset into his post-football work career.

After graduation, he plans to return to SEMO to be a graduate assistant with the football team and earn his master’s degree in sports management to eventually become an athletic director. Staying around sports is how he said the missing patch with football being done for him will be fulfilled.

Garrett Todd said he has a plan for his life and who he wants to be when it comes to finding his identity outside of football.

“I feel like I have a plan for my life and I have established myself as the kind of person I want to be,” Todd said. “But at the same time I am still very young and have a lot of life left in me so there really is no telling what my true identity will be in the future.”

Senior shooting guard Megan Barton of the SEMO women’s basketball team is making the best out of each opportunity as she prepares to make that transition into her post-athletic career. She is a native of Carterville, Illinois, and transferred to SEMO from Bradley University.

Barton has been playing basketball since she was in the fourth grade and she said it has always meant everything to her.

“I’m just very compassionate about it and it’s my safe space,” Barton said. “[It’s] an area where I can showcase my art within myself.”

The journey to get to a Division I program was a little different for her than it was for other athletes. Barton played at a junior college her first two years after graduating high school. Because of this, she said she is very grateful for the opportunities she’s earned and she makes the best out of every moment.

Barton said her favorite life lesson she’s learned from playing basketball is just cherishing moments and opportunities.

“It can all be taken away in an instant if you don’t cherish the position you’re put in,” Barton said.

After graduation, Barton plans on going to medical school to become a radiologist. She then wants to begin owning apartments eventually as well. Cherishing every moment even while working is important because as she said, it can all be taken away in an instant, with unexpected causes.

When asked if she’s found her true identity yet outside of basketball, Barton said not yet.

“Yes to the ability that’s been given to me, but not all the way,” Barton said. “This does take up majority of my time, but I think I will fully when I’m done playing basketball."

SEMO Alumni find two different ways to succeed after college

Alumni athletes of Southeast have taken paths that are leading to their success in two different careers on and off the field.

Former SEMO pitcher (2019-2023), Bryce Grossius has found the transition from athlete to now car salesman to be a smooth one. Grossius said that there are three important attributes he has carried over from playing college baseball to his new job.

“I would say I carried over competitiveness, the grind, and adrenaline,” Grossius said. “Selling a car is not an easy task and is a constant grind, just like college ball was.”

Former SEMO catcher (2019-2022), Andrew Keck, who was drafted in 10th round by Atlanta Braves in 2022, has found the transition from college to professional athlete as a quick one. Keck said that he was pleased with how fast everything went.

“The transition was pretty quick after the SEMO season (2022) ended,” Keck said. “To getting drafted, then going down to spring training, then getting called up to an affiliate club, there was really no time to pause and think about it.”

A normal day for Grossius during his college years was getting up at around 5 in the morning, training with weights and cardio, going to classes, grabbing a bite to eat, practice on the field, and lastly, study hall and homework after practice.

After pitching five seasons for SEMO, Grossius finds that he has more free time now that he is done playing ball and tries to stay busy during those empty hours. He said he still gets up early, goes to work, and tries to find time for the gym, when he is not at work or spending time with his family.

“After grinding for all those years, staying in the gym can be difficult at times,” he said. “You gotta try to find time for it, no doubt. Dinner at night with the folks is nice as well.”

The path Keck took allows him to hone in on the same craft that he’s been working on his whole life, but there is always something to improve upon.

How to go about a day from a work standpoint, both on and off the field is one of the main things that Keck took from his time at Southeast and helps him stay active through mind and body.

“Approaching everyday with a competitive attitude and sense of professionalism is what keeps me going,” Keck said. “The coaching staff at SEMO did a great job of teaching us how to be professionals and it has transferred very well to the pro level.”

The careers Grossius and Keck entered differ in terms of preparation and approach, but share similar qualities of the process and grind. Grossius mentioned that you must be willing to put in the work on a day-to-day basis.

“It’s a big-time grind,” Grossius said. “You have to want to put in the reps and show up everyday, ready to compete with others around you. That’s the only way you will get better and hopefully see some results.”

Keck detailed how tough of a grind the minor league schedule can be and how you must be ready to go for every game.

“At the minor league level, you must be ready to go all 132 [games],” Keck said. “Pretty much every day outside of Mondays is game day, so it is important to put in the work at practice and on your own time.”

Keck, who was called up from Low-A Affiliate (Augusta Greenjackets) to the High-A Affiliate (Rome Braves) this past season, said it’s important to always be grateful for where you are regardless of how things are going.

“Some advice that I would give to athletes who want to make the leap to the next level would be that it’s easy to complain and be negative when things don’t go your way,” Keck said. “Regardless of how things are going, you are still doing something that not many people get to do.”

Grossius, who made his first sale this past month, said that there are three important tidbits of advice he would give to graduating athletes who are looking for a different career path.

“Explore all of your options, feel yourself out, and take time to look back at what you’ve achieved,” Grossius said. “Don’t run to a job because you feel rushed to get one, rather take your time and work for the job you want to get.”

Graphic by Natalie Aarons

From the packed stadium of home football games to the hype surrounding March Madness, college athletics are an important aspect of life for many people at SEMO. Despite the popularity of attending athletic events, less than 4% of SEMO’s student population plays Division 1 (D1) or full-time athletics, according to institutional research.

However, 4,753 students at SEMO—almost half of the student body—are involved in intramural and club sports. Although there are several key differences between D1 athletics and other athletic activities, they require many of the same skills and traits.

For D1 athletes, life revolves around practice. Men’s basketball coach Brad Korn said during practice season, student athletes spend a majority of their time outside of class practicing and training, with one day off a week. Korn said it can be difficult to keep up with the practice schedule as well as academics.

“They’ve got to come in and do well in the classroom and do well on the court and do it again the next day,” Korn said. “We’re here when everyone goes home for finals in between the two semesters. So it really covers a long, long stretch and they don’t get to just go home or check out for a month.”

There are several options available for students who want to get involved with athletics but don’t want to or aren’t able to be a full-time athlete. Director of Recreational Services Eric Redinger said intramural sports are open to everyone, not just Greek life, and are easier for many students to participate in since teams and games are scheduled by SEMO. Club sports are similar, but teams compete against other schools and are student-organized and -led, and are open to all students, faculty and staff.

Redinger said there are many benefits, both physical and mental, which result from athletic involvement.

“If you’re a student and you’re involved, whatever that happens to be, you’re far more likely to be successful and graduate, and it just enriches your life. I always want students to get involved,” Redinger said.

Redinger said he defines an athlete as anyone who is training, whether or not they are actually competing.

“I consider esports participants athletes, because they’re training,” Redinger said. “I call those sports, and it confuses people sometimes because they think of them as games. But it's still a sport—it’s just that it’s a skill sport, not necessarily a physical sport like some others might be.”

With over 500 members, eSports is the largest club on campus run by recreational services, and allows students to play video games competitively. Assistant Director of Competitive Sports and Conferences Ricky Reed said esports requires many athletic traits such as response time, hand-eye coordination, gameplay knowledge, and performing in high-pressure situations.

eSports club officer and education major Lizzy Hall said her role involves similar teamwork and planning skills as traditional sports, however, the activity is more accessible to people with disabilities or who need accommodations.

“It’s just different in the sense that we’re not doing it physically; we’re doing it online, competing in leagues just like traditional sports do. It’s still some of the same things, just in a different setting,” Hall said.

Non-competitive activities can still require serious athleticism and physical dedication. Junior music education major and marching band member Joel Prange said he sees marching band as a blend of athleticism and entertainment, and believes marching band members and sundancers are athletes.

From an early week of practice involving 13-hour days to the breath and body control and playing technique required to simultaneously march and play an instrument, marching band takes a skill set which combines mind and body in a unique way other athletes might not experience.

“There’s kind of a balancing act: we have to be as relaxed as we would be if we were sitting down and playing our instruments, but we have to be as strong as we would if we were running a mile,” Prange said.

Marching band is open to essentially anyone who applies, Prange said, and while it can be a challenge to work with people of significantly varied skill levels, it can be rewarding to see enormous growth and progress in new members.

“I’ve seen so many people succeed in our marching band. The improvement is just amazing, and it really is a team sport; everyone contributes, and I think it’s great that we can allow everyone to contribute.”

While the definition of what activities are considered athletics may vary from person to person, SEMO students find ways to push the envelope and express athleticism in ways that go far beyond D1.

Men's basketball Coach Brad Korn conversing with team at the Show-Me Center on Oct. 23.

Photo by Beto Vaca-Diez

The influence of a coach on an athlete does not only affect their athletic performance, but their mental and emotional performance. Building a strong and trusting relationship with a coach can help to inspire and uplift the athlete.

“Good quality coach-athlete relationships matter not only because they drive better results, but also because they create a social environment within which both the coach and the athlete feel positive, happy, energized, determined and strong,” an article from Tandem Performance states.

Senior forward for the women’s basketball team Michaela Mayfield has been playing for SEMO for all four years of her college career, so she has been able to build a consistent and strong relationship with her head coach, Rekha Patterson.

“[Coach Patterson’s] the only black female head coach here, and so she's just big on black women empowerment. So she is just big on preparing us for the world as women,” Mayfield said. “She inspires me to be myself, become the best version of myself as I'm getting ready to head into the real world since I'm a senior.”

Mayfield said she feels her relationship with Patterson has helped her in preparation for life off the court, which helps her drive for success on the court.

“As players we're just trying to do the best we can for her and the team as well,” Mayfield said. “So it's just a matter of being my best self on and off the floor.”

Patterson also understands the importance of positive relationships with her athletes.

Women's basketball Coach Patterson working with her team during opening practice for the 2023 season.

Photo by Nathan Gladden

“I think it’s like any relationship you have. You have to be intentional on having a healthy relationship with them,” Patterson said. “Sometimes you have to be a cheerleader, sometimes you have to be a disciplinarian, and sometimes you just have to remind them of who they are and what they’re capable of.”

SEMO’s men’s basketball team has seen some high highs and low lows since the early 2000’s, undergoing four head coach changes since 2006. At the start of the 2021 season, Brad Korn took the reins as head coach after being an assistant coach at Kansas State. Since then, Korn has led the Redhawks to two conference tournament appearances, a conference championship and an NCAA tournament appearance in 2023.

Korn provided insight into his coaching strategy, and what kind of relationship he strives to have with his players to make the most successful team possible.

“It’s the golden rule of coaching. How would you want to be coached, right?” Korn said. “How would I want someone to coach my daughters?”

Athletes can have an impact on the coach just as much. Sometimes it’s not about what the relationship does for the coach and athletes during competition time, but outside of it. SEMO Gymnastics Head Coach Ashley Lawson knows this well.

“I think that they make me a better person. They make me a better mom. They make me want to just give my all to them,” Lawson said. “Whether it be a personal struggle or a family struggle, or just celebrating the great successes that they have, those are the moments that I get to share with them, and it's really special to kind of be their mom away from home.”

Lawson said being in college are some of the most important years of her athletes’ lives, and it truly fills her cup to be a part of that. She said her athletes stay in contact with her after they leave the program, and she loves that she still gets to celebrate their victories even after they’re gone.

Not only can a coach benefit an athletes performance, but they also can be responsible for molding perspectives of the sport. Senior kicker for the SEMO football team DC Pippen credits his coach for the appreciation he has for the relationships he's built through the team.

“My biggest takeaway that I've gotten from my coach will be how important relationships are. Being a Division 1 athlete, there are all kinds of things to handle mentally and physically,” Pippen said. “But what I've taken away from my time with my coach is that 30 years from now, what will matter is the relationships I've built with the people I care about.”

A coach has the ability to affect a player both on and off the field. Pippen expressed how influential his coach was to the betterment of himself as a player and as a member of society.

“My relationship with my coach has changed my perception of the sport in a number of ways. I had a very shallow, selfish view coming in. It was about me and my stats, and it really wasn't anything deeper than performance on the field,” Pippen said. “My coach, over the time I've been here, has taught me valuable life lessons that extend far past Saturdays.”

The relationship between coach and athlete can make or break a team’s success. Luckily for SEMO, its coaches have been effective in pushing their players to succeed on and off the field, winning a collective eight conference championships in the 2022-2023 campaign.

Graphic created by AJ Ivy