Abstract
In the highly competitive Division I (DI) college sports system, coaches are expected to produce winning programs while developing their college athletes holistically. Recent changes in NCAA policies complicate the coach-athlete relationship, hindering coaches' ability to serve as effective holistic leaders. This study uses grounded theory to understand how DI coaches in high-profile sports perceive their roles as holistic leaders and manage external challenges to provide holistic college athlete experiences. Semi-structured interviews with 12 football and women’s basketball coaches revealed five main themes: 1) coaches are educators, 2) strategies for holistic coaching, 3) supporting Black college athletes, 4) college sports are becoming more transactional, and 5) the “me” generation of college athletes. The findings present a conceptual model of holistic coaching and implications for DI institutions looking to improve coaching retention and the holistic development of their college athletes.
Recommended Citation
Hogan, Deborah V. PhD
(2025)
"Exploring DI College Coaches’ Perceptions of Holistic Coaching and the Factors Impacting Their Ability to Succeed in the Current College Sports Landscape,"
Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics: Vol. 18:
Iss.
1, Article 29.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51221/sc.jiia.2025.18.1.29
Available at:
https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/jiia/vol18/iss1/29