Jordan Kurtz is the Assistant Cross Country & Track and Field Coach at Jessup University, a private Christ-Centered university in Rocklin, California that currently competes in the Golden State Athletic Conference in the NAIA. After working in a variety of positions for a Major League Baseball club (Athletics) and an NFL organization (Raiders), Jordan is leading the training and day-to-day operation of Jessup University’s Cross Country and Distance Track programs.
This blog is focused on when he was a student and his experiences with the SCLA program.
What brought you to the SCLA program?
When I applied for this program I was working as a firefighter, but had realized I wanted to get back into the coaching world after being out of it for a few years. With the volatility of my current job, combined with the fact that my wife and I had just had a child, I knew I needed a program that was flexible. However I didn’t want to sacrifice the quality of education that can only be found by engaging in academic discussions about current class content. The SCLA program has the flexibility to be successful while being a full-time coach and father, while providing the opportunity for quality academic engagement through multiple zoom sessions in each class. I couldn’t be happier with the academic experience I’ve had as an online graduate student in the SCLA program.
What do you hope to do upon completion of the SCLA program?
Getting my M.S. will allow me to (hopefully soon) become a Head Coach of a Cross Country and Track and Field program at a collegiate institution. Down the road I hope to pursue the role of Athletic Director as well.
What are some highlights of your time in the SCLA program?
I was nervous at how well I’d be able to connect with other students being in an online program. It’s incredible to think that I’ve made so many great connections and friends through this program from various places across the globe. It’s been easy to connect with professors as well, and the one-on-one phone calls with my advisor (Dr. Andy Driska) have helped me analyze my own why for the reason I coach, which has really helped keep me centered in my day-to-day.
What has been your favorite SCLA course so far, and why?
Physical Bases of Coaching Athletes (KIN 856) was my favorite course. Dr. Moreno was very engaging during the course on discussion boards and led students to go beyond the basic level of thinking. The course made me assess whether the training I was implementing with my athletes truly was in line with current research, and helped me tie together multiple physical components of training in ways I didn’t think could work. In the midst of taking that course, I also took a certification course through my sport’s governing body (USATF) and being able to tie that knowledge into the class made for an incredible learning experience.
Fun fact about yourself
In 2016, I rode my bicycle across the continental United States (Santa Monica, CA to Yorktown, VA) to raise awareness and funds for eating disorder awareness and education.