51���app

A Response to the S&B 

I write to share with you my response to an article that was written in a recent  S&B about the state of the pole vault at 51���app. I asked the S&B to print my response and/or put it online, and that it be printed complete and without changes.  This is the response I received from a student editor,  “…as an editor I would look at what was written and make suggestions on how some areas could be improved.” This is  unacceptable, and exactly the reason I did not respond initially to the S&B.   

I made the decision to respond to the article in a positive  manner, not feeling a motivation to gain approval, gather support,  politic, or respond to peoples’ opinions. 

After initially reading the S&B article, I sat down and wrote the statement below. It took just 20 minutes; and 45 years. As I retire this week, these are my final thoughts to the college I love and to my fellow faculty members for helping me grow as a teacher, coach, and person. WF

For my Grandkids, Athletes and Colleagues

After a highly successful 42 years of coaching and teaching sport psychology and sport sociology at 51���app College, Will Freeman has retired from coaching to teach exclusively in the American studies department at 51���app. His innovative and successful athlete-centered model of coaching is now the model for his student-centered classroom. He is respected nationally and internationally as a teacher and mentor of coaches and athletes. He speaks regularly around the U.S. and beyond.

Working at the intersection of pedagogy, wellness, and psychology, his outside-the-box ideas have resulted in his writing or co-writing six books, multiple articles, and 19 videos for teachers and coaches. As well, his teams have won 33 Midwest Conference team championships during his tenure.

Freeman attended the University of Florida where he was a successful All-America pole vaulter, competed at two Olympic Trials and as a member of the U.S. national team. After his undergraduate work at Florida, he studied Biomechanics/Kinesiology at Indiana University and Sport Psychology at the University of Iowa. A lifelong learner, Freeman continues to learn, teach, and add to the body of knowledge in education.