The Knetzer Family Institute for Development Through Sport has put Denison University at the forefront of the student-athlete experience. The research-based approach involves initiatives for student-athlete leadership and competency development, innovative teaching and assessment tools, and continuing education for athletic department faculty/staff. The competencies developed through the four-year program are proven to lead to better mental and physical health, improved academic achievement, decreased behavioral incidents, and even stronger on-field performance.
"We have designed a roadmap that facilitates intentional learning through sport in a way that will aid our student-athletes throughout their lives," says Athletics Director
Nan Carney-DeBord. "We are purposeful in hiring coaches who are mentors and in ensuring the entire athletic experience at Denison is geared to student development on and off the field of play."
The results suggest it's working. Over the past decade, more than two-thirds of Denison's teams have been represented in the NCAA's national rankings, postseason tournaments or championship meets. Denison's student-athletes also have consistently been named NCAA Academic All-Americans and Postgraduate Scholars. In fact, Denison became one of just a few colleges nationally recognized in the top 50 of both the US News and World Report National Liberal Arts rankings and the Learfield Director's Cup D-III standings.
"The development through sport model is rooted in the fundamentals of the liberal arts and our overall focus on helping students develop the skills, values, and habits to succeed in life," says Denison President
Adam Weinberg. "We don't invest in the personal and leadership development of athletes to have winning teams; we have winning teams because we are invested in the personal and leadership development of our athletes."
