“Shippensburg was instrumental in shaping my perspective and knowledge as a more well-rounded leader,” alumnus William Flannery shared.
Last spring, William Flannery completed his master’s in Organizational Development and Leadership (ODL) at Shippensburg University. Through the program, Flannery learned how to serve as a strong leader across a variety of sectors. Now, as an assistant men’s soccer coach at Lehigh University, Flannery credits his past experiences and time at Ship for preparing him for the challenges of collegiate athletics.
“Before the ODL program, my only leadership experience to that point had solely been from an athletics perspective, so gaining a new lens on leadership was vital to my development. ODL’s interdisciplinary approach provided me with a diverse leadership experience in areas like psychology, business, sociology and education in a way that I wouldn’t have gained otherwise. I feel like I now have a more nuanced understanding of the motivational and human side of coaching that I lacked prior to my time at Ship.
At Lehigh, Flannery’s role as an assistant men’s soccer coach has enabled him to utilize the skills he developed during his studies at Ship. “My research in ODL allowed me to gain a strong understanding of the underlying theories and principles of leadership, coaching and mentorship – especially with respect to college-aged individuals, he explained. “The external pressures, social norms, weight of internal expectations and other factors that all impact high-level student-athletes are much identifiable to me, which helps me serve my players much more effectively.”
Furthermore, Flannery’s previous experience as an assistant soccer coach at Dickinson played a vital part in preparing him to work in Division I athletics.
With nearly a decade in collegiate athletics as both an athlete and coach, Flannery sees a long career ahead. “I really relish working in a team environment. I love the camaraderie of working in a dedicated athletics department and mentoring student-athletes.”
In addition to Flannery’s recognition of Jorge Chapoy, he also thanked Coach Koski and Coach Hess for the opportunity to work at Lehigh and honored Professor of Sociology, Chair and the former director of the ODL program at Ship, Allison Carey, for the opportunity to pursue the ODL program while also serving as a graduate assistant.
From his time at Ship to coaching at Lehigh, Flannery remains focused on leadership and mentoring student-athletes.
To learn more about Shippensburg’s ODL program, visit here.
