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Internship Portfolio

Athletic Director Intern Mesa Community College

Marquail Johnson

Liberty University

I. Mesa Community College Athletic Department:

Mission Statement

The mission of Mesa Community College Compliance Office is to insure that the Athletics Department complies with the LETTER AND INTENT of National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), Arizona Community College Athletic Conference ACCAC, and Maricopa District Athletic Council DAC rules and regulations. Honesty, integrity and accuracy of interpretations are our highest priorities. The Compliance Office staff will monitor the recruitment, admission, academic progress, eligibility and financial aid of all student-athletes. The staff will also conduct an extensive rules education program for coaches, staff, student-athletes, prospective student-athletes and boosters annually. The Compliance Staff will attend regional and national seminars to continually improve the effectiveness of its athletic department. When a violation does occur, the institution will self-detect, self-investigate and self-report in a timely and thorough manner

Vision

Academic success achievement is the highest priority for Mesa’s athletics student success program. Working collaboratively with our academics division, student affairs division and community. The student success program strives to provide innovative and comprehensive services to our student-athlete achievement in transferring to four-year institutions.

Values

Learning - MCC champions individual student success that reflects the highest academic standards.

Innovation - MCC delivers cutting-edge instruction and service.

Service Excellence - MCC makes a positive difference in the lives of our students, community members, and each other through meaningful relationships.

Integrity - MCC upholds the highest standards of ethics and public stewardship.

Individuals & Community - MCC encourages active citizenship and embraces the diversity of people and ideas.

Student Athletes Learning Outcomes

MCC's 4Cs:

Communication- The purposeful development, expression and reception of a message through oral, written or nonverbal means.

Critical Thinking- The mental process of effectively identifying, determining, gathering, evaluating, and utilizing resources to innovate and/or to accomplish a specific task.

Civic Engagement- Encompasses actions to promote the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes.

Cultural and Global Engagement- Encompasses the awareness of cultural systems, events, and creations and an ability to apply this cultural and global awareness to human interaction and expression.

History

In 1963 Mesa operated as an extension campus of Phoenix College were Dr. John D. Riggs, known as the father of Mesa athletics, appointed Executive Dean. Riggs cared so deeply about athletics that he made it a point to attend as many events on campus as possible and even travelled on the football team bus occasionally to away games. Dr. John D. Riggs, appointed Dr. Theo J. Heap in charge of building a successful athletic program. While Athletic Director he was also Associate Dean of Students. He also took on the role of Dean of Admissions for one year, Dean of Administrative Services for two, and eventually President of the college for eight years. Fittingly, his name adorns MCC's gym. Heap's influence extended far from the Mesa campus. He played a major role in NJCAA executive affairs as Regional Director, Treasurer, and eventually President of the organization. For his efforts he was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame. When he relinquished the position of Athletic Director to Carvel Jackson ten years later, Mesa had won an amazing 14 NJCAA national championships, all at the Division I level.

The pioneer of women’s athletics is the great Dr. Kaye McDonald. Dr. Kaye McDonald began teaching at Mesa in 1966, just about the time athletics of any sort were beginning. While she coached the basketball and tennis teams, far more important was her role as an administrator. Initially, she was Director of Athletics for women's sports, at a time when the men's and women's programs were administered separately. However, her role didn't stop there. She, and the women's Athletic Directors from Phoenix College and Glendale CC, developed programs for the entire Maricopa County Community College District. Her efforts went even farther, especially in basketball. She served on the National Basketball Rues Committee that helped modernize the women's game by switching to the five-player format that brought the game out of the old six-player rules where players could not cross half court. McDonald was also the Junior College representative to the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for women (AIAW), the predecessor of the NCAA, which did not recognize the sport until 1981. The NJCAA actually superseded the NCAA by sponsoring a women's national championship beginning in 1975. On campus, she served as the Dean of Student Services and Director of Development. Outside of MCC she also became the Regional Representative to the NJCAA when that organization was creating its programs for women's sports.

Athletic competition commenced at MCC in 1966 with teams known as the HoKams, honoring the ancient Indian tribe that first developed the Salt River Valley. Records indicate that men's basketball, track and field, and baseball began competition in 1965-66, although the football stadium and gym were not dedicated until 1969. Men's tennis joined the fold in 1966-67 and football in 1967. By 1968 MCC became a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), enabling athletic programs to compete on the national level. Eighteen National Championships and more than 83 Conference Titles won since 1968. For the last 10 years the Athletic Director has been John Mulhern, under Mulhern Mesa Community College won 3 National championships 2014 Men’s baseball and Women’s Basketball 2017 Men’s Golf give MCC a total of 20 National Championships in its school history.

Organizational Structure

University President: Lori m. Berquam

Athletic Director: John Mulhern

Assistant Athletic Directors: Mike Lavella and Sherman Forbes

Student Athletes Support: Ontonio Ballard. Willie Young, Spencer Peterson, Chenelle Jones,

Coaches: Tony Cirelli- Baseball; Sam Ballard- Men’s Basketball; Brian Ronan- Men’s Soccer; John Guerrero- Men’s Golf and Women’s Golf; Feroz Rast- Men’s Tennis and Women’s Tennis; Grady Moorhead- Softball; Steve Jacobs- Track & Field; Kori Stephenson – Women’s Basketball; Drew Guarmeri- Women’s Soccer; Megan Taylor-Women’s Volleyball; Dan Pescador- Cross Country

University President: (Salary $239,787) Primary responsibilities are providing vision and direction for the planning and operation of the college; serving as MCC's ambassador and advocate; and aligning the college's strategic priorities with the shared transformation of the Maricopa Community Colleges student experience.

Athletic Director: (Salary $80,000- $100,00) Generally oversee all aspects of an athletic program, including hiring coaches, scheduling, budget preparation, promotion, compliance, and facility management.

Coaches (Salary $60,000-$70,000): Coach, recruit, develop, organize, fundraise, and direct all facets of intercollegiate programs at Mesa CC, Recommend and administer budgets, supervise Assistant Coaches, Be knowledgeable of transfer and eligibility rules concerning NCAA, NJCAA and NAIA, and abide by all institutional, district, ACCAC, Region 1 and NJCAA rules and regulations

Student Athletes Support; (Salary $40,000- $50,000) Advises student athletes on enrollment and support services (admissions, course program requirements, registration procedures and financial aid processes); uses software to track program requirements. Acts as a liaison between academic department faculty, advisor, coaches and athletic director.

Budget and Funding

Mesa Community College competes in 18 sports and has a total of 401 student athletes 283 men and 118 women. Men’s Sport Mesa Community College spent $559,016 on men's teams and received $561,516 in revenue. On average, Mesa Community College gave male athletes $264 in sports related student aid. There are 9 head coaches for men's teams. On average they make $24,748. They are supported by 22 assistant coaches who earn $1,785 on average. Mesa Community College spent $390,837 on women's teams and received $393,337 in revenue. On average, Mesa Community College gave female athletes $527 in sports related student aid. There are 9 head coaches for women's teams. They make, on average, $24,748. They are supported by 15 assistant coaches who earn, on average, $1,342. Total Sports related Revenues is $1,476,1512 and Total Sports related expenses is $1,476,512 give MCC a net of $0

II. Internship Experience

Internship Responsibilities:

• Assist in Mesa Community College Early Alert Grade Check Program.

• Created an Alumni Interaction Forum.

• Assist with all home athletic games/ Game Management.

• Assist in creating the Student Athlete Leadership Program at Mesa CC

• Assist in the development of Mesa CC athletic bridge program that will help transition Student Athletes into four year institutions.

Assist in Mesa Community College Early Alert Grade Check Program: During the first two week of the internship I worked closely with student athlete support and academic advising making sure all student athletes were registered and enrolled in classes for the 2020 spring semester. Myself and the student support team would choose between 2-3 athletic program calling each student into the office and working with them to get registered for classes, helping the student athletes order their books, and setting up their student portal where they can sign up to use resources like the computer lab, set schedule meeting with their instructors, and request tutoring if needed. During my meeting with the student athletes I introduced myself as an Intern and offered to be a mentor to the student athletes letting them know I was once in their shoes.

Also, during the first couple of weeks I was task to do four introductory Power Points and present them to all MCC’s student athletes a present to two teams a day. Those Power Points were; Money Management, Time Management, Text Anxiety and Supportive Resources on campus; Money Management was a power point that was giving student information on how to save as a student athlete while at MCC and when they transition to a four year University. Time Management explained how athletes can use their time training and being a student. In this power Point I broke down a student daily school and had the student make their own after the presentation. Supportive Resources help to locate where they can find the resources on campus and gave students phone numbers and emails address for each resources. Test Anxiety power point explain the meaning of text anxiety and ways the student can overcome text anxiety.

Created an Alumni Interaction Forum: During this portion of the internship I worked directly with the Athletic Director John Mulhern and Assistant Athletic Director Chenelle Jones reaching out to alumni of MCC’s Athletics sending post cards letting them know we are thingking of them and appreciate them being a Mesa Thunderbird athlete while they were a student at MCC. Also we sent offers for them to come to games and get introduced and celebrated by today’s fans and athletes. Great experience seeing a school reach out to every alumni wanted them to continue to be a part of the Thunderbird legacy.

Assist with all home athletic games/ Game Management: The best experience of the Internship, I was able to work with Assistant Athletic Director Mike Lavella. Mike was very hands on in showing me the ropes on games days for athletic events like; Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Softball, and Baseball. Mike may sure I was involved every step of the way with game day preparation. To start off we did gym or field maintenance msking sure it’s safe for the athletes to play on. Next we made sure all player had their uniform at their lockers, Form there we made sure we had a checks and deposit slips so we can pay everyone that involved in the event from the referees/umpires, the announcers, broadcaster, to the score keeper. Mike showed me how to write up each invoice and how it’s important to get all signature from everyone involved the last person to sign off everything is Athletic Director John Mulhern. At the end of the sporting event we made sure gym or field was clear and clean and the players locker room also

Assist in creating the Student Athlete Leadership Program at Mesa CC/ Assist in the development of Mesa CC athletic bridge program that will help transition Student Athletes into four year institutions: These two project were special to me I worked with Student Support Chenelle Jones on creating a program Leadership program for student athletes. We were only midway finished with the two programs before Covid-19 happen. These programs were special to me because Chenelle Jones Allow me to have input in the programs. Chenelle Jones was a former football coach for the college before the state of Arizona took away football from all Junior Colleges because of state wide budget cuts. The way me and Chenelle work together was like a coach and his star athlete. We worked really well together. As, a former student athlete I was very familiar with going to school and not having guidance because of my first time away from my parents. I was going to use these programs as a way to mentor the player on ways they can become better student athletes and making a smooth transition to four year Universities. Once covid-19 is over I plan on meeting up with Chenelle Jones and finish this outside of being an intern for the college.

Student Check-in Covid-19: Once Covid-19 happen all student athletes had to transition to online classes. John Mulhern and Student Support created a way I can still get some of my internship hours by having me check up on all student athletes on time a week. It took maybe two hours a day check-in with student seeing how well they are adjusting to online classes and helping them with support if the need it. Also I use this time as a way to connect with those student athletes that had gotten their seasons cancelled because of Covid-19. I offered support to those seniors that were hoping to finally get recruited again and transferring to a four year University. I spoke with them the most because they were the athletes that Covid-19 affected the most.

Take Away: My overall take away from this internship experience was it became a great experiences for me and my future career as an Athletic Director. Even though it was cut short because of Covid-19 I built relationships with people that are well respected at the Junior College level here in Arizona, I was told I left a lasting impression on the Athletic Department in my short time. John Mulhern and Chenelle Jones has written Letter of Recommendations for me and told me to let them know the first time I have an interview with any local school because they will speak to that hiring manager on my behalf. I learned so much in my short time at Mesa Community College and the Athletic Department treated me like their own. I will recommend working at Mesa Community College’s Athletic Department as an Intern to anyone looking for an internship because, during the process of looking for an intern I was new to Arizona did not know the area and most colleges/Universities when asked about a possible internship told me it was only for their students. MCC never had an intern and took a chance on me. They created the internship for me and now will create a program so they can have intern every semester if needed.

III: Future

My career path currently is to look for available Athletic Director position at the High School or College level here in Arizona I will also look outside the state. The best piece of advice John Mulhern had told me was “Never be afraid to get uncomfortable in this field, never be afraid to travel to another states to get what you want.” This internship and being a former student athlete has prepared for a career as an athletic director. It prepared me on ways to connect with my staff/ coaches and as an athletic director I want to be a resource for the Student Athletes. Most athletic director I know only focus on the day to day business of the school athletics but I want to take it a step further and be available for the student athletes as well. The one suggestion I have for student that’s looking for a career in Sports Management is to use all your social media networks like LinkedIn and go to ask many networking event that you can. This industry is an industry where it’s important to get your name and face out there to executives. Lastly. The same advice John Mulhern gave me “Never be afraid to get uncomfortable in this field, never be afraid to travel to another states to get what you want.” The idea I have for future direction for the academic aspect of the sport management program here at Liberty University would be for the staff to be hands on with student on possible internship opportunities. An internship coordinator that works with the student for at least a year prior making sure the student has guidance on choosing an internship for their career aspirations.