HADDONFIELD, N.J. – The Atlantic East Conference announced that it will be continuing its partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) following a successful two years.

This partnership emphasizes the conference's dedication to supporting the professional development of its administrators, coaches, and student athletes. Atlantic East member institutions will have access to a series of PCA workshops throughout the year.

PCA strives to recognize and address the impacts that students and coaches have both on and off the field, aiming to keep sports a positive experience for all participants. 

Dominic Petruzzelli, Vice Chair of NCAA DII SAAC and Atlantic East Conference SAAC Representative, said, “The partnership is especially impactful because it brings an outside perspective that challenges us to think differently about leadership, communications, and the influence we have within our communities.” Petruzzelli added that, “By collaborating with PCA, we are able to connect our experiences as student-athletes with broader leadership principles.”

Under this partnership, student athletes had the opportunity to participate in a PCA presentation at the conference’s February Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) meeting, with a virtual option available for those that could not attend. This workshop was led by Krissy Holak, a former field hockey standout at St. Joseph’s University, where Holak spoke on being a ‘Triple Impact Competitor’, giving insights and advice on the mental side of being a student athlete.

“We received a great talk from PCA about the importance of strengthening ourselves, teammates, and the game overall. I found it to be very inspiring,” said Immaculata’s Connor Kakowski.

Alyssa Trujillo (Pratt), a SAAC member at Pratt, felt similarly. “The PCA presentation further illustrated how we, as leaders, can help to cultivate a positive culture on our campuses, with our teams, and with each other.”

Student athletes will have a second, fully virtual, opportunity on March 22, once again led by Holak. ‘Competing with Empathy’ will further expand upon the previous SAAC session by going into further detail about how actions and words hold more gravity than most think.

Two days later, on March 24, coaches from across the conference will be invited to join a virtual session, ‘Getting the Best From Today’s Athletes’, led by Cletus Coffey, a former professional football player and track and field master’s world champion. This session aims to address ways in which coaches can use positive motivation.  

“Our partnership with PCA  has been very valuable, and I am excited that, in our second year, we have been able to bring sessions to our student athletes while continuing our work with coaches and administrators,” said Atlantic East Commissioner Rebecca Mullen.

Throughout the course of the year, the conference will continue to work with PCA to maximize opportunities for growth and development. 

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