PULLMAN, Wash. – Two Washington State University Athletics coaching staff members, volleyball's Marit Thorkildsen and track & field/cross country's CharLee Linton, have earned selections to participate in the Coach Development Academy, presented by Game Plan in partnership with True North Sports.
 
Thorkildsen and Linton are representing WSU Athletics in a 12-week digital coach development course. The course, entitled, "Managing Yourself," provides the foundation for coaches to feel confident and competent, while giving coaches a roadmap to what it means to be a "professional coach." Target participants for this course are high potential assistant and/or graduate assistant coaches.
 
Linton is a current WSU Cross Country and Track & Field assistant coach, along with being a former Washington State Cross Country student-athlete herself. Thorkildsen is a current graduate assistant with WSU Volleyball, and is a former student-athlete as well, playing volleyball for Gonzaga.
 
"I'm fortunate to participate in the Coaching Development Academy," said Linton. "This experience has been so helpful in showing me the 'big picture' of coaching and the importance of relationships in collegiate athletics. I look forward to better serving and empowering our student-athletes as a coach and mentor by implementing everything I have learned from the amazing coaches in the academy. I want to extend a huge thank you to Wayne Phipps, Anne McCoy, Bryan Blair, and Pat Chun for choosing me to represent WSU. I am so grateful for the opportunity!"
 
"The Coaches Development Academy has been an extremely exciting and fun process which has allowed me to grow personally," said Thorkildsen. "It has helped me understand what I hold valuable in a career in coaching and athletics. The opportunity to connect with college coaches from all levels, sports, and conferences is unmatched. I'm so grateful Jen (Greeny) nominated me to represent WSU and our staff!"
 
Game Plan has partnered with True North Sports to provide a first of its kind online Coach Development Academy. (CDA) Led by Celia Slater, participants will work through an innovative curriculum designed to enable a coach to grow and flourish in their careers.
 
Virtual Courses designed to support coaches through a step-by-step process in developing their authentic philosophy, team culture, and program structure. The 3-part Coach Development Academy is for coaches who are looking to go beyond the X's and O's of their game. True North Sports guides coaches to find their own internal compass to build a culture that reflects their values and vision.