Home Page Sports

Transitioning to collegiate athletics is a tough task for anyone. However, some go on from being an athlete to coaching after participating. Today’s guest on Making the Cut is Kristin Stam, who made the transition from athlete to coach.

Stam was a four-year athlete at Wellsboro before enrolling at Susquehanna University. Stam participated in indoor and outdoor track for four years and competed in a variety of events, including long jump, triple jump, high jump, hurdles, 100m dash, 4x100m relay and the heptathlon. She holds records in indoor triple jump, and both indoor and outdoor high jump.

In her senior year, Stam was named Susquehanna Field Athlete of the Year and to the All-Academic Team in 2012. Stam was also named a USTFCCCA Academic All-American Honoree and ranked 30th in the nation among D-III triple jumpers. Academics is very important to her and stated that, for her, the transition was not difficult. “I felt like, in college I was really in my element, with the major (education) I choose.”

After finishing her playing career, Stam turned her sights to coaching. During college Stam served as a volunteer assistant for Wellsboro’s track team where she helped coach All-State high jump athletes, Regan Rodgers and Caleb Getty. Upon graduating, Stam joined the staff of her alma mater as an Assistant Coach. She filled this role until 2015 when she was offered the Assistant Coach position at Lake Erie College, specializing in jumps, hurdles, and sprints. Her philosophy on coaching stresses the importance of communication. Her advice to prospective athletes: “Coaches don’t know what you’re going through so talk to them (coaches).”