What Goes Around…Comes Around
Alumna and kinesiology graduate student Taylor MacCuish is an adjunct professor in Jessup’s kinesiology department. As an undergraduate student at Jessup, she had the opportunity to work with various youth and special olympic athletes as a part of her Strength and Conditioning lab class taught at that time by professor Becka Ussery. MacCuish vividly remembers the excitement and responsibility of guiding young middle school, high school and Special Olympics athletes through their first experiences with strength training. Fast forward a couple years and MacCuish is now the professor of that very class, where she’s able to oversee the next generation of students as she guides her students to coach youth and Special Olympic athletes, continuing to help them build strength, confidence, and healthy habits.
Through Jessup’s Youth Athlete and Special Olympic Fitness Programs, Ussery and MacCuish hope to help these athletes learn safe and effective weight room practices, focusing on techniques and gradual progression. “Introducing the kids to a weight room fitness program is a very rewarding and transformative experience,” MacCuish said. “It builds strength, improves athletic performance, and instills lifelong healthy habits.”
The pair also hope to give Jessup undergraduate students some hands-on experience that provides a deep understanding of both the physical and psychological aspects of coaching. “We strive to teach our students how to communicate, motivate, and build trust with younger athletes as our approach requires careful planning, supervision, and a focus on technique, safety, and age-appropriate programming to ensure the best results,” MacCuish said.
The program has expanded its reach beyond the University as different athletes from the community, surrounding schools, sports clubs, and youth organizations are now participating. “By offering a structured, supervised environment, we ensure that these athletes, regardless of their sport or training background, have access to high-quality training that they might not otherwise receive,” MacCuish added. This program is now offered multiple times throughout the school year and is part of the kinesiology program’s core curriculum.
MacCuish put it this way, “For me, the most rewarding part of my job is seeing my students experience the same growth I once did. I’m able to watch my students build relationships with the athletes, make coaching breakthroughs, and develop their own styles of coaching. I get to have the opportunity to coach, not just the youth athletes, but also the future professionals who will carry on the legacy of impactful coaching.”
