Lancaster, Pa.- The Centennial Conference continued its commitment to education and belonging in sport by hosting the Day of Learning on June 4 at Franklin & Marshall College. The conference welcomed 90 administrators, coaches, and staff members for a full day of professional development centered on the theme, "The Power of Impact: Shaping People, Culture, and the Future of College Sports."
The program explored critical topics surrounding inclusive leadership in athletics and challenged participants to create meaningful change on their campuses. More than just a day of education, the event served as a call to action for leaders across the conference.
Keynote Session: Communicating Across Generations in Athletics
The keynote session featured Dr. Lauren Bullock, Associate Professor at Temple University. Her presentation, Leading Every Room: Communicating Across Generations in Athletics, examined how communication in athletics is evolving and how leaders can better connect with today's student-athletes and staff.
Bullock shared practical strategies for navigating generational differences, leading difficult conversations, and communicating in ways that build trust and strengthen relationships. The session focused on actionable takeaways that participants could immediately apply within their own programs.
Breakout Sessions
During the afternoon, attendees participated in four interactive breakout sessions led by experts in leadership, mental performance, recruitment, and women's sports.
"Beyond Belonging: Building Team Cultures Where Difference, Trust, and Accountability Can Coexist," presented by Taunita Stephenson (The Pingry School), explored how leaders can intentionally build strong team cultures. Participants discussed how trust, accountability, and everyday leadership behaviors shape successful teams and learned practical ways to move from awareness to action.
"From Awareness to Execution: Building a Mental Performance System That Sticks," presented by Rob Rorke (Next Play Sports), focused on developing consistent mental performance habits. The session provided practical tools to help athletes build self-awareness, respond effectively under pressure, and strengthen daily performance routines.
"Recruiting Isn't Just for You—It's for Your Mission," presented by Dr. Jessica Brown (Westminster College, Mo.), encouraged participants to rethink the traditional idea of "fit" in recruiting. The presentation challenged leaders to align hiring and recruiting practices with their institution's mission and values while building stronger teams and departments.
"Past, Present, and a Positive Future for Girls and Women in Sport," presented by Dr. Anna Goorevich (Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport), highlighted current research on the challenges and opportunities facing girls' and women's sports. Participants left with research-based strategies to improve the coaching landscape, increase visibility, and support continued growth for women in sport.
Stay up to date on the Centennial Conference's programming efforts by visiting the Conference tab on Centennial.org.
