Former Assistant Coach Excited for Next Step

Kaela Jackson might have stepped away from teaching, however don’t be shocked if she’s again making a distinction within the lives of student-athletes sooner or later. South Carolina’s former assistant softball coach determined to depart this system after spending the final 4 years at her alma mater with the intention to spend extra time on her household.

“It simply felt proper for my household and needing to be house extra,” stated Jackson. “My long-term purpose is to earn a 3rd diploma from South Carolina. I’ve a bachelor’s diploma (psychology) and grasp’s diploma (train science) from right here, however I wish to get my EdS (Schooling Specialist) diploma in counseling. I wish to turn out to be a sports activities efficiency coach right here and work with all types of student-athletes.

“Psychological well being is a ardour of mine, and I can’t wait to study all about it so I may help different student-athletes. I see such a necessity for it. It’s such a unique sport now, even from after I performed. There may be simply a lot extra stress and media consideration on these student-athletes now. There are only a lot of robust issues that these student-athletes undergo now that lots of people don’t discuss. I see psychological well being as one thing the place there’s a variety of want.”

South Carolina Athletics offers its student-athletes entry to all kinds of psychological well being suppliers, with experience starting from psychological efficiency to psychological well being providers, masking their psychological, psychiatric, and emotional wants. The Gamecocks have six psychological well being professionals on employees, and Jackson hopes to be in that area sometime, ideally at South Carolina.

Jackson got here to South Carolina as a student-athlete after two years at Chattanooga State and performed for the Gamecocks in 2011 and 2012. She later turned a graduate assistant and volunteer assistant coach in this system earlier than transferring on to Michigan State, the place she was an assistant coach for 3 years. She returned to South Carolina previous to the beginning of the 2019 season. Making a distinction within the lives of student-athletes in numerous capacities stays true to her calling as a coach.

“I’ve talked to a variety of professionals, they usually say there’s a want for extra counseling and extra coaches which have lived that life-style, as gamers and coaches, and might actually make an influence,” Jackson stated. “So, I wish to influence athletes in the easiest way that I can, and I imagine psychological well being is how I can finest serve.”

Now that she is now not teaching, Jackson can have some changes to make in not being across the softball diamond.

“I feel I’m going to overlook the student-athletes essentially the most,” Jackson stated. “I genuinely love each one in all them and everybody concerned right here. I plan on being essentially the most supportive alum, ever. The factor that makes me really feel just a little bit higher about leaving teaching is that I’m not doing it completely, per say. My dad used to say, ‘you don’t coach ball, you coach individuals.’  My ft gained’t be within the filth anymore, however I’ll nonetheless get an opportunity to teach individuals and all the opposite student-athletes that I run into.

“Being within the stands will certainly be a brand new perspective, however the greatest factor I wish to exude is assist. I’m one of many luckiest coaches in that I received to depart on my phrases and on good phrases. I’ve a wonderful relationship with Coach Bev (Smith) and with the staff. There’s no awkwardness. It’s simply full-on love and assist for this program that has given me a lot. My finest reminiscences are undoubtedly the team-bonding experiences that we’ve had and watching gamers be challenged and develop, on and off the sector.”

As she tends to her household and later continues her training, Jackson seems ahead to the following part of her life and hopes to have the chance to return to her alma mater sooner or later.

“If it have been as much as me, I’d stick round right here ceaselessly!”