Full shot of the newly built Miller Gym.
KCC's new Miller Physical Education Building. Photo by Taylor Vrooman.

Kellogg Community College is expected to expand their Physical Education Department by offering two additional Associate in Applied Science degrees, Health and Fitness Science and Sport and Fitness Management, as well as a Fitness Specialist Certificate.

The new credentials are expected to be offered as early as next fall.

Along with the new degree and certificate offerings will be a new, full time PE Program Coordinator position that will also be responsible for coaching the new woman’s soccer team starting next fall.

According to Tom Shaw, KCC’s athletic director, the position will be “the champion in getting these programs off the ground.”

“There is an absolute ton of work to develop a new program at KCC and this will be a dedicated position that has the description to get this done,” Shaw said.

Shaw is an advocate for pairing KCC coaching positions with other employee positions that are currently full time at KCC. Data shows student athletes under coaches who are also institutional employees do better in school as well as in their sport, Shaw said.

Currently, the majority of KCC’s coaches are part-time employees, not currently employed in another capacity at KCC. The exceptions are head baseball coach Eric Laskovy, who is also an instructor, and head women’s basketball coach Dic Doumanian, who is an advisor.

KCC’s head men’s basketball, women’s volleyball and cross-country coaches are all part time.

“KCC is not unique to have part-time coaches oversee their head coaching positions,” Shaw said. “This is the norm across the community colleges in our state and nation. However, having coaches work in some capacity at KCC is strategic and positive. This is another step in that direction with this new position.”

The new women’s soccer team is expected to take the field next fall and the college is hoping to offer new Physical Education courses that semester. The PE Faculty Coordinator application closes on Oct. 19, and Shaw hopes to have someone hired mid November so they can start by the new year.