Friday, November 17, 2017

Part of a regular series.

Throughout the year, GNACsports.com uses this space to profile conference student-athletes, coaches, and administrators. Collectively, it is these individuals who make the GNAC one of the top NCAA Division II athletic conferences in the nation.

Name: Ian Shoemaker
Sport: Football
School: Central Washington
Hometown: Graham, Washington

Colleges Attended & Degrees: Grinnell College, Western Washington University (Undergraduate, Psychology)

Why Did You Become A Coach: I love staying connected to college campuses and sports. To feed a need to compete. It provides an opportunity to make a real difference in student-athletes’ lives.

Who Has Influenced You The Most As A Coach - Either As An Inspiration, A Mentor, Or Philosophically: My coaching philosophy has been influenced by all the coaches I have either played under or worked with over the years. I feel that if I don't absorb something from every coach I encounter, I am not valuing their skill set.

Biggest Obstacle Overcome As A Coach: Having to move all over the country to be able to continue to challenge myself professionally.

What Does Division II Mean To You: It means an opportunity to coach in a highly competitive scholarship level.

Extracurricular Activities: Spending time with the family. I golf and travel when I can.

Best Advice You’d Give To Student-Athletes: Invest every day. Be present in everything you do. Give yourself up to your teammates and the process laid out by your coaching staff.

If You Could Spend The Day With One Person (Past Or Present), Who Would It Be (And Why): Hunter S. Thompson. With just one day to work with, I feel that the pace that Hunter lived and wrote with would best fill a 24-hour period.

Favorite Sports Team: Seattle Seahawks

Favorite Athlete: Ozzie Smith

Most Memorable Sports-Related Moment: Winning a national championship as an assistant softball coach.