Learning what it means to be a great leader is never straightforward, but honing leadership skills in the face of adversity is critical to the process. Alex Chackel knows this all too well. His recent internship in special teams quality control with UNLV football was truly a test of his ability to be a strong leader in the midst of a tumultuous season.
While the sophomore is pursuing his bachelor's degree in business entrepreneurship, he's working to add a certificate in Intercollegiate and Professional Sport Management (IPSM), which is housed in the College of Education, to his academic credentials. Alex knows what it takes to find balance and maintain priorities while setting lofty goals for himself and his athletes. He's sped his academic progress by enrolling in summer courses while juggling a full course load and traveling with UNLV football.
You may be wondering, where does he get the motivation to accomplish all of this? Well, it’s all in the family.
Alex’s parents were both NCAA student-athletes, with his mom playing tennis at the University of Washington and dad playing golf at both Oregon and Washington. In addition, his grandfather founded the University of Oregon Sports Network.
Alex’s family fostered his love of sports, especially collegiate athletics. He recalls attending events like the 2015 Rose Bowl, an event marked by his family's love for the Oregon Ducks and a big victory over Florida State. It was only a matter of time that his academic and professional aspirations would reveal his desire to stay in the game.
“I just wanted to take the next step to stay involved in sports since I could no longer play.” This is a sentiment shared by many IPSM students. There is a strong desire to bridge the gap between playing and transitioning to other roles in sport, a feeling Alex refers to as “wanting to get to the other side.”
That other side, in Alex’s case, is coaching, a niche that IPSM uniquely encourages in comparison to other programs. UNLV's program is well rounded and provides students with educational experiences that will serve them well no matter which professional path they take. Hands-on work is a perfect addition to classroom learning, and Alex’s internship offered him the chance to apply what he has learned in the classroom in real-life coaching and leadership scenarios.
Through this, Alex is developing his own leadership style, one that centers around consistency, high energy and a positive mindset, regardless of the outcome on the field. In a season riddled with close losses, he experienced first hand the need to be firm, never lowering the bar for excellence, maintaining team standards and pushing the envelope every day, practice and game regardless of yesterday's score. Alex strives to elevate the team through his own game-day responsibilities like assisting in coaching, self-scout grading, and coordinating the players, as well as preparing reports concerning the opposing teams and compiling practice and game-day film.
The valuable experiences he's had so far in the IPSM program have only amplified his passion for a career in sport. "This program is something anyone hoping to join the sport industry should enroll in," says Alex. "Without the program, I'd be missing a lot of learning opportunities. Watching how the coaches interact with the players and each other, paying attention to behind-the-scenes management, and taking in the overall picture has shown me what I am learning in class is truly applicable in my position."
