COACH AS TEACHER

Men’s Soccer Head Coach Joao Ehlers, M.A. is a recent addition to Bushnell Athletics staff and is excited to inspire his students in the classroom as much as on the field. Originally from Brazil, Ehlers came to the United States to play collegiate soccer. His first coaching job was at another Christ-centered institution (Montreat College in North Carolina), where he simultaneously completed a master’s degree in management and leadership.

He just finished his first coaching season and was immediately impressed by the campus. “Bushnell has such a strong sense of community. If you want to be known and seen for the person you are and if you want a deeper connection with people, this is the place to be.” He loves being at a Christ-centered institution where he can integrate his personal values into the University mission and vision.

In addition to coaching, Ehlers teaches undergraduate courses in economics, leadership, and sports management, as well as leadership courses in the online MBA program. He is simultaneously pursuing a doctorate in higher education leadership from the University of the Cumberlands and loves integrating his own Ph.D. studies into his courses. He models life-long learning and encourages his students to aspire to high academic goals.

On the field, Ehlers’ own educational experiences inform his coaching philosophy. When he first came to the US to play soccer, he didn’t speak much English and initially prioritized his sport over his education. He had to learn that soccer was simply a vehicle to make the educational experience more memorable and formative, and that education is the goal. For many, the field becomes the place where students can set aside all of their problems and challenges and, for that moment, it’s “just soccer”.

Ehlers’ international soccer experience has provided him the unique opportunity to recruit students from all over the world – from Guam, New Zealand, Portugal, Mexico, and beyond. For many of these students, a college degree might never have seemed possible. “They arrive on campus and are exposed to a Christ-centered environment where we show them what it means to be a Christian. Bringing together students from multiple countries teaches them to celebrate our differences while finding our commonalities. As one cohesive team, they represent Bushnell and our University values,” Ehlers explains.

Ehlers has high expectations for his players. As a culture-builder, he is fair yet demanding. He makes himself available to students and is ready to walk with them through all their challenges. “It’s the great thing about my role – off the field, I get to connect with my players at a deeper level and show them I’m there for them. On the field, I expect them to take their training and competition seriously, while not forgetting the other aspects of academics and character development.”

In the classroom, his role as a coach informs his educational philosophy. Coaching has helped him understand that not every student enters at the same level. Some of them need more support and require more patience on the part of the faculty member, while others need additional challenges. The small classes at Bushnell allow for this personalized instruction. When his soccer players enroll in his courses, he finds particular satisfaction in how they integrate their personal athletic experiences into their academic coursework.

While most Bushnell athletes won’t compete at a professional level after college, Ehlers treasures the role athletics plays in students’ lives. “Athletics is a great platform for experiencing crucial aspects of life such as teamwork, leadership skills, depending on others, losing and winning, managing emotions, communication, negotiation, sacrifice, and compromise.” Ehlers has high hopes for his future at Bushnell and for the soccer program. He is becoming an integral part of the student experience and is confident in the momentum he is building for Bushnell athletics, both on the field and in the classroom.