Leadership in Action

Alumni Athletes Bring Their Skills Back to the Game

Our alumni gained many different skills during their time at Cannon, whether that be in the classroom, taking a leadership role within the House System or another organization on campus, or on the athletic field.

Several of our alumni have come back to campus to coach on the same fields where they once competed as Cougars. We had the chance to interview some of these upstanding alumni to learn more about their motivation behind returning to campus and the skills they’ve gained.

Myles Martino ’13 Assistant JV Football Coach

Myles Martino ’13 (middle) discusses game plays with Coach Danny Scurlock and Coach Chris Williams

The football program started in 2010 and you played on the inaugural team. What kind of leadership lessons did you learn at Cannon as a student-athlete?

“I feel like servant leadership is something that I was able to take away from my time at Cannon. As far as being able to be the captain for the football team, I didn’t hold that lightly. I believe I took that and transferred it into everything I was doing, as far as the way I was talking to people or how I could help someone. Of course, the honor code was a big thing while I was at Cannon and still is - having that initiative and being able to speak up to make a change was something that I was able to take away from my time at Cannon.”

How have you translated your experiences as a student and transferred it to a coaching role?

“Of course, when you’re a kid and being coached, you really don’t have the hindsight to look back and think, ‘I wish I would have done this differently,’ or ‘I wish I would have been coached like this.’ So, I really just honed in on that and thought about how every player is going to be different, and every player is an individual. I really wanted to make sure that every kid got the individualized attention they needed. One of the things I did at the beginning of the season was ask each one where they wanted to be at the end of the season. With taking that time, I was able to identify some of the goals they wanted to achieve, hold them accountable, and partner with them to help them get there. That was something that I believe they felt was genuine and really helped both of us establish a connection.”

Kelvin Drakeford ’08 Head Varsity Girls Basketball Coach

Kelvin Drakeford ’08 checking the scoreboard during a game this past season

How has your experience been back as a coach at Cannon?

“I think from a personal standpoint, this is home for me, so I take a lot of pride in our program. When the girls put on a Cannon uniform, I let them know that this is special. I really do take a lot of pride in it, and people have been very supportive of it, and our program has really been growing.”

What has been your favorite part about coaching at Cannon?

“Probably seeing (the girls) growth from when I first started with them to when they graduate. This year will be my first group of girls to graduate that I spent all four years with, from the time they were freshman to seniors. I have coached five out of the eight seniors all four years. Seeing where they were as freshmen to where they are now, how they’ve improved, and how they have become young, independent women speaking their mind with no problem.” Paul Anderson ’13 and Trevor McWilliams ’13 Assistant Varsity Lacrosse Coaches

What made you two decide to come back and coach at Cannon?

“Sports had a huge impact on both of us during our time at Cannon, so when we got the call from Coach Schattner asking us to be assistant coaches for the lacrosse team, we were excited to come back.”

“Coach Schattner and our JV coaches made a big difference for both of us while we were at Cannon. We wanted to emulate that for the current student-athletes. We felt like we could work well with the coaches and relate to the players because we are all close in age. We saw this opportunity as our way to give back to Cannon and help create the same experience and impact for the current students.”

Trevor McWilliams ’13 and Paul Anderson ’13

THANK YOU, ALUMNI BOARD!

Our Alumni Board always does so much to elevate the Alumni Association programming, especially during such a unique year we have just experienced. Thank you to every member for their time and insight to make this year the best it could have been.

ALUMNI BOARD MEMBERS 2020-2021: President: Hillary Gruce '08 Vice President: Jane Campbell '12

Hailey Foreman '13 Declan Hurley '20 Erin Mason '16 Isabelle Powell '08 Ashley Rivenbark '10 Brandon Wade ’15