WHAT DRIVES A COACH? ATHLETICS
Storied NESCAC championships are only part of the story of Tufts Athletics. So we asked the coaches—what defines a Tufts student-athlete?
Head Coach of Volleyball
CORA THOMPSON ’99, ’01 26
What is your favorite part about coaching at Tufts? Coaching here at Tufts offers me the amazing oppor tunity to engage daily with incredibly genuine, passionate, and hardworking student-athletes who are not only an integral part of athletics, but an integral part of our university. Our student-athletes exhibit a tireless dedication to both their academics and their sport while continuously working to give back to the greater community, which are characteristics I deeply respect. As a Tufts coach, I enjoy the awesome responsibility of identifying, recruiting, and mentoring these impressive Jumbos during their time here on the Hill. I get the chance to coach wonderful, brilliant, and dedicated young women who in turn help me honor the TUVB legacy by continuously investing in our positive culture. That fosters a cohesive and inclusive team atmosphere, helping us all build lifelong connections. I love the role I am able to play in creating and maintaining this healthy environment because it allows our players to feel comfortable taking risks while exploring their “growth zones,” and as a result real learning and change take place! As a double Jumbo and former twosport athlete myself, I am honored to support my student-athletes throughout their journey here at Tufts, ensuring that they enjoy the transformational experience I was lucky enough to have as well.
What is unique about Tufts student-athletes? Our student-athletes are some of the most impressive people I have ever met. Not only are they incredibly accomplished, skilled, and passionate about playing their sport at a very high level, but they also excel academically with the same amount of devotion, resulting in some of the most admirable feats off the court! Without question, our student-athletes are competitive, pushing themselves as hard as they can to achieve academic and athletic excellence, while actively finding ways to further engage within the Tufts community. They keep the bar very high for not only themselves, but for everyone else around them, knowing that the success of a team will always outweigh the success of an individual. Our athletes understand and embrace the fact that they are part of something much bigger than themselves, and they are honored to play for and carry on the legacy of those who came before them. Off the court, it is not surprising to hear that our student-athletes’ average GPA is higher than that of the regular student body, even while they often double major, volunteer with two or three clubs, help a professor with research, and intern in the Boston area, all while planning their study abroad adventure! I admire all of our Tufts student-athletes for how much they do and how well they do it, but I will always be most proud of our young women [on the volleyball team] who consistently beat their best.
