The University of Wyoming Athletics Department recently hosted a Leadership Summit for its student-athletes, coaches and athletic staff members.

Two sessions were held -- one specifically for coaches and staff and one for a group of student-athletes identified as “emerging leaders” by their coaches and athletics department staff members. A total of 48 UW student-athletes and 28 coaches and athletics staff members attended the seminars.

The focus of the leadership skills being taught is to maximize learning, retention and application of those skills for the student-athletes, and offering leadership techniques and strategies to coaches and staff that can be implemented in their roles as leaders.

According to a news release, nationally-recognized speaker Jeff Janssen, who is the principal in Janssen Sports Leadership Center, spoke to both groups. Janssen has presented to over 200 schools across the country, including Boston College, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame and Stanford.

“Our leadership program, called the SADDLE Program, is in full-swing this fall, with a great deal of planning haven taken place this summer,” said Julie Manning, UW Senior Associate Athletics Director for Sport Administration and Senior Woman Administrator. “Our student-athletes’ total experience will include personal development, service leadership, networking and engagement skill development opportunities.

The University of Wyoming SADDLE Cup Program stands for Student-Athletes Dedicated to the Development of Leadership and Engagement. Each of Wyoming’s student-athletes may earn points for their sport team during the year through involvement in: academic activities and community service activities. The sport team with the most points at the conclusion of the academic year is named the SADDLE Cup winner.

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