As the new school year starts, the California Lutheran University’s Athletics Department has a new sports information director and is currently looking for a new lacrosse coach.
Within these changes, Kieran Cantwell, the new sports information director, said he is still learning the ways of how to perform in this role. He said he understands the importance of giving the information that is needed for the athletics department and the public as well.
“Right now, I’m still learning all the ways I am supposed to do that but once I get the routine down, I think that it should go pretty smoothly,” Cantwell said.
Cantwell said the athletics department has announced a new head softball coach, Kecia Davis, who currently serves as the director of health and wellness. There is also a new men’s basketball assistant coach, Bryan Fisher.
“I’ve gotten to meet the coaches here and there. Little, tiny conversations in the hallway and stuff like that but they all have been very welcoming,” Cantwell said.
The most important thing that Cantwell wants to strategize is being extremely communicative with the coaches.
“Just making it as easy as possible for them to get all the stuff they need to me and so that they don’t feel overwhelmed in any way and that it can just be a very simple process because what matters to the coaches should be, you know, getting the players in the position to succeed on and off the field,” Cantwell said.
Additionally, the women’s lacrosse team is looking for a new head coach after former head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Laura McIntyre left to deal with personal circumstances. One of the junior lacrosse players, Bella Bravo, said she understands why McIntyre left and that she knew it was best for her.
“One of her big things was always telling us that we, you know, needed to do what was best for ourselves and to remember, you know, that we’re, you know, not just student-athletes but we’re people too and so I think this was her putting, that’s what she always taught us was she needed to put her, do that for herself too,” Bravo said.
Bravo said the athletics department has been trying its best to communicate with the team. Bravo said she is aware that her team is not going to get all the answers they want promptly, but said she understands the athletics department is trying its best and that’s all the lacrosse team could ask for.
“I think at the end of the day, the school is doing the best they can and sometimes in order to find a person best suited for the position and with the qualities that they want, sometimes they do have to take the extra time, which you know again like I said even though it’s a bummer we don’t have someone like I know it’s definitely coming, it’s just going to take a little bit of time,” Bravo said.
Bravo said the Cal Lutheran athletic department continues to be tasked with responding to the changes within the department.
“Change can be scary. Change is not always a bad thing and so I think we’re trying to, you know, just break away from that, you know, mindset of change is a bad thing and like it’s okay for things to be uncertain. It’s okay to, you know, feel a little nervous about what is going to happen, but at the end of the day, you know, change isn’t always a bad thing and it can be a really positive thing,” Bravo said.
