With expectations to play basketball not in her foreseeable future, and her college career nearly over, Courtney O’Clair, like many graduating seniors,specifically student-athletes, pondered her athletic, yet professional career.
Many student-athletes spend a great portion of their young lives playing the sport they love but when they leave school, that opportunity for competition falters.
Even after O’Clair left, she had plans. “I knew I wanted to be involved somehow,” O’Clair said. “I enjoyed those four years so much, I just couldn’t walk away.” While completing her degree requirements, O’Clair was given the opportunity to serve as the women’s basketball assistant coach.
At the beginning of her second year on the coaching staff, head coach Lauren Lavigne went on maternity leave, allowing O’Clair to become the interim head coach for a semester. The experience allowed her to learn valuable leadership and communication skills during her tenure.
O’Clair, grew up in Stow, MA and graduated from Nashoba Regional High School in 2000. During her time in high school, O’Clair participated on the field hockey, basketball and softball teams. After graduating, she entered PSU where she majored in Physical Education with a minor in Health. While at Plymouth State, O’Clair was given the chance to play on the women’s basketball team.
In 2004, Plymouth State had just launched a master’s program in Athletic Administration when she graduated. She took advantage of the opportunity, but more good news was yet to come. O’Clair was named one of the 12 recipients of the NCAA Division III Ethnic Minority and Women’s Internship. The grant made funds available to graduate students and allowed an internship in the athletic department.
O’Clair is currently the NCAA Intern and more specifically, the Compliance Assistant of Academic Advising. Her role includes overseeing NCAA compliance policies and she has helped in the establishment of an academic advising program for student-athletes.
O’Clair sends out progress reports and helps students with class schedules, which ensures that student-athletes maintain the GPA needed to complete their degree by their junior year, while having the opportunity to compete in sports.
O’Clair assists with event managing and serves on several department committees too.
“I absolutely love Division III,” she said. “I love everything about it, from the concept of the student-athlete, to the quality of the person you get at a Division III school.”
At PSU, the Athletic Department focuses heavily on the “student-athlete” and what that term exactly means. “I think Division III gives students the opportunity to be well rounded, they get a little of everything,” she said. “They are people who want an academic and athletic, college experience.”
“I’m very passionate about Plymouth State University and I would love to stay here and help finish some of the things I started, but at the same time, I don’t’ know what else is out there. Hopefully, doors will open and then I will go from there,” she said.