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Alumni Achievements

Mike Nahl, '10

Major: Kinesiology

Current Position: Nahl is the head offensive line coach at California's Claremont McKenna College. He is also the team's strength and conditioning coach and assistant recruiting director.

Why Whitworth? "I was drawn to Whitworth for its location, facilities, athletics programs, and academics. The environment sets you up to succeed. I transferred to Whitworth with a GPA below average, and due to my professors and Whitworth's learning environment, I graduated with honors."

Whitworth Activities: Was a member of Whitworth's football and track teams when the teams won multiple conference championships, and served as president of the Future Athletic Coaches Association.

Quote: "Whitworth prepared me to enter a very competitive field and not only to land a great position immediately after graduation, but also to excel in my first year. The well-rounded education allowed me to develop work experience, essentially, while I was in school. The balance of a traditional liberal arts education, combined with the hands-on teaching of practical and applicable skills, sets Whitworth alumni apart from the rest."

Influential Whitworth Professors: "Due to the department's overall soundness, it's impossible to select just one member of the kinesiology department who made an impact. Great advisors such as Russ Richardson, professors like Kirk Westre and Warren Friedrichs, and a wide spectrum of interesting courses made the department an ultimate educational experience."

Career Goals: "I will be attaining my master's in education from Claremont Graduate University and continuing my career in college coaching. I aspire to coach at the highest level of college football. In the future I would like to settle down as an NCAA Division III head football coach and professor at a school similar to Whitworth."

Here's what some other recent Whitworth graduates are doing with their kinesiology degrees:

• Janelle Zych, '10, is working toward a degree in physical therapy at Elon University, in North Carolina.

• Andrew Hamstra, '11, is a graduate assistant athletic trainer to the varsity football team and the indoor track and field team at Boise State University, where he is also earning a master's degree in exercise and sports science.

• Clark Pauls, '07, is a teacher and the head football coach at Washington's Wellpinit High School.

• Danielle Johnston, '09, is a physical therapy aid at Star Physical Therapy, in Spokane.

• Kip Hamilton, '10, is working as a personal trainer in Spokane.

• Matthew Perry, '09, is in flight school, United States Army.

• Mike Peck, '11, teaches health and physical education at Battle Ground High School in Battle Ground, Wash., where he also coaches track and football. He is also founder, owner and director of Air Assault Football Camps, in Vancouver, Wash.

• David Gerig, '09, is a graduate student in athletic administration at the University of Washington.

• Jamie Duncan, '09, is a teacher and coach for the Pullman School District.

• Joel Evans, '06, is a sales representative for Better Body Fitness, in Spokane.

• Cassandra Snyder, '08, is a teacher and basketball coach at Lakes High School, in Tacoma, Wash.

• Henry Williams, '11, is a health and fitness instructor at Providence St. Peter Hospital, in Olympia, Wash.

• Brittany Johnson, '09, is working toward a degree in physical therapy at Eastern Washington University.