Baldwin Wallace University senior student-athlete and All-Ohio Athletic Conference defensive end Andy Schultz (North Royalton) has been selected by the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) to attend its 2017 and Eighth Annual Careers in Sports Forum from June 1-4 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Schultz is a student leader on the BW campus and in its football program.
Schultz, who is one of four football team captains, is one of two OAC student-athletes who were selected for the program. This is Schultz's second NCAA leadership trip as he attended the NCAA's Immersion Program Forum a year ago in conjunction with the 2017 NCAA National Convention in Nashville, Tennessee in January.
Schultz, who was nominated for this opportunity by BW Director of Athletics Kris A. Diaz and Athletics Faculty Representative Dr. Alan Kolp, feels he is eady for the opportunity and trip.
"I am extremely excited and grateful to attend the NCAA Careers in Sport Forum in Indianapolis," said Schultz. "I look forward to learning more about the NCAA and its available job opportunities. I can't thank Mr. Diaz and Dr. Kolp and others enough for help me get to this point. I can't wait to share with others my experience at the NCAA headquarters."
Schultz also feels that BW has him ready to make an impact in Indianapolis.
"BW has prepared me for this opportunity in many ways," said Schultz who plans to work in collegiate athletics following graduation in the spring of 2018. "From the leadership class with Dr. Alan Kolp [BW Faculty Athletics Representative or FAR), being selected a captain for the football team and attending the Careers in Sport Forum, I have been afforded some exceptional learning experiences by the University and OAC. BW has always been supportive and caring of their student-athletes."
Diaz also feels Schultz is ready and deserving of this experience.
"This is a great opportunity for Andrew as he enters his senior year," said Diaz, who starts his ninth year as AD in 2018-2019. "It gives him a great opportunity to get involved with the NCAA folks and to learn about the job opportunities after graduation. As with the NCAA IMmersion Program and NCAA Convention that he attended in January, Andrew has taken advantage of his opportunities and made the most of them. We are extremely proud of Andrew."
The NCAA Immersion Program that Schultz attended this past winter is for ethnic-minority students, preferably juniors and seniors, with a strong interest in a career in Division III athletics. The goal is to build a pipeline of talented ethnic-minority candidates with an interest in Division III coaching and/or administration in an effort to ultimately diversify the division's athletics administration.
In 2016, Schultz was injured and lost for the season in BW's season-opening 42-0 victory against Defiance College. A year ago, the second-team All-OAC selection at defensive end also earned OAC Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors when had a career-high 11 tackles in a 56-20 victory against OAC-rival Capital University, which included two tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He was credited with making 47 total tackles, including a team-leading 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 quarterback sacks. He also forced two fumbles, recovered another fumble and deflected two other passes.
In addition, last August, at the 2016 OAC Football Media Day, Schultz was one of two Yellow Jacket football student-athletess to represent the University. He represented BW for the OAC's Annual Football Preview webcast.
