55 // � e Legacies of Elon’s Leaders

Megan McCollum

PHOTO BY JUSTINE SCHULERUD

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SAssistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Megan McCollum

prepares herself for work every day with the attitude that she has the best job in the world – mainly because, to her, she does. Her passion for her job is portrayed day in and day out.

Growing up on a farm in Wentworth, NC, McCollum was exposed early to the mentality that hard work pays off. Leadership has always run in McCollum’s family, originating from her grandmother, mother and aunt.

When reaching her lifelong goal of getting into North Carolina State University, she decided that she would go to community college for a year. While playing soccer at the junior college, she started her coaching career. After attending Rockingham Junior College for a year, she was ready to transfer. At NC State she majored in agriculture and life science with a concentration in crop science. Despite her love for agriculture, she was always interested in helping people and had an undying passion for sports. Combining both of those interests she decided to minor in coaching education at NC State.

McCollum’s fi rst coaching experience was in cross country. She marks her true passion for coaching both cross country and basketball. After her experience with coaching, she decided that she wanted to go to graduate school for something in the fi eld. She went to Texas A&M University and received her master’s degree in sports kinesiology. McCollum originally thought that she wanted to coach high school students, because she wanted to be a positive infl uence on the life path of teens. But while completing her non-thesis education, she found where she truly belonged. After two practicums in the weight room, she was hooked.

While fi nishing up her degree she interned at Wake Forest University in their weight room. She was contacted by a friend one day telling her that the Elon University was looking for a female weights and conditioning coach. McCollum refused to apply because she didn’t want to compete for a job against her friend. At the friend’s insistence McCollum fi nally agreed to apply. When the head strength and conditioning coach at Wake Forest called over to Elon, he was told that the job was already fi lled but if something fell through they would contact him.

Two weeks later McCollum received a phone call from Elon Athletics saying that its previous person had fallen through and

asked if they could come out to Wake Forest and observe her. She was observed on a Wednesday and that Friday she was called back for an interview. She fi nished her internship with Wake Forest the next Tuesday and then fl ew to Texas to graduate on Friday. The next Tuesday she fl ew back to North Carolina to start her job at Elon the next morning.

On Wednesday, August 18, 2004, McCollum coached the Phoenix for the fi rst time – it was with the women’s basketball team. With one week until all the teams arrived, McCollum had to write 11 weights programs.

When McCollum fi rst started coaching at Elon, she averaged 70 hours a week. For the fi rst fi ve years she traveled 45 minutes to work every morning, sometimes to arrive at 5:45 a.m. She currently averages a 10- to 12-hour workday, usually from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. depending on the semester. Despite her crazy work schedule, McCollum said she has yet to wake up a single day in her life and thought that she could not stand what she was doing with her life.

McCollum says the best part of her job is that she gets to work with a person and not a product. She wakes up every day knowing she gets the opportunity to mold someone to become a better person and work toward their personal and team goals.

“After working with Coach McCollum for three years, I have seen her constant energy and support both inside and outside the weight room,” said senior Katy Burns, former cross country and track runner. “From sporting Elon apparel everyday, helping her teams iron out their season goals or cheering like crazy at meets and competitions, it is very apparent that she truly cares about each team and the overall direction of the Elon Athletics program.”

McCollum said her job is both inspirational and rewarding. She said the hardest part of her job is combining love and discipline with student athletes. She has such a strong desire to help change someone’s life to become better and to work hard.

“We split our lives into thirds, we have eight hours to eat and do things we need, we sleep eight hours, and then we work the other eight,” McCollum said. “We spend at least one-third of our lives working – you better enjoy what you do.”

Story By Justine Schulerud

LIFTING STUDENTS TO THEIR POTENTIAL

GET TO KNOWMegan McCol lum

Arrived at Elon in 2004

Hometown: Wentworth, NC

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly fi nd out how far one can go.” –T.S. Elliot

McCollum is a clog dancer and loves milkshakes

� e Legacies of Elon’s Leaders // 56