Coaching Forward: How Fraternity Mentorship Shaped Ty Hoover's Career

Ty Hoover (left) with Seth Ware (right)

Ty Hoover (Trine University, ‘22) enrolled at Trine University, energetic and excited to get involved on campus. He joined the track team and began meeting brothers from the Fraternity who also ran. He later discovered that many of the men he met on the team were a part of the Fraternity and seemed to have a strong bond. 

Between his initial involvement with the track team and the Fraternity at Trine University, Ty Hoover faced a period of introspection and self-discovery. The camaraderie and bonds he witnessed among his peers were inspiring, but he also felt an internal pull towards a different path. Ty realized that while college provided many opportunities, he desired an opportunity to discover the best version of himself and prepare for a structured lifestyle before fully committing to college. This realization led him to make a significant decision in his life. 

Ty decided to withdraw from college and join the Air Force. He began his service working in the aerospace medical field. He traveled to several medical clinics nationwide, putting his college education on hold. He later transitioned to the Air Force, doing blood draws, medical records, and physicals. While in the Air Force, he returned to college full-time. He dedicated one weekend a month to the Air Force and focused on college life during the remainder of his time. 

Although he was excited to return to school, he felt like he was starting over. Phi Kappa Theta was filled with familiar faces from his first year, and his brothers welcomed him with open arms. They encouraged him to be the best he could be and reach his goals.  

After returning to track and field, it quickly became more than just a sport. He was always curious about the purpose behind the workouts and how he could reach his fullest potential. His coach, Seth Ware (Trine University, ‘13), who serves on the Fraternity's Board of Trustees, became a big brother figure to Ty. He was a mentor, always offering advice in practice or life. Seth says he enjoys mentoring students on his team and in the Fraternity. It seems to happen naturally, and it’s part of why he loves coaching track and field and staying involved with the Fraternity.  

When Ty decided he was interested in coaching track and field, Seth was the one who guided him through applying for jobs, preparing for interviews, and building his confidence as an aspiring coach. The most memorable experience was when Seth encouraged Ty to apply for a job opening that felt out of reach. Shortly after applying for the job, he received a call inviting him in for an interview.    

The interview went well, and he received a job offer shortly after. Ty explains that if it weren’t for Seth and his brothers in the Fraternity, he might not have the same love for coaching. He may not have been confident applying for a job outside his comfort zone. He claims that the Fraternity shaped him into the person and coach he is today.   

Ty is now the head track and field coach at Adrian College. He is now able to share advice with his students. He finds joy in the fact that the Fraternity taught him leadership skills and how to share knowledge with others. He enjoys mentoring his students and is thankful for the opportunity to pay it forward, as Seth had done for him.  

Seth agrees that although Ty is coaching at a school that competes against his team, he will always be a resource to him. That is what makes the Fraternity so unique. Even when you graduate, you have a nationwide network of brothers with common interests who want to support each other.  

If Seth had one piece of advice to give regarding our brotherhood, he would say, “A brotherhood can exist in chapters and across the country. The whole point of the Fraternity is the network and the common interests we share across the country. Use the network, and don’t be afraid to reach out to other members even if they aren’t from your chapter.”  

Ty and Seth's story reminds us that those around you often play a significant role in who you become. 

Ty's journey as a college student to a military serviceman and back to academia, culminating in his track and field coach role, underscores the profound impact of mentorship. Seth (who now serves on the National Fraternity Board of Trustees) exemplifies the strength and depth of mentorship that can be forged within the Fraternity.

It's not just about the bonds formed during college years but the lifelong relationships that continue to guide, support, and inspire a fellow brother. 

Whether you're a current student or an alumnus, the opportunities to cross paths with brothers, share experiences, and grow together are endless. To further foster these connections, consider attending the upcoming Phi Kap Konnect forum online hosted by National Fraternity President Dan Bureau, Ph.D. As a member, there are countless ways to make your mark and continue the legacy of brotherhood that has shaped so many lives, just as it did for Ty and Seth.

Register now for a Boysie Bollinger Leadership Academy near you!

If you've ever wondered what you're really living for, what to do next, or how to become the best version of yourself - you're not alone.

Every young man wrestles with these big questions, but it is only servant leaders willing to invest the time and energy to discover the answers who will go the distance and make a difference.

It is for this reason that this year's Boysie Bollinger Regional Leadership Academy (at several locations) are going to be life-changing! Seize this opportunity. MAKE YOUR MOVE.

Below is the current list of convenient host locations available to all collegiate members:

• St. Francis University: Saturday, Feb. 19, 12-5pm (Recruitment Reimagined)

• Georgia Institute of Technology: Saturday, March 5, 12-5pm (Make Your Move)

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Saturday, April 2, 12-5pm (Make Your Move)

• University of Illinois: Saturday, April 16, 12-5pm (Make Your Move)

• Iowa State University: Saturday, April 23, 11am-4pm (Make Your Move)

*You can be from any chapter to attend any of these locations*

Registration is now open for a Boysie Bollinger Leadership Academy near you!

This program, including lunch, is being offered free to all brothers of Phi Kappa Theta thanks to the generosity of Brother Boysie Bollinger
(University of Louisiana at Lafayette, ‘71).

If your chapter has questions about the program please contact Stephan Oechsle, Director of Fraternal Operations. For more information about hosting a future Boysie Bollinger Regional Leadership Conference at your chapter please reach out to Travis Smith, Director of Brother Engagement.

Phi Kappa Theta to host two recruitment Growth Summits

As our collegiate members undertake the new semester and with many chapters transitioning new leadership officers, the Fraternity's professional staff, alumni volunteer coaches, and our partners at DMB Coaching (DMB) are listening to what chapters are showing us they need. To model true servant leadership, we're responding!

While our chapters continue organizing recruitment efforts in January and February, we're meeting our collegiate members where they are by hosting two recruitment "Growth Summits" in areas conveniently located near chapters seeking assistance.

As our DMB partners facilitate our Recruitment Reimagined curriculum, staff and volunteers will be working alongside our collegiate members to learn, develop as young men, and grow the Fraternity.

We hope anyone in the area will join us as we hold these summits and build toward the future. We'll be in Bowling Green, Ohio, on January 29th and Loretto, Pennsylvania, on February 19th.

If you're an alumnus interested in attending or are a chapter member who hasn't received an invitation, please reach out to Stephan Oechsle, Director of Fraternal Operations.

Coaching vs. Advising

by Johnny Hohenstein (Belmont Abbey College, ‘12)

As of late, a few of our Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity chapter executive boards have been asking about best practices when finding an advisor. In any situation, being without a mentor can make an individual or group seem a little lost. The imagery of a ship without a captain comes to mind: what would a bunch of pirates do out to sea with no chief swashbuckler to set the course?

While our organization technically does utilize and endorse an advising model (sans swashbuckling...), we prefer to use the term "coaches" when referring to the individuals in these roles. We do this in order to encourage a more dynamic relationship that emphasizes the idea of creating a two-way street communication style. The more that both parties understand that success can come as a result of collaborating and listening, the more likely both parties will find success - and enjoy the journey along the way.

Last month Phi Kappa Theta hosted its second annual Servant Leadership Summit, during which ten new Performance Coaches began their training. These individuals – a combination of alumni and community volunteers – will act as an extension of the Executive Offices. Each has the ability to offer tailored support, guidance, and challenges to three collegiate chapters.

By adding this personal level of support to chapter leadership and operations, Phi Kappa Theta hopes to be able to challenge our members to be better leaders while supporting them through difficult conversations and decisions. Performance Coaches are gearing up to hit the ground running with their chapters in January of 2019.

These two things, difficult conversation and decision making, were large parts of the Servant Leadership Summit. We wanted to treat this Summit as the foundational beginnings to a new initiative; we hoped to get all of our coaches in the same room, have intentional conversations about the Fraternity and Chapter Operations, and have each individual leave with the same action item: guide but not decide.

This notion comes from Sanford’s Challenge and Support Theory. The long and short of it is the idea that challenging an individual too much may see them buckle under pressure, whereas overwhelming support results in minimal learning opportunities. Performance Coaches had several opportunities during the Servant Leadership Summit to discuss what that means and how to navigate tough coaching conversations.

Pirate analogies aside, here are some of the principles that we discussed with coaches. Our hope is that it can translate into your own situation, whatever shape or form that may take. Phi Kappa Theta wants to extend a challenge to you: can you identify a mentor or coach within your office, profession or community at large using these criteria?

1. Coaches in your community should first and foremost be accessible. They should want to speak with and listen to members within your chapter. They should be good listeners. In fact, some of the best mentors speak less and listen more. Find someone that will listen to a chapter's questions, goals, insecurities, ideas, etc. so that they can get a good idea of the executive board's strengths, weaknesses and desires.

2. Coaches used as sounding boards can be a great way for student leaders to “make mistakes” without making mistakes that have long-term consequences on the chapter.

3. Coaches should be the type of people who like to encourage others, especially coaches that identify with the mission/vision of Phi Kappa Theta. They also should be the type of individual who can gently but firmly tell someone an idea is bad without destroying creativity.

4. Coaches should have experience and wisdom (the two don’t necessarily always go together). That is, they should have learned from their own mistakes. Think of some alumni in your area who may have had leadership experience in your own chapter.

5. Coaches also should be willing to be “coached" by their chapter. Any manager, mentor or advisor should be willing to learn from others no matter how young, seasoned, educated — or not — someone is. Coaching is a two-way street: they coach members, and members coach them on how they want to be coached.

Interested in becoming a Performance Coach? Contact us.