American student achieves goal of studying for a coaching degree

Football Coaching & Performance

An American student with a passion for football achieved his goal of studying for a degree in coaching in England after the University of Wolverhampton’s sports sponsorship programme showed amazing reach. 

Jackson Dilday, 19 from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in the USA, saw the University advertised at a Wolves versus Manchester United game on TV and lined himself up for career in sports coaching by signing up to the Institute of Human Sciences' Football Coaching & Performance degree. 

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) Honours degree in Football Coaching & Performance has been endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).  

The degree was introduced in September 2020 as part of the new sports curriculum by the Institute of Human Sciences, developed to focus on student career aspirations and job prospects. As part of the redevelopment, the University joined forces with CIMSPA to further enhance the employability of sports students. 

Jackson said: “I had been in the Black Country area before and I saw some University adverts at a game I’d been watching.  I didn’t really know what I wanted to do but I’d always loved football and there weren’t many opportunities in the USA to study for a career in that area. 

“I’ve had a lot of support from the University in my first year of studying here, especially with the challenges brought on by the pandemic, so it’s my intention to perhaps study for my Master’s degree and then look for a career in coaching or performance back home because it’s such a growing field over there.” 

Russel Smith, Lecturer in Football Coaching at the University, said: “As the University of Opportunity, we ensure our students have access to the best experience possible, and our various sports partnerships, especially the one with Walsall Football Club, enables them to work with professional footballers, hear from coaching staff and go behind the scenes at a football club to fully understand how teams operate. 

“The University is a long-term supporter of the Saddlers, and we now sponsor the Academy team.  It’s this ongoing activity, coupled with our efforts to ensure students are equipped with relevant employability skills in the field of their study, that is attracting more and more students from further afield. 

“We were delighted to welcome Jackson onto the course and this kind of recruitment is really showing how we are extending our reach across the miles, offering opportunities to both local, national and international students.” 

Through partnerships with Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion and Walsall FC, University of Wolverhampton sponsorship supports their academy programmes, helping in the development of the next generation of players.  

The University is also the main sponsor for the West Bromwich Albion Women’s football programme – highlighting our commitment to gender equality, which was recently recognised through the Department of Sport’s Athena Swan Bronze Award. The University also has ongoing sponsorship agreements with Walsall Cricket Club, Staffordshire Cricket Board and Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club, home to England captain and Honorary Graduate, Joe Root. 

Anyone looking to study at the University of Wolverhampton should register for one of our forthcoming Open Days.