“I chose to attend Hiram College, because it was the best option for me that combined athletics and academics seamlessly,” says Andrew Diaz de Padilla. With his interest in pursuing a coaching career after graduation, Andrew learned that Hiram College offered opportunities for him to study athletics on the volleyball court and in the classroom.

Andrew hadn’t originally planned to visit Hiram when he was researching which college he would attend, but after learning about the men’s volleyball program, he decided to make a special trip to campus. “I am so thankful that I made that decision, because I grew so much as a student and as a volleyball player.”

During his junior year at Hiram, Andrew had quite a few courses on his schedule for his major in sport management. “I loved getting to dive into my major headfirst,” he says. One of those courses was Introduction to Coaching, which solidified his career goals. “I realized that coaching and going into the athletics career field is exactly where I want and need to be.”

Reflecting on his time at Hiram, Andrew sees that his first campus visit was where it all started. “Visit campus during the school year,” he suggests. “You’ll get to see all of the students walking to and from class, tour classrooms and residence halls, and see all that Hiram brings to the table.”