Each Monday of the fall semester, we’ll be bringing you three different “Getting to Know Them” profiles on coaches, athletic administrators and athletic trainers at Slippery Rock to introduce you to the folks behind the scenes here at The Rock. Next up, we check in with track and field assistant coach Meagan Shadeck. 

QUICK BIO
Shadeck is in her 15th season as an assistant coach with The Rock track and field program, where she oversees the throwers and also handles the strength and conditioning. In her 14 seasons at SRU, she has helped lead the track and field program to a total of 11 PSAC Championships. Her throwers have won 11 individual PSAC titles and 47 All-PSAC honors for top three finishes at the league championship meet. She has seen numerous athletes qualify for the NCAA National Championships, including David Reinhardt, who won the national title in the javelin in 2014. Shadeck owns a bachelor’s degree physical education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in exercise physiology and coaching from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She was a standout thrower on the Whitewater track and field team, provisionally qualifying for the national meet three times in the hammer throw.

IN HER WORDS

Q: What was your favorite subject in school? Why? 
A: Spanish. I’ve always liked languages and our Spanish teacher, Ms. Twohig, was very dynamic and engaging in her teaching style. She mixed that with personally reaching out to each student, encouraging them, and drawing them into the love of language and other cultures.    

Q: What was your first job growing up? 
A: At 15, my first real job was coaching club gymnastics at both the competitive and recreational levels. I grew up as a club gymnast and had learned so much from my coach about positive attitude and inspiring others to dream beyond their potential that I really wanted to give back to the younger girls. At that point I never thought I’d go into a career in coaching, just loved giving back. 

Q: When did you know you wanted to go into a career in collegiate athletics?
A: I love all the throwing events, but the hammer throw is my favorite. It’s an event that has no specific body-typing. For example: tall or long-armed. To me it’s a beautiful puzzle, the pieces are the ability of the thrower and the unnatural nature of the event. Plus it’s so much fun! All the throws are fun and the techniques are so unnatural. I call my athletes my “land of misfit toys” because I LOVE seeing them achieve beyond their dreams and perceptions of self. My teammates and I helped coach each other at UWW and some of them suggested to me I could do it for a living at the college level (hammer throw is not a high school event in most states). So after undergrad, I went for a master’s degree right away, coached at my Alma Mater for experience, and applied to different universities. I was fortunate that Slippery Rock took a chance on me and allowed me the privilege to build a strong throwing program.   

Q: What’s your all-time favorite book? Favorite movie? 
A: Favorite book and movie: To Kill a Mockingbird. I grew up on black and white movies. Can’t beat a classic.

Q: How do you relax?
A: Road biking. I’m a much better wife, mother and person after riding. My brain needs it as much as my body. OR having a warm cup of “Front Porch” coffee or tea with Nathan. 

Q: What’s your favorite meal?
A: I thoroughly enjoy breakfast, all day if possible.

Q: What meal/dish/item are you best at cooking? 
A: I have a bad habit of not following recipes, in that I try to make whatever it is healthier. Sometimes it works out…

Q: Tell us about your family.
A: I’m a cheesehead, Wisconsin born and raised. All of my family still live in our hometown. My husband Nathan and I met and were married here in Pennsylvania several years after I was hired as assistant coach for SRU. He has been volunteering as the sprints, hurdles and relays coach here at SRU since his coach, Dave Labor, passed away. We do our best to support each other as coaches and in our home by putting our faith above everything. We have two amazing daughters: Grace (four) and Eliana (two). The jury is still out on whether genetics says they’ll be running or throwing, but we have the most fun together making up games.

Q: What artists and/or songs on your current most-listened to playlist?
A: Current favorite playlist: Mozart, Alabama, Zac Brown Band, Apocalyptica, Harry Belefonte, Jesus Culture, Kenny Loggins, Roger Miller, Queen, Sam Cooke, Metallica, John Denver, Imagine Dragons, Hank Williams Jr., London Philharmonic Orchestra, Randy Travis. 

Q: What’s the best advice you ever received and who did it come from?
A: “If you work hard, tell the truth, and love the Lord, everything will work out for you.” -Eric Liddle from “Chariots of Fire.”

Q: What’s your favorite season/type of weather? Why?
A: Summer for the long days of sunshine and heat.

Q: Can you sing?
A: My dad and brothers can… singing skipped the female demographic in my family.

Q: You can only eat one thing the rest of your life, what is it?
A: Sadly, oatmeal. But I can’t help it. There’s so many possibilities!

Q: How many and what kind of pets do you have? How long have you had them?
A: Tayte or Tayter, is our 11-year old Chocolate Labrador. I got him at six-weeks old. He is a best friend for sure.

Q: What was your favorite or most memorable vacation?
A: Hiking Mt. St. Helens in Washington state with three of my best friends from college. Then finishing a Half Ironman in Wisconsin one week later. I had lots of time to reflect on that journey.

Q: Where is one place you haven’t visited yet, but you definitely plan to?
A: Nationally I’ve been fortunate to travel to many amazing places here in the states. But internationally, New Zealand is on the top of the list. 

Q: Who is your hero? 
A: My best friend Colleen. We’ve been friends since we were young kids and she still inspires me in how she serves the world with her life. She is the most courageous person I know. 

Q: Sheetz or WaWa? Why?
A: KwikTrip. Can’t get the ‘Sconie out of me.

Q: Is there a professor you had a class with in college that you still remember? Who and why?
A: Dr. Penny Portman in Health and Physical Education at UWW. She was my advisor and professor for several courses. She also was my older brother’s advisor and once asked if we were twins. I said, “yes, we’re just three years apart.”

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