Jennifer Prepared to Make TU Proud
Post Published On:Thomas University prepared Jennifer Coleman to take a huge leap, and she is hoping to make the Night Hawks proud.
Just a couple weeks after completing all the requirements for graduation last December, Coleman became the Athletic Public Relations Assistant for Florida State University’s Track and Field program.
As the Public Athletic Relation Assistant of the FSU track and field program, Coleman is responsible for keeping the public informed about the track and field team, which includes writing previews and recaps about the team’s competitions, updating athletic accomplishments of athletes, managing the team’s social media pages, nominating athletes for the Atlantic Coast Conference Performer of the Week, and supervising her student workers.
“Going from Thomas University to Florida State was a huge jump for me but being at TU prepared me,” she said. “I met a lot of people at TU – professors, coaches, and mentors. When I first got there, they welcomed me with open arms. I can’t thank them enough because not everyone gets the chance to literally graduate college and already have a jumpstart on their career. I didn’t have to wait a month. I was done with classes, and I was at Florida State two weeks later. I am just thankful that TU prepared me to already jumpstart my career at a very prestigious Power 5 school.”
It wasn’t difficult for Coleman to adapt to those new responsibilities. She was the Athletic Communication Assistant for Thomas University while she earned her degree. She served as the contact person for the cross country, track and field, and women’s basketball teams. She oversaw all social media channels, photography, videography, and creative content for the Night Hawks athletic programs. She was named to the College Sports Communicators’ 30 Under 30 Class of 2023.
In addition to her role as a student and the athletic communication assistant for TU, she was also an athlete on the track and field team. She was named to the NAIA’s Sun Conference All-Academic Team eight times and earned three All-Conference recognitions in her athletic career. In 2023, she was named an NAIA Academic All-Amercian and received the Sun Conference Champion of Character Award. Coleman holds six school records in the shot put, discus, and javelin.
Because of her experience as a track and field athlete, Coleman said she was able to quickly connect with the coaches and athletes at FSU.
“I speak their language,” she said. “I know what I am doing when I am at a track meet. I understand the sport. I understand the language. I know how fast-paced and sometimes how slow-paced a track and field meet can be. I think it helped to have that track and field background to feel so comfortable so early. When I am at a track meet with the team, I feel as though I am home. The athletes have grown on me, and I have grown on them, so they trust me to get the job done.”
The things she learned and the experiences she gained at TU, Coleman said it has prepared her to have a successful career at FSU.
“God wrote my story the way he did when I was at TU for a reason,” she said. “He prepared me for this role. Having to be so structured and organized at a young age while at TU prepared me to go to a top program like Florida State.”
