< Previous38 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH ATHLETICS PANTHERS UNITED itt Athletics’ Panthers United strives to promote an environment of inclusion for our student-athletes and staff through education and the celebration of our differences. This spring Panthers United partnered with the University’s Office of Inclusion and Belonging for Women’s Lacrosse along with the Rainbow Alliance for Softball. We are appreciative of these partnerships during our Pride games. H2P MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 3940 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH ATHLETICS VARSITY LETTER CLUB JULIE GAUL s captain of the University of Pittsburgh volleyball team, Julie Gaul led her teammates to claim Pitt’s first-ever Big East Conference championship in the sport, earning Most Valuable Player honors in the process. After starting her career in corporate fitness, she returned to Pittsburgh to join the athletics department at Carlow University, where today she serves as director of wellness and fitness services and head coach of the volleyball team. When did you graduate from Pitt, and what degree did you earn? I was in the first class to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science in 1983. It was the perfect major. Continuing on at Pitt, I earned my Master of Science degree in exercise physiology in 1985 while serving as the volleyball graduate assistant. What made you want to come to Pitt? Coach Mike Hebert was a big influence. There were five of us who played for him and Ray Reilly in the first U.S. Junior National Training Program in the Pittsburgh area. We became close friends and all decided to come to Pitt. You were an exceptional multisport athlete at nearby Washington High School in Washington, Pennsylvania, participating in basketball, volleyball and track. Was there an opportunity to compete in multiple sports collegiately? How did you choose between them? Originally, I was also going to participate in track at Pitt. I did long jump, triple jump, high jump and javelin. I really enjoyed the team aspect of volleyball more, and I realized quickly that I wouldn’t have the time I needed to compete in both and didn’t want to miss being with my volleyball teammates. What is one of your favorite memories as a Pitt player? In 1980, the United States boycotted the Olympics, and that was the year that the women’s Olympic volleyball team had qualified. They toured the United States and played college teams, and we had the opportunity to play them in front of a big crowd. We didn’t score many points, but the experience of playing against Flo Hyman, Rita Crockett, Debbie Green- Vargas, Sue Woodstra and other legends of the game is one of my favorite memories as a Pitt player. You were captain of the volleyball team at Pitt when it won its first Big East Conference volleyball championship while also earning Big East Most Valuable Player honors. Can you take us back to what it was like to bring Pitt volleyball its first- ever volleyball championship? It was a great experience being the first Big East champions. We worked so hard, and it was so much fun playing with my team. We all had to rely on each other and had a special team unity. We were also very mentally tough. There are quite a few of us who keep in touch. We’ve had a lot of life happen since our playing days. It’s especially fun to see each other at the Pitt matches. You had a tremendous career at Pitt, both as a member of a team and individually. How did those experiences at Pitt shape you into the person you are today? All of the experiences along the way contributed to where I am right at this moment. Hard work and grit stand out. Also, trust in my teammates stands out. I was so blessed to play with awesome teammates and formed lifelong friendships. Exercise physiology was a natural path, and I was able to use the transferable skills I learned from sport to career.H2P MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 41 Describe your time as a Pitt student-athlete. I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to play volleyball at Pitt. I had great coaches—Mike Hebert and Shelton Collier, along with their assistants—who taught me the skills and the game. Each year brought a different team and wonderful teammates. When I was a freshman, Coach Hebert took us to the West Coast and Hawaii for an unprecedented nine-day tour (seven dual matches, a six-match tournament and an exhibition match) to play the top teams in the nation. Hawaii won the national championship that year, and being in that gym was an unbelievable experience and really opened my eyes. We finished 13th in the nation that year in the AIAW. That gave me the travel bug for sure. Before that summer, I had never been on a plane. To end with a Big East championship during my senior year after all of the hard work, sweat and tears in between is almost indescribable. Those four years went by quickly, and I loved every minute of it with my teammates. What were your favorite things to do on campus? My favorite things to do on campus were to be with my friends and play volleyball and, of course, make the occasional trip to the “O.” Have you been able to return to the Fitzgerald Field House and celebrate the recent success of the Pitt volleyball team? Yes, I try to go to as many matches as possible. It gives me such joy to see the growth of women’s volleyball, and I absolutely love watching and cheering on the team. Before returning to Western Pennsylvania and beginning your career at Carlow, you worked in corporate fitness out of state. What led to this decision and change in career path? I had been in Maryland working in corporate fitness before moving to New York, where I managed fitness clubs in the commercial fitness sector. I had been wanting to get back to the Pittsburgh area and found out about the new wellness and fitness position at Carlow. I interviewed and loved the concept of this new position and the campus. I also had the opportunity to serve as the assistant volleyball coach. So I was able to continue with the fitness profession, now in higher education; expand wellness offerings; and coach. What are some of the changes you have seen in the wellness and fitness landscape over the years, and what do you foresee this looking like on a college campus down the road? As the senior woman administrator for Carlow athletics, I’ve had the opportunity to attend the NCAA conventions for the past two years where discussions about mental health The 1982 Volleyball team, which went 41-7 en route to Pitt's first Big East championship and the NCAA tournament Pitt Volleyball alumni recognized after presenting the ACC Championship rings to the team prior to the Pitt vs. Kentucky Homecoming match on 9/3/23 Enjoying the homecoming match with Sue Hoover McDonald (left) and my sister Nancy Gaul (center)42 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH ATHLETICS for student-athletes are a priority . I appreciated learning about mental health best practices through the NCAA and think that continued focus on mental health for student-athletes and entire college campuses is a priority. Tell us about your working relationship with the Sisters of Mercy and why they are so important to you. The Sisters of Mercy have always provided me with a sense of belonging since I started at Carlow many years ago. I was able to travel to Ireland with an alternative spring break group from Carlow, and we visited Dublin, where the Sisters of Mercy were founded. The story of those sisters and how they traveled to Pittsburgh to start Carlow is a phenomenal story of strong women. You have had a successful tenure as the head volleyball coach at Carlow. Tell us how you recruit and coach these student-athletes and the approach you take. How do you manage being the director of wellness and fitness services while also being successful on the coaching front? I focus on recruiting strong students so that I know that they’ll be able to handle the demands of being a student- athlete. We know how challenging it is to balance practice, travel, competitions, school, work, family, etc. I’ve found that our teams have had excellent time management skills, and that contributes to success in the classroom. More than half of the team coaches club volleyball already, and it’s really neat to see them want to coach. I wear many hats in a small college environment and love that aspect. Being a student-athlete helped to prepare me for multiple responsibilities and to find a way to keep everything balanced and make it work. Making the transition from player to coach can sometimes be difficult. You were able to successfully do this at both Pitt and Carlow. What key traits do you try to instill in your student-athletes to set them up for not only athletic success but also success academically and in life? It is a very difficult transition from playing and your athletic career ending to becoming a coach or pursuing your career. All of that heart and soul that you put into the sport is suddenly over. I found that you never really replace that level of competition and intensity that I thrived on, so I had to find new things that brought me joy. I encourage my players to do well in the classroom, enjoy the moment and be fully present. We also try to provide an engaging and positive experience for them as members of our volleyball team. There are so many skills that transfer to a career from being on a team, like creating a culture, setting and achieving goals, and resolving conflict. What professional accomplishment has made you proud? I had my 30th celebration of service this year and reflected on some of the collaborations with the annual wellness fair and serving on the Healthy Carlow committee. Providing ways to improve health and well-being for students and employees for this long has been a blast. Our students love when we have pet therapy days! Also, seeing my Carlow teams qualify for the U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association national championships for nine years was tremendous. Those experiences were priceless. What does being a Forever Panther mean to you? It fills my heart with a lot of feelings— opportunities; accomplishments; pride; and, most of all, friendships and a common bond. What is one piece of advice that you would give current student-athletes based on what you wish you had known when you were in their shoes? Practice mindfulness and be fully present in the moment. When you’re fully present in the moment, there is no room for worrying about the future or regretting the past. The Carlow University volleyball team celebrates the 2023 USCAA Tip-Off Tournament Championship. The Carlow University volleyball team placed third at the 2021 USCAA national championship in Division I held in Virginia Beach, Virginia.H2P MAGAZINE SPRING 2024 4344 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH ATHLETICS MEMORIES Aaron Donald (A&S ’20) Following one of the most decorated seasons by a defensive player in college football history, Pitt’s Aaron Donald was selected in the NFL Draft’s first round (13th overall) by the Los Angeles Rams on May 8, 2014. Over the next 10 seasons, Donald would redefine excellence at the defensive tackle position, compiling an astonishing 111 quarterback sacks. He became one of only three players in league history to earn three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards. Donald led the Rams to two Super Bowls and clinched his team’s victory in Super Bowl LVI when he smothered Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, forcing the final incompletion in a 23-20 Los Angeles victory. Donald announced his NFL retirement on March 15, 2024, closing out a career that surely will be immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Department of Athletics Petersen Events Center 3719 Terrace St. Pittsburgh, PA 15261Next >