By Dwight Bachman

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- Dr. Paul Canavan, associate professor of health sciences and nursing at Eastern and an enthusiastic supporter of Eastern athletics in general and with the women's soccer team in particular, is a distinguished, prominent, influential, accomplished, renowned research scholar, editor, and expert. He has presented worldwide on sport medicine, injury prevention and strength and conditioning.

Now, Canavan has a new title. It is one he cherishes most. It involves Eastern's women's soccer program, which truly appreciates him for the treasure trove of advice and counsel he provides it in helping team members define who they are, and to help them flower and grow as human beings.

This past week, Eastern women soccer players, supported by head coach Sarah Tompkins, eagerly showed up in Canavan's office in Goddard Hall and told him they would like to bestow on him the title of HONORARY FACULTY CAPTAIN! Canavan, full of humility, accepted, and this past Saturday, Aug. 31, joined the team at its season and home opener at Rick McCarthy Field.

Canavan's new title dovetails perfectly with athletic director Lori Runksmeier's vision to engage more of Eastern's highly valued faculty in the lives of their student-athletes. Runksmeier wants to see faculty fill the house in Geissler Gymnasium, the athletic fields and track and the pool on campus this year.

"We love to see faculty members involved with our teams and attending contests," said Runksmeier. "Faculty have such an influence on athletes' lives and their support and encouragement means so much."

Canavan, who, for years has served a wide variety of athletes at all levels, including NCAA Division I and professional athletes, has happily volunteered to serve Eastern athletes, said he was honored at the recognition, but mostly delighted because he has so much fun helping the athletes.

In addition to teaching women's soccer athletes in the classroom for nearly a decade, on his own time, Canavan has merrily worked with several students related to ankle injury prevention by assessing their ankle strength/endurance and flexibility, among numerous other lower extremities.

"Several exercises were incorporated into their pre-practice routine to help improve their balance ability," said Canavan. "The testing and exercises chose were scientifically based on prior published articles. We looked at ankle injuries over a five-year period, and there was a much lower number of athletes with ankle injuries over the two-year period compared to the prior three-year period. The testing of athletes and intervention shows that people care about the student athletes and injury prevention."
 

Morgan Kelly, a women's soccer team captain, a senior and health sciences major from Florida, NY, said she was thrilled to approach Canavan with the proposal to be Honorary Faculty Captain: "Dr. Canavan is a very knowledgeable professor who truly cares about his students. Having had him as a professor for three different classes, it is obvious that he has a great deal of passion for teaching and supporting his students. From his stories of caring for various patients around the world, to his background in several different health science fields, Dr. Canavan has definitely made a lasting impact on me during my time at Eastern and will continue to do so for Eastern students in the future."

Madison Palmer, a senior from Storrs majoring in health sciences, concurred, noting that she truly has blossomed under Canavan's tutelage: "Dr. Canavan has made a lasting impact on me throughout my time at Eastern. Having the chance to be one of his students, academic advisee, and a teaching assistant, I got to know him as a person and professor and can say confidently that both him and his knowledge are invaluable. Because of him, I will go forward into my career in healthcare and life with more confidence than I knew I had, along with the drive that he inspires me to have, of always wanting to learn more." 

  "Dr. Canavan has been a tremendous asset to this University and our athletic department," said Tompkins, noting that it was only logical to ask Canavan to accept this high honor. "He has not only worked with our students in the classroom, but he has been our 'go-to' in our recruiting process. Dr. Canavan has gone above and beyond to meet with our prospective student-athletes who are interested in Eastern. He spends time giving insight and information to every prospective student-athlete, along with an inside tour of the health science department. His devotion to Eastern is incomparable and we cannot thank him enough for all he does."   

Canavan has also done research with the Eastern men's golf program, men's and women's swim teams, and the men's soccer team, and provided the results to each individual athlete who participated in his research.

"I have received feedback from several different sport athletes," said Canavan. One said, 'I saw you at the game; that was cool. I feel athletes like to know they are supported both on the field, pool, or court as well as the classroom. When faculty encourage them, they feel special.'"
 

Canavan says one of the great things that Eastern offers for faculty is free athletic competition entertainment while supporting the student athletes.

 "Sometimes I am unable to attend the entire athletic event, but it still is great to see the competition of the games, meets and matches. I encourage all faculty to do so! I feel that if more Eastern faculty just attended Eastern athletic events, this would show more support to the student athletes and may improve sport performance for some athletes, like if a family member or a friend is watching them play."

Canavan is right. Elite athletes everywhere reflect on the impact of an enthusiastic crowd on their performance. The Iowa/Indianapolis Fever's Caitlin Clark said recently that even the cheering crowds in opposing venues inspire her. "I love playing in front of sold-out crowds. I wouldn't want it any other way! These are moments I always dreamed of!"
During last year's NCAA basketball tournament, UConn's Paige Bueckers said, "The crowds were going crazy! They were going wild!"

After setting yet another world record in her race at the recent Paris Olympics, Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone asked a network reporter, "Did you hear that roar! You can feel the buzz; the incredible excitement!" In the same Olympics, people from around the world, including gymnast Simone Biles, cheered loudly for American world champion and multi-gold medalist swimmer Katie Ledecky, as well as the USA Women's 4x100-meter Medley Relay Swim Team to edge out rival Australia for the gold-medal.

Volleyball fans across the nation pack the house to scream and cheer as their teams go up against each other. The University of Nebraska even had to move its volleyball court to the middle of the football stadium to accommodate its cheering fans during a game.

Runksmeier believes Eastern student athletes, many who have won championships over the years, deserve this same kind of energy, especially from faculty, who have athletes in their classes. Runksmeier knows the marketing and public relations value of supportive, exciting athletic events and how such events can generate immeasurable benefits for the university. It is a mutually beneficial relationship between faculty and athletes that naturally/organically generates excellence in the classroom as well. In fact, many Eastern athletes have GPAs that are higher than the larger student body!

For years, Canavan has been part of interdisciplinary teams, including strength and conditioning coaches, to successfully develop and create effective individual interventions athletes. He thoroughly enjoys giving back by searching for ways to enhance athletic performances. His intense desire to help Eastern athletes is his own personal quiet joy. His living tribute is to have the best time of his life helping to make a difference in the lives of student-athletes.

Prior to joining the Eastern community, Canavan was director of physical therapy and rehabilitation for Penn State University Center for Sports Medicine and has also taught at Northeastern University's Physical Therapy Program.

Canavan earned his Bachelor of Science from Quinnipiac University, his master's and Ph.D. degrees in kinesiology/exercise science from the University of Connecticut and Clinical Doctor of Physical Therapy from Northeastern University.

Thank You, Dr. Canavan, for being our women's soccer team's Honorary Faculty Captain!