NWAC Spotlight: Meet intern Tyler VonDracek
By Liam Knox, NWAC Intern
Tyler VonDracek is the most recent addition to the NWAC intern team. Tyler hails from Longview, WA. Growing up near Lower Columbia College, he was exposed to NWAC baseball from a young age. After a standout multi-sport high school career, Tyler went on to play for Yakima Valley College (YVC) for two years between 2011 and 2013. Subsequently, Tyler attended Whitworth University in Spokane to finish up his college baseball career while also completing his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. His next stop was a return to YVC where in 2015, he took over the pitching coach duties. Yakima Valley excelled while Tyler was part of the coaching staff, winning the NWAC title in 2016 and finishing as runners up in 2018.
Tyler also spent time coaching in the West Coast League, most recently serving as the pitching coach for the Wenatchee AppleSox in 2019. He is currently working towards his master's degree in Sport Administration from Gonzaga University.
Q: Describe your experience in the NWAC
My experience in the NWAC was foundational to who I have become today. The NWAC conference and Yakima Valley College (YVC) allowed me to have a great opportunity to play right away and gain experience during my baseball career while earning a degree. Once I completed my playing career and bachelor's degree at Whitworth University I was able to return to the NWAC in a coaching role at YVC. NWAC events always have been special to me growing up right outside of the Baseball Championships taking place in Longview, WA. From watching as a child and teen, then having an opportunity to play in two championships and coach in three was an unforgettable experience in my journey through the sport industry. The opportunity to learn and give back to the conference where I had my first opportunities was a no-brainer.
Q: How did your time in the NWAC benefit you?
My time in the NWAC benefited me in several aspects that I may not have recognized at the time. As a player, I met some of my closest friends on my team and made authentic relationships with all of my coaches. As a coach, I always aimed to establish rapport and create a quality experience for all of our athletes. During my time coaching baseball, I would strive to not only coach the physical aspects of our student-athletes but also develop the emotional (mind) and spiritual (heart) aspects as well.
Q: What is your advice to incoming NWAC freshmen?
Advice to incoming freshmen in the NWAC would be to work extremely hard, practice quality time management, and connect with as many of your teammates as possible to create lasting memories.
Q: What is your career goal(s)?
My career goal is to work my way into a leadership position within the sport industry. I'm mostly leaning toward striving for an Athletic Director position. If the experience and timing were right, I would also be willing to work in the professional realm of athletics someday.
Q: What do you hope to gain out of your internship with the NWAC?
I hope to gain knowledge and experience that I can draw on in future roles I have in the sport industry. I aim to soak up as much information during meetings, projects, and events to develop my skills as a sport manager. This hopefully will boost my appeal and resume toward future employers. I also hope to connect with several people across the NWAC in the conference offices and from several campuses to network and create new relationships.
