Two weeks ago, High Point University women's basketball senior Callie Scheier landed in Dallas for the women's basketball Final Four. Part of the inaugural Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group, Scheier joined 16 other NCAA Division I women's basketball players from around the country to learn the ins and outs of what it takes to be a woman working in sports. One women's basketball player was chosen to represent each Division I conference to make up the squad that heard from speakers and panelists and got to explore different athletic-related career paths throughout the six-day expedition.

"Stephen Dolan with the Big South recommended me since I am a co-president of the High Point University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)," Scheier said of her process of being selected to the group. "Serving on his president's calls, he was able to recommend me to the larger group, and it's just for women's basketball players. So, there was about 17 of us that went, and we hopped on a plane and went to Dallas."
 
The experience opened her eyes to new possibilities and opportunities in sports; however, Scheier has known from a young age that she aspires to be a women's basketball coach. Her father, Adam Scheier, played college football at Dartmouth and has had coaching stops at Rutgers, Mississippi State, Texas Tech, Ohio State, Wake Forest, and Bowling Green over the last 27 years. He most recently joined the Temple staff as the Special Teams Coordinator and Tight Ends coach ahead of the 2022 season. Growing up as a "coach's kid" and seeing her father's positive impact on college athletes, the decision to have the same influence on the next generation after her time as a student-athlete was a no-brainer.
 
"I am very passionate and have a lot of energy when I play, but I could also see myself being that way as a coach. Having that energy and passion while I'm coaching, which I have already done coaching AAU and high school teams, and building relationships with my players is a huge part of my philosophy. I want to help them become better people and players on and off the court from when they arrive to when they graduate."
 
The opportunity in Dallas allowed her to cross paths not only with other established college hoopers but also powerful women who work in all different areas of sport, including ESPN executives, broadcast replay technicians, professional sport administrators, and other to throw out ideas with fellow group members and players that she now considers good friends.
 
"I was telling my parents that it's just really cool what this sport can bring you," said Scheier. "I did not know any of the other girls. The first day we had to introduce ourselves saying 'this is who I am, and this is what I do,' but then you're best friends with them by the end of the week. I had never even played against most of these girls, but getting to know other people in the sport was awesome."
 
While in Texas, Scheier was also able to watch both Final Four games, as well as the national championship which was a highlight for all student-athletes involved. Several other women's basketball representatives also expressed interest in the coaching realm, which led to conversations about game plans and strategy, as well as career opportunities aside from coaching.
 
"Some of (the girls) want to be coaches, so we got to share our ideas about coaching. But I also met other girls who have different aspirations still staying in sports, so it was interesting to see how we all had similar experiences in college and how we're going to move forward with our careers."
 
Before Scheier enters the coaching world, she plans on returning to HPU for her fifth season after a knee injury cut her 2022-23 season short. She hopes to use her fifth year to maximize her impact in her final season as a Panther.
 
"I wanted to come back regardless of my knee, but that was the ultimate factor into my decision. There was no way I was ending my career with a torn ACL. I feel like our team still has a lot to prove and accomplish, I think I have a lot to improve on and accomplish. So, when that happened that was it. It's time to rehab and I'm coming back, there was no question about it."
 
Prior to the abrupt end to her senior season, Scheier led the team in steals (38) and had averaged 7.8 points per game while dishing out 36 assists through 15 games. She was a 95.7 percent free throw shooter in 2022-23, and has made 152 three-pointers in her career. She hopes to bring valuable life lessons from her experience at the Final Four back to High Point for her final season suiting up in the Purple and White.
 
"I learned a lot from this experience. You have to take initiative, not be afraid to put yourself out there. You also have to be your best advocate, whether that's in sports, on or off the court, and just putting your head down and working for what you want."