Become a Student Coordinator

Leadership. Service. Real-World Impact.

The Adaptive Athletics Student Coordinator Program at the University of Houston is a unique academic opportunity that combines hands-on leadership, community service, and disability inclusion in sport. Offered as a credit-bearing course, this selective program trains the next generation of student leaders to support, organize, and advocate for adaptive sport on campus and in the community.

What Is a Coordinator?

Coordinators take on leadership roles within the UH Adaptive Athletics program, helping to:

• Plan, organize, and operate adaptive sports practices and events

• Provide direct support services to athletes with disabilities

• Assist in managing local, national, and international disability sport competitions

• Serve as advocates for inclusive athletics across campus and the broader community

Coordinators are students who are selected through a competitive application and interview process to participate in this academic course. Fewer than 30% of applicants are accepted each year, making this one of the most competitive experiential learning opportunities offered through the University of Houston’s Department of Health and Human Performance.

Why It Matters

This is more than just a course—it's a transformational learning experience. Coordinators engage directly with individuals with disabilities, building relationships and gaining a deep, human-centered understanding of the disability experience. Through adaptive sport, students learn to see ability rather than limitation, and inclusion as a lived value rather than a theoretical concept.

The coordinator experience gives students:

• Real-world training in inclusive program design

• Practical skills in event coordination and team leadership

• A chance to work in close partnership with adaptive athletes

• A meaningful, lasting connection to a mission-driven community

AAUH has coordinators that are chosen each semester. Coordinators participate in an independent study to help plan the events that Adaptive Athletics holds. If you are interested in becoming a coordinator for the upcoming semester, please contact our Program Director, Dr. Michael Cottingham for more information.