Teaching skills for military mission

Nancy Haberland, head coach of the Navy offshore sailing team, discusses her start in the sport and how her professional sailing career is helping the midshipmen prepare for the Fleet:

How did you get into sailing and coaching?

I grew up in a suburb of Chicago and my father was looking for a sport that our entire family could enjoy together. He bought a sailboat and we spent most weekends sailing, racing against other families, and often sleeping aboard the boat. We were fortunate to have a lot of success on the race course and sailing quickly became a passion of mine.

After college, I had two job offers, one to become a dietitian and another to teach sailing in Key West, Fla. I chose the sailing path and have been involved in the sport ever since.

As a former Olympian, 18-time national champion, and 7-time world champion, what makes coaching at Navy so rewarding?

The most rewarding part is knowing that we are teaching skills that our midshipmen will carry into their military careers and throughout their lives. Sailing develops leadership, decision-making, teamwork, and resilience; qualities that are essential for future officers. – Full report