Travis Norberg doesn't know if he's ready to become a coach - but he's about to find out.
The Dickinson State pole vaulter from Killdeer may compete in his final collegiate track and field event this weekend when the Blue Hawks go to Black Hills State for the Dakota Athletic Conference indoor championships.
He's provisionally qualified for the NAIA national indoor championships in the pole vault, but if he doesn't hit he automatic qualifier mark of 15 feet, 5 inches this weekend, Norberg's student coaching career will officially begin next week.
"It's kind of like the culmination of everything in this moment," Norberg said.
Norberg's eligibility for the outdoor season ran out last fall, meaning his vaulting days are over when the indoor season ends.
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However, DSU coach Pete Stanton saw no reason why the fifth-year senior couldn't remain a part of the program.
So he made it a point to bring Norberg on as a student assistant coach for pole vaulters during the outdoor season.
"He'll be a good coach in that event," Stanton said. "He understands what it takes to be successful as an athlete."
Norberg was one of the Blue Hawks' top vaulters during his career.
He hopes that sharing strategy and experience - he's well versed in the physics of pole vault standards - can make a group of emerging DSU pole vaulters excel in the future.
"It's helping them refine their skills to help them get to the best of their ability," Norberg said. "I find myself learning from other coaches - professionals in their field in a sense -trying to take all this knowledge in as best as possible so I can apply it later on to the athletes."
Freshmen Garrett Buer and Cody Gronvold both tied Norberg at last weekend's Bison Classic with jumps of 14-3. On the women's side, freshman Kelsey Aide has already shattered the DSU women's pole vault record with a 12-4 jump.
Norberg knows the freshmen are all blessed with great athletic ability for the event. He just hopes he can help them find ways to succeed as their careers continue.
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"It's going to take one little thing and those guys are going to be excelling to the next level," Norberg said.
Ross Walker, a student assistant throws coach for the Blue Hawks and a teammate of Norberg's through high school and college, believes the senior can be successful as a coach because of his willingness to succeed.
"The nice thing, especially for Travis is he's been in the system for a long time," Walker said. "He worked his way though and now here he is, he's finishing up his indoor season, the kids have a lot of respect for him and he's carrying it into the outdoor too.
