One Day to Support Hawkeyes

One phone call changed the trajectory of Sasha Boros Schmid’s life.

Sasha—a four-year letterwinner for Iowa’s women’s tennis team as an undergraduate—was nearing the end of her first year of law school at the University of Iowa when she received a phone call from Paul Wardlaw, the head women’s tennis coach.

“He had an assistant leave abruptly during the season, and he was asking if I could help him out,” says Sasha. “It started out at two days a week, but before I knew it, I was working every day and traveling with the team on the weekends.”

More than 20 years later—and after stints as head coach at Stetson University and the University of Missouri—Sasha (96BA, 99JD) is in the midst of her fifth year as head women’s tennis coach at the University of Iowa and is host of the HERkys’ Voice podcast. “If I hadn’t gotten that phone call back then, my career path might be very different today,” says Sasha, who had planned to go into sports administration, not coaching.

She cherishes the opportunity to help student-athletes improve in competition, in the classroom, and beyond. She’s also proud to support her team through contributions to the Women’s Tennis Development Fund.

“Supporting all Hawkeyes—helping them to learn and grow—is such a good use of everyone’s time, effort, and resources,” says Sasha. “I’m proud to do my part.”

Hawkeye fans everywhere can join Sasha on Wednesday, March 24, by taking part in One Day for Iowa, the university’s 24-hour online giving day. Donations will support student-athletes such as Monika Czinano, a junior on the UI women’s basketball team from Watertown, Minnesota.

“Playing here at Iowa and having the opportunity to get a world-class education wouldn’t be possible without our donors,” says Monika. “I have been given so much. I also have been able to make some lifelong connections and be successful in something I’m passionate about.”

Fans and friends can support Hawkeye athletics by contributing to the I-Club Fund, which invests in the highest priority of Iowa athletics: our student-athletes. You can do your part on Wednesday, March 24 by:

1. Following @jointheiclub on Twitter or Instagram.
2. Sharing your favorite Hawkeye photo publicly on Twitter or Instagram, using the hashtag #1DayForIowa, and tagging @jointheiclub.
3. Making a gift of any amount to the I-Club Fund!

If you do all three, you will receive a custom Hawkeye jersey wallpaper graphic and could help us earn additional funding through the One Day for Iowa photo challenge.

Get in the game and support Hawkeye student-athletes as they Fight for Iowa!