A Home Run Student Experience

Sophomore Nolan Brozyna ’27 has been playing baseball since he was 5 years old. The latest development in his athletics journey? Joining the team at Elmhurst University.

Homecoming

Brozyna came to Elmhurst from Madison, Wis., because he was recruited to play middle infield (second base and shortstop) for the Bluejays. Brozyna took a spot on the roster after learning about Elmhurst’s well-regarded exercise science program and its prime campus location in the Chicago area. He also received an academic scholarship which both sweetened and sealed the deal.

“I actually know my professors and my professors know me, so I can get help really easily if I need it,” Brozyna said. “I’ve sat down with the head of the kinesiology department, Dr. Heather Hall, and talked to her about my future and strength and conditioning, which is really helpful.” Elmhurst is committed to hiring engaged faculty who are active scholars and practitioners, so they can provide their students with best practices and professional preparation for enduring success.

A Welcoming Community

Support from professors and coaches has made Brozyna’s student experience overwhelmingly positive so far. He has enjoyed all his classes and has been able to easily meet people and build strong connections to begin expanding his network.

“It’s fun living on campus with my teammates, just being around other students and athletes. We’re friends with other teams as well,” Brozyna said. “Outside of baseball, we’re always hanging out together—those are my best friends. We’re definitely a family.” By prioritizing the student experience through activities like Division III athletics, Elmhurst provides students with personalized, growth-minded paths for development so they can ultimately thrive as adaptive leaders.

Brozyna has also seen Elmhurst’s baseball program blossom over the past two years, with exciting additions like a new coaching staff and an overhauled field where the Bluejays play their home games.

“I think our team and our coaches have really bought into a winning culture; we’re very competitive and I think we have a really bright future,” Brozyna said. “A big goal of ours this year is making it to the CCIW (conference) tournament.”

Following His Calling

Brozyna’s passion for kinesiology stems from a love for the game of baseball, fitness and sports in general, which led him to take an interest in strength and conditioning coaching. He has even begun to help his teammates meet their fitness goals.

“It’s definitely a tight-knit community—everyone seems to know everyone and has each other’s backs, especially on my team,” Brozyna said. “I think being a small school helps with that a ton. I always thought I wanted to go to a big school, but once I saw Elmhurst’s campus and after being here, I changed my mind. Everything and everyone is close, which I think helps build the community too.” This perspective is representative of Elmhurst’s caring community, which cultivates an inclusive space and allows students to excel in their careers and collaborations through supportive experiences.

Onward and Upward

It’s a desire of Brozyna’s to create a strength and conditioning coaching program for Bluejay athletes and directly aligns with his plans for the future. During school breaks, Brozyna works at an internship in Madison where he’s gaining real-world experience in his ideal industry and further fueling his trajectory.

“I work at a private gym where I coach young athletes in our youth development program up to observing pro athletes and coaching one-on-one with Division I athletes. I think I want to coach on the college level as a strength coach, so this internship has been a really good start,” Brozyna said. “The owner of the company used to be the UW-Madison football strength coach, so I’ve been able to shadow him; I got to watch him train Super Bowl champs, which is super cool.”

After graduating from Elmhurst, Brozyna plans to return to Madison, where he’ll continue to pursue a career as a strength and conditioning coach. No matter where Brozyna’s path may lead, he is locked into his goals and success-driven, so he most definitely won’t be striking out.

Go Far. Do Well. Visit elmhurst.edu/Admission to take the first step towards your future.