Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) and the San Diego Seals announced a collaboration that will provide PLNU students with hands-on opportunities to work alongside the Seals’ players, coaches and operations staff. The announcement was made during a press conference held on October 30, 2025 at Point Loma Nazarene University’s Balboa Campus.
The partnership gives PLNU students access to the Seals ’ resources, real-world data and opportunities to collaborate directly with the team’s players, coaches and staff. In turn, the Seals will gain access to PLNU’s advanced facilities and equipment to support performance testing and research. Through hands-on projects in data analytics, including biometric and biomechanical testing, students will contribute to performance insights and innovations that support the Seals’ pursuit of a National Lacrosse League championship for San Diego.
“This is a really unique partnership,” said Dr. Brent Alvar, Associate Dean at Point Loma Nazarene University and the Program Director for the Master of Science in Kinesiology. “For us, this is a way to connect Point Loma Nazarene University with a highly sought-after relationship with a professional lacrosse team. It’s very unique. We feel that this is the first type of partnership utilizing a university and a professional lacrosse team in the United States.
“Our shared goal is really to just enhance performance and we’re going to do that in a myriad of ways. We’re going to do that in the classroom, we’re going to do it in the clinic and we’re going to do it on the field. And we’re going to guide those practices by what we see in the laboratories.”
Joining Dr. at the press conference were Dave Gladson, PLNU Associate Vice President for Marketing; Patrick Merrill, San Diego Seals Head Coach and General Manager; Wes Berg, Seals Forward and Team Captain; and Adam Boettger, Seals Vice President of Revenue.
“This collaboration represents the perfect blend of sports, education, and community,” said Merrill. “We’re proud to work with such a respected local university like Point Loma Nazarene to develop the next generation of sports professionals while strengthening our commitment to innovation and excellence.”
The partnership is expected to open new opportunities for PLNU students to gain experience in the business of professional sports, from operations and analytics to marketing and community engagement.
