History
Dr. Batichon found out she had a passion for working with high school student-athletes while working in intercollegiate athletics. As a compliance administrator, she realized there was a lack of NCAA initial-eligibility education at the high school level. She called the high school of a student-athlete recruited to play Division I college football, because she did not find many of the core courses the student-athlete took in high school on the high school's NCAA list of approved core courses. The guidance counselor told her the Athletic Director oversaw updating the list. When she spoke to the Athletic Director, he told her to check with the Head Coach. After going back and forth with the guidance counselor, the Athletic Director, and Head Coach, they forwarded her to the principal, and that is when everyone realized a ball had been dropped. At that moment, the student-athlete was declared a non-qualifier for eligibility purposes. After explaining the process to the high school, the NCAA list of approved core courses was updated. The student-athlete's eligibility status was re-evaluated and changed from non-qualifier to qualifier status, and he could report to camp.
This is one of many stories Dr. Batichon can tell you about. Dr. Batichon truly believes in developing each student-athlete. Often, we find parents/guardians supporting their child’s athletic goal by attending every game, getting the child a personal trainer for their sport, or sending them to costly camps. But yet, the student-athlete has failed numerous high school courses and is on track to become a non-qualifier. This is not an eligibility status you want your child to have. We must remind student-athletes that academics are just as important as an athletic talent before and during the recruiting process. Coaches recruit student-athletes based on character, academic standing, and athletic skill. We cannot afford to weigh one area more than the other.
When working with a student-athlete, Dr. Batichon focuses on study habits, personality types, character development, career goals, cost of attendance, college search, scholarship search, NCAA eligibility education, goal setting, etc. Due to technological advances, we can not only serve high school students and student-athletes physically, in the Atlanta area but also virtually coast to coast. Don't hesitate to contact us for a consultation.
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Independent Educational Consultants
Independent Educational Consultant / NCAA athletics & academic eligibility
Dr. Claudia Batichon, Ed.D.
Dr. Batichon started THINK Protégé (formerly known as SMART Athlete Consultant) in June 2019, hoping to educate student-athletes, parents/guardians, coaches, and high schools on character development, the NCAA academic eligibility process, and core-course GPA requirements. Since then, she has expanded her company and added post-secondary and career readiness, scholarship search, social media literacy, and guest speaking appearances to her list of services. In addition to her professional duties as a full-time Career Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) teacher at Wheeler High School, she joined the Wildcat athletics staff as an NCAA Eligibility & Athletic Liaison and is the creator of the Wildcat Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (WSAAC). Before teaching at Wheeler, Dr. Batichon worked at James F. Byrnes High School as a teacher and Student-Athlete Academic/Eligibility Coach. Dr. Batichon is also an Adjunct Professor at East Tennessee State University’s (ETSU) Sports Management program, where she has taught courses such as Finance in Sports, Sports Governance, and Admin of Sports, E-Sports, & Recreation.
In her role at Wheeler High School as NCAA Athletic Eligibility Coach, Dr. Batichon is responsible for overseeing student-athlete NCAA initial eligibility, core GPA calculation, student-athlete SAT/ACT registration, and NCAA education.
Dr. Batichon transitioned to high school after working in Division I college athletics for many years. Previously, Dr. Batichon worked at the University of Oklahoma Athletic Department, where she worked as a Compliance Coordinator. Before working for the Sooners, she worked at the University of Iowa Athletic Department as Associate Director of Compliance, at Georgia Southern University Athletics as Assistant Director of Compliance, and at Appalachian State University as a Compliance Assistant.
While working in intercollegiate athletic compliance, Dr. Batichon's duties included:
Monitoring student-athlete eligibility.
Recruiting.
Financial aid.
Playing and practice season.
Rules interpretation.
Conducting investigations to ensure that all sports, coaches, and staff complied with NCAA rules.
Other responsibilities included amateurism, awards, and benefits. Most recently, as part of the Byrnes athletic staff, Dr. Batichon had ten football student-athletes she worked with graduate in December of their senior year (DeMarcus Gregory, Khalid Jones, Cary Enos, Jalen Miller, Kris Byrd, Rahjai Harris, Buddy Mack, Chuck Strickland, Braylin Johnson, and Eli Henderson). They signed their NLIs as early enrollees. Furthermore, numerous athletes signed their NLIs during the February signing period or after with their graduating class. To this day, Dr. Batichon has worked with more than 150+ student-athletes who signed athletic scholarships during their senior year of high school.
Originally from Miami, Florida, Dr. Batichon started her higher education at the University of Florida. However, she transferred to Appalachian State University after her sophomore year. She earned a bachelor's degree in Recreation Management in 2008 from Appalachian State. She also earned a master's degree in Sport Management from Georgia Southern University in 2010. In 2016, she earned an educational specialist degree from Northcentral University in Sports Management. In September 2018, she earned an educational doctorate from Northcentral University in Athletic Administration. Dr. Batichon's dissertation topic was The Rise in Graduation Success Rates (GSR) for Division-I student-athletes.
She was formerly known as Claudia Dimanche. Dr. Batichon is happily married to her high school sweetheart, Hans Batichon, who competed in football at the intercollegiate level — a former member of the 3x FCS [now FBS] National Championship football team, Appalachian State University. Coach Batichon chose to follow a special education and coaching career path. You can find him leading the offense as the Passing Game Coordinator/Receivers Coach at McEachern High School in Georgia. Together, the couple has five children who love sports as much as they do: Jada-Symone (16) - softball, cheer, flag football, and track athlete; Derwin (12) - football and track athlete; Micah (9) - football and track athlete; Cameron (7), and Josiah (6). Last, Dr. Batichon is a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated member.
Education
Northcentral University
ED.D., Athletic Administration, 2018
Northcentral University
ED.S., Sports Management, 2016
Georgia South University
B.S., Sports Management, 2010
Appalachian State University
B.S., Recreation Management with a minor in Communications, 2008
Activities & Affiliations
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Professional Licenses
Certified Teacher: Georgia & South Carolina
Memberships
Southern Association for College Admissions Counseling (SACAC)
Independent Educational consultant / Special Education & sports performance
Coach Hans Batichon
Hans Batichon, a seasoned educator and accomplished coach, has established an impressive career at the nexus of athletics and education. He has leveraged his diverse experience, extensive knowledge, and dedication to making significant contributions to the field.
Batichon's athletic prowess came to the fore during his college football career at Appalachian State University, where he achieved exceptional success. He solidified his reputation in college football, clinching three national championships in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), highlighting his outstanding athletic talent and commitment. A defining moment was when he scored the second touchdown in the historic Appalachian State versus Michigan game, contributing to what is now hailed as one of college football's biggest upsets. Concurrently, Batichon demonstrated commitment to academic rigor, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication.
His career took a specialized turn in 2010 when he started as a para-educator, ultimately deciding to delve deeper into special education. He equipped himself with a Master's degree in education, specializing in Special Education Categorical, laying a solid foundation to support students with diverse needs. Building on this foundation, Batichon completed an Educational Specialist (EdS) degree in Educational Leadership, equipping him with the skills necessary to champion impactful change and promote effective administration in educational settings. His unwavering commitment to inclusive education and extensive special education experience make Batichon an invaluable asset, especially as an Independent Educational Consultant. His adeptness in tailoring educational strategies to individual needs equips him to guide parents, educators, and administrators to better understand and serve students with special needs.
Batichon's passion also extends to coaching. Since 2008, he has been shaping future athletes. In his coaching career, Batichon has served in various roles such as Wide Receiver Coach, Offensive Coordinator, Special Teams Coordinator, and currently, as the Passing Game Coordinator and Receiver Coach at McEachern High School. This breadth of coaching experience, informed by his journey as a football player, makes him an invaluable mentor to student-athletes.
Batichon's deep understanding of the game and his specialized training in special education enable him to cater to athletes' physical development and academic and personal growth. This makes him an ideal figure to guide student-athletes, particularly those pursuing football.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Batichon leads a fulfilling personal life. He is the proud father of five children, four of whom are student-athletes, actively participating in softball, football, track and field, and cheer. His wife, Dr. Claudia Batichon, has been his unwavering partner since high school, and together, they have celebrated 17 years of marriage.
In addition, Batichon's background and expertise in special education uniquely position him to be an effective Independent Educational Consultant. He can offer tailored advice and strategies to help parents understand and address the needs of students with various learning challenges.
In essence, Batichon stands out as a committed educator, experienced coach, and dedicated family man, deeply invested in nurturing students' academic and athletic growth. His credentials underscore his potential for significant contributions as a football coach, special education teacher, and independent educational consultant.
Professional Licenses
Certified Teacher: Georgia & South Carolina
Memberships
American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)
Education
Arkansas State University
ED.S., Educational Leadership, 2019
Grand Canyon University
M.S., Special Education, 2013
Appalachian State University
B.S., Organizational Commmunication, 2008