Lake County Gazette

Lake Forest College alumni Jonah Herscu ’15 and Kyra Vidas ’18 crossed paths again when their respective NBA teams faced each other earlier in the season

In the same spirit that drives athletic success, Herscu and Vidas were able to take advantage of several organizations and opportunities at Lake Forest College allowing them to go above and beyond in their careers.

Herscu was an independent scholar where he developed his own major—Coaching: Personal Identity, Leadership, and Sports Psychology—and worked closely with his academic advisor Janet McCracken, professor of philosophy and co-chair of the self-designed major, and Vice President for Career Advancement and Athletics Jackie Slaats to learn about the coaching industry and steps necessary to achieve success within professional sports. 

Vidas double-majored in business and communication with a classical studies minor and was involved in various extracurricular activities, including the varsity handball team and club rugby team, as well as both a member and leader of several organizations, including Women in Business, Athletic Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. While involved in numerous different activities on campus, she also had the opportunity to study abroad in Greece in the Spring of 2016. 

Currently, Herscu is an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings, while Vidas is both an Assistant of Basketball Operations and Equipment for the Phoenix Suns, and Head of Basketball Operations and Equipment for the WNBA Phoenix Mercury.

Herscu and Vidas were able to break into the professional sports industry through using resources at the College and landing entry-level positions within the Chicago Sky WNBA team, where they worked together and first met.

Herscu began his professional sports career as a video and scouting assistant for the Sky, quickly working his way up to an assistant coaching position with the now 2021 WNBA champions. Vidas began her career as a basketball operations intern for the Sky and worked her way up to becoming a basketball operations assistant with the organization. The experiences Herscu and Vidas had with the Chicago Sky got their foot-in-the-door in the pro sports industry, which was a by-product of the central location and resources available at Lake Forest College.

“At Lake Forest College, I was able to expand my horizons and broaden my experiences by being heavily involved in multiple sports, clubs, organizations, and traveling abroad while maintaining good grades,” Vidas explains.

“Whether I was in the classroom, on the court or field, or even in an organization or club, people were there to support me every step of the way.”

Herscu leveraged the independent scholar program the College offered to create his own major in coaching, “Lake Forest College is a place where students have the ability to be independent and can make things how you want them if you really go after them.” As Herscu and Vidas are several years into their careers, they have developed valuable knowledge about the professional sports industry and what it takes to break in and be successful.

“Getting your foot in the door with a team or organization is important in a sports career. You want to be able to network and really understand what department you want to get into. Within sports, there are different departments, just like every other career. The only way to find out what you want to do is to experience it,” Vidas explains.

“If you are fortunate enough, get an unpaid internship, or go work in the minor leagues or G league in the NBA. That is really how I started, and it will give you a better perspective of the lay of the land.” Herscu explains.

“You are never too big for any job. Be an all-star in your role, and go from wanted to needed.”

Herscu and Vidas both serve as great role models for current and future Lake Forest College students interested in pursuing a career within sports. They have excelled through hard work and passion, which has led them both to be successful in their college and professional careers.

Slaats explains, “Vidas and Herscu are two examples of Forester students who have leveraged their work ethic, professional networks, and the support of professors, academic and career advisors, and alumni in order to reach their goals. They are each leaving their mark on the professional sports industry and we are proud of their success.”

Herscu’s Sacramento Kings faced the Chicago Bulls on February 16 at the United Center in Chicago. Herscu and Vidas’ respective NBA teams will face each other again on March 20.