DAVIS, Calif. – The core cultural philosophy of UC Davis football can be defined in two words: "Find Joy".

Current head football coach Tim Plough and UC Davis Associate Professor Emorie D. Beck, PhD, have made these two words their daily mission.

At one of the world's most renowned research universities, both are invested in helping others become the best version of themselves. The two recently sat down to discuss their work at UC Davis, the "Find Joy" mantra, the culture(s) across campus, and the psychological perspective(s) behind their logic.

"When most of us think about personality, we think about traits," said Dr. Beck. "People are more than just a list of traits that they do or don't have to differing degrees."

Plough, who played quarterback at UC Davis from 2003 to 2007, originally adopted the philosophy from former UC Davis head coach Jim Sochor, who also served as a mentor. Sochor often asked his student-athletes, "Have you found joy?" to shift the focus from the results on the field to the growth of the individual and the daily habits needed to be a great teammate.
Now, the team pairs "Find Joy" with its "Shredville" identity, encouraging student-athletes to find happiness and purpose in the small details.

"He really enlightened me to what we should really be doing - seeking out this feeling of joy," said Plough. "Because the joy feeling has no results based to it. It's a constant that we feel from the minute we wake up, to the minute we go to bed."

Beck is an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at UC Davis, specializing in personality psychology. She received her PhD in Social and Personality Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis in 2020 and her BA from Brown University in 2016. Beck completed postdoctoral training at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine from 2020 to 2022.

To view the full podcast with Coach Plough and Dr. Beck, please click here.

For updates and more information on UC Davis football, follow the Aggies on X @UCDFootball, on Instagram @ucdavisfootball, and on Facebook @ucdavisfootball.

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS:
UC Davis Athletics represents one of the nation's premier public universities on the NCAA Division I stage, with more than 650 student-athletes competing across 25 sports, including 16 programs in the Mountain West Conference. Located in California's quintessential college town, UC Davis combines championship-level athletics with the academic excellence of the nation's #8 public research university and is home to the nation's No. 1 programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and sustainability. With a growing national media presence, bold investments in facilities and the student-athlete experience, and a tradition of developing champions in competition, in the classroom, and beyond, the Aggies are elevating UC Davis on a national stage.