Yes, I am the first featured Former Student Athlete on this platform…because I am the founder of this website. I wanted to go first and set the tone. My goal is to build a space where former student athletes feel comfortable sharing their stories, lessons, and journeys to help the next generation navigate life during and after sports. If you’re interested in being featured, feel free to reach out to info@formerstudentathlete.com. Click HERE for some ideas of questions for your essay.
I played football at the University of Kansas from 1994 to 1999 and had the honor of serving as a team captain my senior year. During that time, being a student athlete was everything to me. It was my identity, my structure, and my purpose. Every day had a plan, every week had a goal, and there was always a clear expectation.
The transition out of sports wasn’t one defining moment. It was the gradual realization that there was no next season. No scheduled workouts, no game preparation, no locker room. What I felt most was the loss of structure. In athletics, everything is laid out for you. In life after sports, you have to create your own structure and direction, and that adjustment is not easy.
That experience is exactly why this platform exists. FormerStudentAthlete.com was built to highlight real stories from former athletes who are figuring it out, building careers, facing challenges, and growing through it. The purpose is simple, to provide perspective, guidance, and relatability for those going through the same transition.
Each week, one former student athlete will be featured. Submissions are first come, first serve. Once I receive your email, you’ll be added to the list, and each week a story will be selected and shared.
As for me, the lessons from sports never left. Discipline, consistency, accountability, and resilience continue to shape how I approach life and work. Learning how to handle both winning and losing prepared me for challenges far beyond the field.
Today, I am a Wealth Manager at Creative Planning. I focus on helping individuals and families make smart financial decisions and build long-term plans. I am especially passionate about financial literacy, working with student athletes, families, and underserved communities to help them better understand money and the opportunities in front of them.
Starting this platform was a natural extension of that mission. I’ve lived the transition, I understand the uncertainty, and I also see the opportunity that exists on the other side of sports. This platform is meant to help bridge that gap.
If I could go back, I would tell my younger self to prepare earlier, especially financially. Your sport has a timeline. Your life does not.
Because of sports, I operate with discipline, stay resilient through challenges, and remain prepared for whatever comes next.
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