What Now? Resources for Retired College Athletes
Across the United States there are roughly half of a million current NCAA college athletes. Out of this half of a million only about 2% continue their athletic careers into a professional league. The rest are forced to face the harsh reality of a 9-5. However, many college athletes dedicate so much of their lives to their sport that they are not prepared to start a career after graduation. However, once retired athletes get over the hurdle of starting a career, they tend to thrive in the workplace. Studies show that former college athletics have more success in collaborative work as well as display higher levels of leadership and workplace well-being. However, the NCAA recognizes the stress that an unknown career puts on its athletes so the organization has obtained several resources to specifically help NCAA athletes which Centenary College of Louisiana is a part of.
On the NCAA website under the Job Seekers tab they state,
“The NCAA supports today’s student-athletes on the field, in the classroom and continues to support former student-athletes by helping them gain employment in their chosen profession at all stages of their professional career. Former NCAA student-athletes can post their resume, find employment opportunities and get job-seeking advice. For employers wanting to hire former NCAA student-athletes of all ages, this is the go-to place to post jobs and check out the resumes.”
This gives former athletes the confidence to pursue a career in sport and beyond. Many athletes consider the relationships made in sport as one of the most cherished aspects of being an athlete. The NCAA stays true to this by giving athletes the ability to build and continue those relationships into the workplace.
Through the website, athletes can also post resumes, apply for jobs, or select job matches to narrow down the wide selection of jobs at their disposal. They also have an array of other resources including support for mental health and advice articles on dealing with athletic retirement. It is extremely important that soon-to-be retired college athletes plan for their future beyond their sport.
Many athletes consider jobs in coaching which often begin with pursuing a grad-assistant position or higher education in sports management or communications. There are a variety of other resources specifically for athletes to find careers that do not include the sport they retired from. Also, there are many resources at Centenary College that introduce student athletes to potential job opportunities as well. It is important for college athletes to remember and enjoy their time in their sport, but it is also vital that they allow themselves to take advantage of the resources around them to pursue a future career.