Feature by Davis Dupree, SDA Communications Student Intern
TEMPE, Ariz. -- At Arizona State, everyone knows the tools for success are in place for student-athletes to succeed in their respective sports.
Coaching. Video. Strength and conditioning. Nutrition. Equipment. And so much more.
Sun Devils are, and have historically proven to be, among the most accomplished student-athletes in NCAA history.
But did you know those same ASU student-athletes have access to tools that can help them be successful in every aspect of their lives, not just athletically?
ASU has developed a program, and in fact a mindset, called "Championship Life," which encompasses all the aspects of being a student-athlete. It includes success on the field and in the classroom, and aims to make sure student-athletes will be properly prepared for life and a career after their playing days come to an end.
The program is directed by the Office of Student-Athlete Development (OSAD).
"When student-athletes come here, true to the word student, we have the goal of graduating them in degrees that they chose and can leverage once sports are complete," says Alonzo Jones, Associate Athletic Director for Inclusion and Championship Life.
In order to achieve this, OSAD has tailored programs for student-athletes that align with where they are individually in terms of their priorities and development. These programs are called cohorts and are broken down by class; freshmen are receiving different direction than seniors.
For the freshmen, it resembles a college orientation and focuses on student-athlete identity content and adjusting to the newfound freedom that is one of the biggest changes, and challenges, associated with the collegiate lifestyle.
The sophomore program makes a transition away from an "I" focus, into the journey through the college environment in terms of culture and diversity.
"We'll do race and gender in sport, an international student-athlete panel, and explore how gender identity, sexual orientation, and political views in sport all intersects, that we are complex beings," Jones says.
The sophomore year also introduces fiscal literacy training to help student-athletes prepare for life after college, also known as "the real world." Fiscal literacy covers topics like budgeting, credit management, investing and savings. That training continues through their senior year.
Junior year is when the Championship Life program pivots to focus on the job market and careers. The junior year also includes a course for one credit hour that encompasses resume building, cover letters, Linked-In accounts, mock interviewing and other job preparedness aspects.
"They walk away from that with a pretty solid, high-level portfolio related to what their aspirational goals are, whether that is grad school or a traditional career," Jones says.
Junior year also includes an optional Professional Guide Program, which matches the student-athletes with someone in a career they aspire to. This professional will also help the student-athlete line up a summer internship and then assist in the job search during their senior year. About half of all juniors choose to participate in the valuable program, where others plan to attend graduate school, pursue professional opportunities, or already have jobs lined up, according to Jones.
Following the same path, senior year is all about the job search and truly preparing for life after graduation. The OSAD staff and the professional guide will help the student-athlete search for job openings, as well as practice mock interviews to ensure total preparedness during the job search.
"When you break down what that means day to day and how we train, educate and motivate internally, it speaks to career development and career transition and career preparation," says Jean Boyd, Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director at Arizona State.
Boyd knows personally how important it is for student-athletes to be prepared for life after school. Boyd is a former ASU football standout and NFL player who struggled to find a job after his playing days came to a close.
"I almost didn't get the internship (at ASU) because my resume was so poor," Boyd says. "After I did get the internship and started working in the life-skill area, it was really important to me that we created a student-athlete experience that prepared these young men and women to walk out into the world in a very equipped manner."
Jones and the rest of the staff have high expectations for their program to prepare student-athletes for success, with a goal of a 95-percent placement rate. This number encompasses students who have landed a job or have been admitted to graduate school. It's designed to be ambitious but attainable.
"A measure of success is that they don't go into this moment of 'what's next?'" Jones says. "That would be a complete disservice to them."
The concept of Championship Life is not limited to student-athletes at Arizona State. The athletic faculty and staff are also expected to exhibit the traits of "Championship Life" in everything they do, as well.
"If you are [Athletic Director] Ray Anderson down to an intern looking to have a career in athletics in the future, Championship Life applies to those individuals too," Boyd says. "It is a mindset, a culture, that challenges us to be our very best in a space where education and sport are fused together. It is about teaching life lessons and developing life skills."
TEMPE, Ariz. -- At Arizona State, everyone knows the tools for success are in place for student-athletes to succeed in their respective sports.
Coaching. Video. Strength and conditioning. Nutrition. Equipment. And so much more.
Sun Devils are, and have historically proven to be, among the most accomplished student-athletes in NCAA history.
But did you know those same ASU student-athletes have access to tools that can help them be successful in every aspect of their lives, not just athletically?
ASU has developed a program, and in fact a mindset, called "Championship Life," which encompasses all the aspects of being a student-athlete. It includes success on the field and in the classroom, and aims to make sure student-athletes will be properly prepared for life and a career after their playing days come to an end.
The program is directed by the Office of Student-Athlete Development (OSAD).
"When student-athletes come here, true to the word student, we have the goal of graduating them in degrees that they chose and can leverage once sports are complete," says Alonzo Jones, Associate Athletic Director for Inclusion and Championship Life.
In order to achieve this, OSAD has tailored programs for student-athletes that align with where they are individually in terms of their priorities and development. These programs are called cohorts and are broken down by class; freshmen are receiving different direction than seniors.
For the freshmen, it resembles a college orientation and focuses on student-athlete identity content and adjusting to the newfound freedom that is one of the biggest changes, and challenges, associated with the collegiate lifestyle.
The sophomore program makes a transition away from an "I" focus, into the journey through the college environment in terms of culture and diversity.
"We'll do race and gender in sport, an international student-athlete panel, and explore how gender identity, sexual orientation, and political views in sport all intersects, that we are complex beings," Jones says.
The sophomore year also introduces fiscal literacy training to help student-athletes prepare for life after college, also known as "the real world." Fiscal literacy covers topics like budgeting, credit management, investing and savings. That training continues through their senior year.
Junior year is when the Championship Life program pivots to focus on the job market and careers. The junior year also includes a course for one credit hour that encompasses resume building, cover letters, Linked-In accounts, mock interviewing and other job preparedness aspects.
"They walk away from that with a pretty solid, high-level portfolio related to what their aspirational goals are, whether that is grad school or a traditional career," Jones says.
Junior year also includes an optional Professional Guide Program, which matches the student-athletes with someone in a career they aspire to. This professional will also help the student-athlete line up a summer internship and then assist in the job search during their senior year. About half of all juniors choose to participate in the valuable program, where others plan to attend graduate school, pursue professional opportunities, or already have jobs lined up, according to Jones.
Following the same path, senior year is all about the job search and truly preparing for life after graduation. The OSAD staff and the professional guide will help the student-athlete search for job openings, as well as practice mock interviews to ensure total preparedness during the job search.
"When you break down what that means day to day and how we train, educate and motivate internally, it speaks to career development and career transition and career preparation," says Jean Boyd, Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director at Arizona State.
Boyd knows personally how important it is for student-athletes to be prepared for life after school. Boyd is a former ASU football standout and NFL player who struggled to find a job after his playing days came to a close.
"I almost didn't get the internship (at ASU) because my resume was so poor," Boyd says. "After I did get the internship and started working in the life-skill area, it was really important to me that we created a student-athlete experience that prepared these young men and women to walk out into the world in a very equipped manner."
Jones and the rest of the staff have high expectations for their program to prepare student-athletes for success, with a goal of a 95-percent placement rate. This number encompasses students who have landed a job or have been admitted to graduate school. It's designed to be ambitious but attainable.
"A measure of success is that they don't go into this moment of 'what's next?'" Jones says. "That would be a complete disservice to them."
The concept of Championship Life is not limited to student-athletes at Arizona State. The athletic faculty and staff are also expected to exhibit the traits of "Championship Life" in everything they do, as well.
"If you are [Athletic Director] Ray Anderson down to an intern looking to have a career in athletics in the future, Championship Life applies to those individuals too," Boyd says. "It is a mindset, a culture, that challenges us to be our very best in a space where education and sport are fused together. It is about teaching life lessons and developing life skills."