Engagement Insider
PHOENIX, AZ February 17, 2014 – The NFL and NCAA teamed up to reach the summit the past four days by staging concurrent programs designed to further the future of both organizations going forward.
The three-day events in Phoenix, developed by NFL Player Engagement (NFLPE) and the NCAA, kicked off on Thursday with the Athletics Professionals Workshop and followed up on Friday with the NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy getting underway.
“Our two organizations obviously have very similar goals and objectives that align for the student-athletes,” said James Thrash, Manager of NFLPE, “so we welcome this annual event where a cross-section of leaders in life skills, coaching, and the sport in general gather to learn and lend their expertise.”
For Cori Pinkett, the Director of Life Skills at Kansas State University, the workshop for life skills professionals like herself and directors of player engagement exceeded expectations.
“It was both enlightening and informative to learn about the challenges that we all face as we prepare student-athletes for transition,” remarked Pinkett. “And we all agreed how rewarding it is to help shape students for success as they begin their new lives and careers.”
She noted that she left Phoenix with three big takeaways.
The first was an “Inside the Locker Room” breakout session that highlighted the importance of talking to the players about other career options beyond sports.
The second was a Financial Planning workshop that stressed a “spending plan,” which made the topic much more understandable than a “budget,” a word that makes many cringe.
The third take-home message for Pinkett was from a session on identity research, where she heard how student-athletes can show who they are beyond their sport in a variety of ways, including social media.
Pinkett also welcomed the workshop as an opportunity to further the natural connection between the NCAA and the NFL.
“We are expanding our regional events with the Kansas City Chiefs, such as having their players come over to talk with our student-athletes,” said Pinkett, adding that it is very helpful to work with her KC counterparts since “NFL teams are seeing challenges that I can work with since we share the same type of roles but on different levels.”
Not to be outdone, the Coaches Academy was equally educational for the 58 coaches and coaching prospects that participated, such as O.J. Santiago, who played for the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, and Oakland Raiders.
As one 18 NFL Legends and 10 current NFL players included in this class of 58, Santiago said he was “impressed” by the event since it brought a group together from all levels, including high school, college and professional.
“This is the first event of this type for me, and I was taken with everyone’s desire to get better as coaches,” stated the former Kent State player. “Both the content and the questions presented on the panels were informative for me.”
Consistent with past events, NFL Network analyst and former Washington Redskins and Houston Texans General Manager Charlie Cassarly made an impression.
“He told us what it takes to be an NFL coach, which was still a learning experience for me even though I have been in locker rooms for the last 20 years,” Santiago said. “This made me even more open to surrounding myself with coaches since I know more about what they go through and what motivates them.”
And for the native of Canada, that could mean his next career.
“I do like the thought of coaching, both the challenges they face and the roles they play,” observed the tight end. “I also would welcome coaching at any level, since in high school or college you can develop a certain relationship with players at a time when you can help mold them and teach them how to get to the next level.”
Next levels that are familiar to Santiago, who made it to the mountaintop.
“I realize that it may take some time to establish myself in coaching,” said Santiago, “but also realize that coaching could someday lead me back to the NFL since after playing in the league for so many years, I know that there is nothing better than the NFL, and it is amazing to be a part of it.”