Athletics Program Leadership Ph.D. Following NFL Career
His high school GPA and ACT results were not predictors of academic success in college but his persistence, demonstrated first on the football field and in his personal goal to be a well-educated leader within athletic programs, later justified the college’s faith in admitting him as a student.
EB eventually made it through six pro football training camps, and one successfully defended, academic doctoral dissertation. How many can say they’ve pulled off that combination?
FAMILY BACKGROUND
EB grew up as the youngest of five children in a single-parent household, which his mother ruled with firm discipline as needed but also encouraged her children to pay attention in school and do your best to learn every day.
The family was ‘poor’ by any standard of measurement, but EB didn’t realize how simple and easy his life was at home, until he entered college.
CHILDHOOD
As a child, EB’s world was narrowly focused through his high school years, knowing only the people within his small community. Always a talented athlete, EB heeded his mother’s advice to study hard in school so that he could not only gain a college athletic scholarship but later be a successful adult.
EDUCATION – PART ONE
When EB enrolled at a major university whose sports teams are members of the famously competitive “SEC” (Southeast Conference), he was more confident about playing football against traditionally tough rivals than in his ability to fit in with the student body of a wealthy, private college.
“I had to understand the importance of intersectionality from a sense of knowing that I was an athlete, but there was so much more to me,” he said. “I had to embrace my multiple identities: athlete and student. I did not feel like I belonged, initially, and I think part of that is because I had a 16 ACT score, and the head coach must have banged on the table for me to get in.”
Editor’s note – “ACT” stands for American College Testing, a standardized test designed to measure critical thinking skills and to assess a student’s ability to apply knowledge and logic when solving problems. The test authors state that the ACT is an achievement test, designed to measure readiness for college instruction. It is one of several benchmarks used by college admission counselors to compare applicants. The importance of ACT scores varies from school to school.
The test consists of four test sections: English, Math, Reading and Science Reasoning. Each of the test sections are scored from 1 to 36, with a mean score of 18. In mathematics, “mean” value is the sum divided by the count. Applying the mathematical definition of ‘mean’ to the ACT test, a mean of 18 means that half the students taking the test scored more than 18 and half scored less than 18.
So, it is reasonable to assume that EB’s ACT score of 16 was likely viewed by college admissions offices as ‘below average.’ Thus, EB’s athletic achievements were helpful for his gaining admission to the university. Then the coach who had pushed for EB’s admission, was under pressure to make sure EB was successful both in the classroom and on the athletic field, earning enough credits to graduate on a normal schedule.
FIRST CAREER – PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER
Following his four-year college football career, including three times selected “All SEC Conference,” EB was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft. He played as a wide receiver for “Da Bears” for six years and then attended a training camp with the Cleveland Browns but decided to retire, at age 27, rather than submit to further medical attempts to fix his often-injured knees.
EDUCATION – PART TWO
Upon realizing that his pro football career had come to its inevitable conclusion, EB returned to the university where he had begun his post high school ventures, to complete the requirements to earn his Bachelor’s degree, which he followed by earning his Master’s degree.
For EB, there was one more academic mountain to climb: earning a doctorate within the “Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies” program of his former university. Like most doctorate programs, successful completion would require preparation of a dissertation on a subject chosen by the student but requiring advance approval by the doctorate program’s faculty.
EB chose for his dissertation: “Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in University Athletic Departments.”
Editor’s note – A ‘dissertation’ is a long-form piece of academic writing based on original research conducted by the student hoping to earn a doctorate degree. The dissertation is usually submitted as the next-to-final step to complete the PhD program requirements. The final step is to orally ‘defend’ the dissertation when questioned about it during a formal interview with several faculty members.
“Dissertation mode to me was like the third week of pro football training camp,” said EB. You don’t want to be there. It’s hot. Your body’s fatigued. You hate every play call. You hated being there. You hate getting in the car trying to find a restaurant. And somehow, you find a way to persevere through it all.”
EB was halfway through the doctoral program when the football coach at his alma mater called to offer employment within the football program. The coach and former player discussed the role the coach envisioned for EB, but EB remained undecided. He and his family had a nice life in a state quite distant from his former university. And EB had not expected to return to the world of football in any way.
EB discussed with his wife the job offer: Executive Director of Player Development and Administration.
The coach hoped that EB would accept the loosely defined job description and become a role model for the student athletes he was coaching – to demonstrate to them that there could be a meaningful adult career after their days competing on the field were over.
For EB and his wife, accepting the job would involve moving not only themselves but also their children. They decided it would be the perfect fit for all of them.
SECOND CAREER – ATHLETICS PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
When EB retired from the NFL, he wanted to be a college professor or work in higher education. The proposed job within his former university’s athletic department seemed to align with what he was working on for his dissertation.
EB and his wife decided that he would accept the position offered by his former coach so they promptly moved their family halfway across the country while EB could continue with his doctoral program by working remotely.
For the next two years, EB would arrive at the football offices by 6 a.m. and for the next two hours, work on researching and writing his dissertation. Then he would put the dissertation out of his mind to work with the football players and the athletic department involving such tasks as watching some football game film with players, working with the football staff in recruiting and helping players adjust to their academically rigorous university studies.
“I do most of the programming for our football players,” said EB. “I’m a mentor, I find internships and community service for them. And now I’m involved with their potential to earn money through the new NCAA program called “NIL” permitting players to sell their name, image and likeness to advertisers. And I’m also involved with parent relations. It never ends but it’s also a lot of fun.”
CAREER SATISFACTION
Any successful professional athlete must be able to compartmentalize. EB hasn’t stopped doing that just because his career on the field is now over.
Many successful businesspeople struggle with work-life balance. EB seems to have figured that out, too.
“There was no way that once I got into the doctoral program, I wasn’t going to finish it, “he said. “That just wasn’t an option for me.”
After working on his doctorate for two morning hours, then spending the rest of his weekday, daylight hours working within the football program, when EB got home, he went into family mode with his wife, son, and daughter. “I love everything I am doing, while I’m doing it,” said EB. “You have to keep your mind on what is before you.”
When EB was awarded his doctorate degree, his children kept him humble by asking, with amusement: “So, now are you a big deal? Can we still call you Daddy, or must it now be “Dr. Daddy?”
With his doctorate completed, EB’s next goal is to be an athletic director like his mentor at his former university. Or an NFL team president. He has no interest in being a coach or working on the football side of a front office. Even as an undergrad with eyes on making the NFL as a player, EB felt like he had more to offer than as a football player.
EB’s dissertation focus changed after enrolling in the program. In the final version, he wanted to explore the idea that as universities started to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, athletic departments were lagging behind. “One of the reasons I wanted to look at diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) is, you’re starting to see different buzzwords involving DEI. People don’t really understand how that relates to higher education, let alone within their athletic departments,” said EB. “Being in this space for several years, I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge for how to start to dissect and find ways to make athletics more inclusive.”
Since EB appreciates having been helped by others while he was learning how to balance being both an athlete and a student, he decided to return the favor by helping others through establishing a charity in his name: “(EB)’s Legends for Literacy.”
This career story is based on an article written by Jon Greenberg, published by “The Athletic” within the sports section of the NY Times on 2/2/23
