As a former USA TODAY High School All-American and the nation’s top-rated running back prospect for the Class of 1996; the inaugural Big 12 Championship game’s Most Valuable Player; the University of Nebraska’s record holder for the most touchdowns in a season by a freshman; a 1999 preseason Heisman Trophy candidate; and a former highly-rated NFL Draft prospect, many believed I was destined for NFL stardom. Unfortunately, two games into my junior season, I made the decision to leave the University of Nebraska and later suffered a career-ending injury that sealed my football fate. I was now charged with the unenviable task of removing the psychological residue that accompanies burying old hopes and dreams and discovering new ones. Sometimes, major setbacks can breed bitterness and shame, while serving as a justification to wallow in self-pity. But they can also provide an opportunity for growth, where the lessons learned can strengthen our resolve and align us with the path to our ultimate purpose.
In 2001, I met a gentleman that introduced me to stocks and bonds and the investment industry. Our relationship and the wealth of knowledge he so willingly shared had a profound impact on me. Shortly thereafter, my football career officially ended, and I began to equip athletes with the knowledge to ensure their economic viability long after their playing days were over. It was the motivating factor for me to obtain my license as a financial advisor and start a financial management company, where I partnered with a Fortune 100 company to provide college athletes with investment education and professional athletes with investment vehicles for wealth preservation and exit strategies for their transition to life after professional sports.
In 2004, my desire to impart wisdom on my peers and the next generation of athletes combined with a sense of obligation to give back to my community in a meaningful way led me to start a non-profit organization aimed at developing the academic and athletic skills of prospective student-athletes. This included the identification and evaluation of college football prospects; position-specific skill development; the facilitation of the recruitment process and NCAA Bylaw education for prospective student-athletes and their parents; and the supplementation of academic resources by way of ACT/SAT test preparation to ensure that prospective student-athletes met NCAA Clearinghouse academic standards. During its ten years of service, the organization helped student-athletes secure scholarship offers from Power 5, FCS, and Division II schools, in addition to nearly 80 percent of its members earning their college degree, and 4 other members being afforded the opportunity to play in the NFL.
In 2009, with the financial services industry in the midst of a crisis, I decided to broaden my skill set and apply to law school. I was of the belief that a legal education would deepen my understanding of society in general, but in particular, it would also be a training ground to develop my written communication skills, in addition to providing me with a base of knowledge of the laws and regulations that govern different industries. After spending 3 years pouring through cases and statutes and learning how to craft a legal argument, I graduated from the University of Kansas’ School of Law in 2013.
Freelance writing is another step along my journey. Writing has always been a passion of mine since my Advanced Composition class in high school. I had a phenomenal teacher who nurtured my skills and planted the seed of one day exploring a career as a writer. Freelance writing allows me to draw from all of me—my career as an athlete, a law school graduate, a former financial advisor, trainer, and substitute teacher. Those experiences have shaped me, and my hope is that the collective knowledge I’ve gained from each of them is evident in the content I create for the benefit of my clients.
A Little More About Me
I consider Saturdays my weekly holiday, and I like to enjoy them by watching a great game on television and eating wings, burgers, pizza, tacos, and many of my other favorites from my long list of “comfort” foods. I come from a close-knit family, so my siblings are my best friends, and my parents are a couple of my role models. My dream vacation is a trip to Italy to visit Venice and explore the city on a gondola boat and eat authentic Italian food. Finally, if I could choose one coach in all of sports that I would have welcomed the opportunity to have played for, it would be the Hall of Fame and former Duke basketball legend, Mike Krzyzewski.
I’m a native of Wichita, Kansas, and I currently reside in the Kansas City area.