Between classes, team practice, studying and game day, student-athletes’ schedules are among the busiest at a university.

In between the hustle and bustle of the field and classroom, many University of Houston athletes sometimes are so busy that they don’t focus on the most important time of their lives -- the future.

With the help of a new athletics mentoring program that kicks off at the end of September, student athletes can receive professional and personal guidance from UH faculty and staff members.

The brainchild of UH Athletics Director Dave Maggard, the program will be a combined effort of the Student-Athlete Academics Services and the faculty-driven Athletics Advisory Committee.

Maggard said that he implemented mentoring programs while directing athletics programs at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Miami.

“We have people at this university who can be role models,” he said. “They can offer advice, counseling and can be a friend. This program is designed to promote a closer relationship between student-athletes and the university’s academic community.”

Through mentors, student-athletes will address not only academic concerns, but also career choices. Maria Peden, assistant athletics director for student-athlete academic services, said that mentors can serve as sounding boards for concerns regarding life after UH.

“It will help broaden student-athletes’ horizons,” she said. “This is a way for someone to learn about different career paths outside of athletics. They can talk to faculty from a certain college about careers or degrees in their respective disciplines."

Joe Kotarba, professor of sociology and chair of the Athletics Advisory Committee, said that faculty also has much to gain through this program. While student-athletes can receive vital guidance, faculty members can gain an understanding of a student-athlete’s world.

“Faculty members sometimes forget that these young athletes have the same concerns as other students,” he said. “This may be especially relevant to those faculty who are not sports fans or who do not have many student athletes in their classes. Another goal of the program is to help integrate student athletes into the broader university community.”

Kotarba added that student-athletes and mentors would be paired based on personality commonalities rather than academic interests. This would allow for enhanced dialogue on an assortment of topics as opposed to strictly discussing school issues.

“We want the student-athletes to talk about whatever is on their minds,” he said. “There’s a little bit of role modeling involved, a little bit of a big brother interaction and hopefully, just plain friendship.”

Currently, mentors and student-athletes still are being matched up, but those interested in volunteering as a mentor can contact Peden at (713) 743-9983 or via e-mail at mcullina@central.uh.edu.

Mike Emery
memery@central.uh.edu