General | 6/25/2024 2:32:00 PM

Two Utah Tech student-athletes were selected to attend the 2024 NCAA Career in Sports Forum, which was held this past May 30-June 2, at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis. 

Redshirt senior women's basketball player Emily Isaacson and senior men's soccer player Traedon Chamberlain were among over 180 student-athletes from colleges and universities from across the country who attended the forum, all of whom aspire for careers in college athletics.

The four-day event, which featured a "Survival Guide" theme, aimed to help attendees successfully navigate their career journeys. The forum provided them with invaluable opportunities to network with peers and decision-makers at various levels of college athletics, including campus, conference and national levels. 

In addition, the program educated participants on the intersection of personal strengths and career opportunities, provided tangible experiences to propel their aspirations in sports careers, explored professional and career development strategies and offered insights into careers available in sports.
 
Among the many speakers and presenters at the forum were NCAA President Charlie Baker, along with Ole Miss Head Women's Basketball Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, and Denver Broncos President Demani Leech, as well as many others. 
 
For Isaacson, who hopes to one day become a head college basketball coach, the central theme of self-discovery and aligning strengths and values with future career aspirations is something she will take with her into her final collegiate season as a Trailblazer and hopefully into her future in coaching.
 
"One of my personal favorite activities from the weekend was listening to keynote speaker Coach McPhee-McCuin, who told the inspiring story of her coaching journey and talked about challenges and successes she encountered along the way, which provided a realistic picture of the coaching industry to me," said Isaacson. "[Coach McPhee-McCuin] reinforced the importance of perseverance, time management, being responsive, and always having an 'attitude of gratitude' in her speech, which hit home for me as an aspiring coach and current women's basketball student-athlete."

Isaacson noted that one of the most memorable aspects of the forum was the sense of community and support she found in interacting with fellow student-athletes from different parts of the country. 
 
"I was able to meet and engage with athletes of all sports and divisions from all over the United States, who share similar ambitions and experiences as me," Isaacson said. "It was refreshing to find that there are others going through the same things that I am going through, and we were able to exchange ideas, share experiences, and build connections that will definitely continue on beyond the forum."
 
Meanwhile for Chamberlain, who has played an integral role in game and facility management as an intern over the past two years for Utah Tech Athletics, he found the forum very informative and from the many presentations he learned how to sharpen his skills as a student-athlete and an aspiring athletic administrator.

"A lot of our time was spent interacting with other college athletes by sharing what our career goals are, what we are doing to accomplish those career goals, and how our experience as college athletes can help us with our career," Chamberlain said. "With my desire to pursue a career within an athletic department, I was able to learn from others in the industry but also share my experience working as an intern for game day operations and facilities." 
 
Chamberlain also recently started a company that specializes in name, image and likeness (NIL) management for fellow student-athletes, and he points to a presentation at the forum from former Nike director of basketball marketing Jordan Rogers serving as a catalyst for that venture.
 
"I took a lot from [Jordan Rogers] seminar as he spoke about creating your own personal brand," Chamberlain noted. "Not only did this help me with what my image is to the world, it helped me better understand the overarching principle that I can help student athletes with."
 
Among the many things Chamberlain learned from this conference, he listed these four tenants that he will carry with him moving forward:

• The magnitude of your last attempt is the measure of your personal worth.
• Take people up on their offers.
• You don't rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of training.
• The logo, who you are, will never leave. It's always on.

For both Isaacson and Chamberlain, the four-day seminar provided them with invaluable tools and information that will help guide them as they continue to pursue their collective career ambitions. 

"Overall, the 2024 NCAA Career in Sports Forum was an incredible experience, and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to attend and represent Utah Tech University and Utah Tech Athletics," Isaacson said. "The forum provided an enriching education that equipped me with tools and knowledge that I hope to apply as I play out my eligibility and pursue a career in the sports industry.

"To anyone considering a career in sports, I would highly recommend participating in this forum," Isaacson went on to say. "It is a unique event that not only broadens your understanding of the industry but also helps you to grow as an individual as well. Thank you to Utah Tech Athletics for nominating me and to the NCAA for providing us with this educational opportunity."

"My experience at the 2024 NCAA Career in Sports Form was transformative," said Chamberlain. "The individuals who took time to come speak, teach, and mentor us, I thank them. I want to thank the NCAA for the opportunity they give to student athletes to help them for life after sport. Finally, I would like to thank Utah Tech for the nomination to attend this forum."