Careers

Only 2% of college athletes ever play professional sports.

What happens to those who don’t?

Meet five college athletes who went pro in something other than sports.

Mikaela Burgess

Mikaela Burgess graduated with a degree in early childhood education from Pittsburg State in 2017. Now, she owns and directs The Plaid Giraffe Preschool in her hometown. During her four years with the Gorillas, she led the women’s basketball team in scoring and was a first-team NCAA Division II All-American.

April Holmes

Former Norfolk State track and field athlete April Holmes lost her leg in an accident and has since blossomed as a motivational speaker and writer. The U.S. Paralympic gold medalist founded the April Holmes Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting those with physical and learning disabilities.

Kyle Hornsby

Before becoming a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist, Kyle Hornsby was named to the 2002 All-Tournament Team at the NCAA Final Four, playing for Indiana. The former Hoosier basketball star traded in his candy stripes for a white coat after obtaining his medical degree in 2009.

Christopher Howard

Chris Howard made an impact on the gridiron before making one in the skies as a helicopter pilot in the Air Force. The retired Air Force reserve lieutenant colonel was a running back for the Falcons before his active duty service in Afghanistan in 2003. Howard is now the president of Robert Morris University.

Delaney Lam

Former Carnegie Mellon soccer student-athlete Delaney Lam is putting her architectural degree to use as a designer. Her Division III experience with the Tartans taught her the value of teamwork.

Learn more about these five former student-athletes

After the Game

From College to Career

We aim to equip student-athletes with the necessary tools and traits for succeeding in the workplace.

Life After the Game

We strive to empower student-athletes on how to transition from the life as a college athlete to one without sport.

NCAA Community

We celebrate the successes of former student-athletes and the contributions they make to society.

Learn more about After the Game.