UCLA Logo Blue Background

Student-Athlete Development

Director: Ric Coy
E-Mail: rcoy@athletics.ucla.edu

Resources

New Wooden Academy LogoWooden Academy

The Wooden Academy named after legendary Coach John Wooden, is a student-athlete development program designed to educate and support Bruin student-athletes throughout their career at UCLA. Our goal is to create a strong network of future Bruin leaders and provide them with the needed skill set to be successful in all their endeavors. Student-athletes will have the opportunity to participate in the Legacy Program, the Speaker Symposium and the Champions Program.

Legacy Program: The Legacy Program is designed to teach freshmen and transfers about the legacy of Coach Wooden, the Pyramid of Success and how to apply these principles to their experience at UCLA.  Freshmen and transfers are required to attend two (fall/spring quarter) sessions in their first year.
 
Speaker Symposium: The pillars of the Speaker Symposium are teamwork, leadership and character.  At the beginning of each winter quarter, all student-athletes will attend a Speaker Symposium designed to teach the principles of Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success that are relevant to the student-athlete experience.  These programs will feature a Bruin Alum or other notable guest speaker.
 
Champions Program: This program provides an experiential learning opportunity that will guide and support student-athletes on their journey to become champions in their present and future endeavors. The Wooden Academy Champions Program is a two year program that UCLA student-athletes can voluntarily enroll in as early as their sophomore year or as late as their junior year (this also includes 5th year seniors).  Our goal is to provide student-athletes with a comprehensive program that encourages them to take the initiative to prepare for their futures early, instead of waiting until they have exhausted their eligibility. All programming that is offered through the Wooden Academy Champions Program is open to all student-athletes whether they opt into the full program or not.

There are 3 components to the Wooden Academy Champions Program that student-athletes must complete to earn a Wooden Academy Certificate of Completion:  
 

  1. Personal Development: Student-athletes will engage in self-reflection, community outreach, diversity and inclusion involvement, and health and wellness education to develop their personal identity and foster relationships with others and their community.
  2. Leadership Development: Student-athletes will identify their leadership style and gain experience both in theory and in practice.  Student-athletes will learn about the leadership wisdom of John Wooden through core concepts, methods, and beliefs that he used to attain “Competitive Greatness” and true personal success. Using this knowledge, Student-athletes will partake in practical application of their leadership skills through community and campus involvement, culminating in a final leadership project.  
  3. Professional Development:  Student-athletes will develop their professional skill set by engaging in hands-on experience through workshops, networking and internships aimed to prepare them to meet their postgraduate career goals.   

Bruin Athletic Council (BAC)

The Bruin Athletic Council (BAC) is a leadership group that consists of representatives from all 25 Bruin teams that meet throughout the academic year.  The BAC provides an important voice to the athletic administration, and serves as a forum to offer input regarding the student-athlete experience, programming ideas/needs, and Pac-12 and NCAA legislation.  They are ambassadors for UCLA Athletics that are responsible for organizing and participating in community service and leadership activities, communicating information on upcoming events to their teams and coaches, and promoting unity among all athletic teams. Student-athletes who are interested in BAC should talk with their head coach or contact Ric Coy.

Student-Athlete Mentors (SAMs)

The Student-Athlete Mentor Program (SAMs) was reintroduced in the winter of 2010. The purpose of this group is to provide each team with a representative(s) that will be trained and able to serve as a role model and resource to his or her teammates and other student-athletes. SAMs will deal with a variety of issues, including but not limited to: alcohol and drug abuse, nutrition and eating disorders, basic counseling and referral skills, safety, stress, sexual harassment and misconduct.  The members of SAMs are committed to displaying a positive image to fellow athletes by providing help and support through education, awareness, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. Student-athletes who are interested in SAMs should talk with their head coach or contact Ric Coy.

Community Outreach

Bruin student-athletes have the opportunity to participate in community outreach activities on campus and throughout the Los Angeles area, such as, food and clothing drives, Dribble for the Cure, participation in elementary/middle school activities, visits to Mattel Children’s Hospital, individual speaking engagements and events, sports clinics, the “I'm Going to College” program, and Adopt-a-Classroom (pen pal program).  These service opportunities give student-athletes a chance to mentor youth, give back to the community and serve as ambassadors for UCLA Athletics.

NOTE: All student-athletes and coaches must receive prior written approval to participate in any charitable or non-profit activities. Please complete the Community Outreach Form to make a special request

Career Development

UCLA Athletics encourages student-athletes to start their professional development once they arrive on campus. In addition to the numerous career planning workshops and resources that are offered through the Career Center, the Student-Athlete Development program hosts professional development opportunities for student-athletes. Our goal is to provide opportunities for students to identify and learn how to market their transferable skills and prepare for the transition from their athletic career to the professional world. Career information is also posted in the Kneller Academic Center. Student-athletes are encouraged to get a copy of the Bruin Student-Athlete Career Development Guide to assist you with resume and professional development tips.

Career Center and Counselors

501 Westwood Plaza (at Strathmore), Floors 2 & 3, 310-206-1915
UCLA's Career Center assigns a specific career counselor to each sport to help student-athletes work towards career plans after college. Student-athletes can schedule an appointment with their assigned career counselor to discuss career-related questions or concerns. Click HERE for a complete list of team career counselors for the 2017-18 academic year.

Athletes Equal Business

Athletes Equal Business (AEB) provides one-on-one career planning, resume development, and assistance with interviewing skills. AEB assists student-athletes, who have exhausted their athletic eligibility, in arranging interviews with several Fortune 500 Companies. They are dedicated to coaching, counseling and placing highly talented student-athletes into the corporate world. For more information, contact Ross Lerner, 818-802-1156 / rlerner@athletesequalbusiness.com.
www.athletesequalbusiness.com

Athletes to Careers

Athletes To Careers (A2C) an organization dedicated to hours of live coaching, mentoring and advising athletes across the country in the art of finding and landing the career opportunity of their choice. Whether it is right off the playing field or after years of successful experience, A2C Career Coaches meet, educate, prepare and coach top-flight talented athletes before introducing them to our Corporate Partners. A2C helps people connect live with their next potential job. Come experience the difference, it’s totally cost free to the schools and the athletes. For more information, contact Howie Jacobson, 714-290-3968 / hjacobson@athletestocareers.com.
www.athletestocareers.com

Athlete Network

Athlete Network provides current and former student-athletes the opportunity to build a professional network with current and alumni student-athletes and business organizations that are interested in hiring student-athletes. They provide numerous on-line career development resources and post-graduate job opportunities to assist student-athletes in their transition from competitive athletics to the work place. 
www.athletenetwork.com

UCLA ONE

UCLA ONE is UCLA’s interactive, online gateway for mentorship, professional networking, peer driven career advice and exclusive job leads. Just go online to www.uclaone.com and sign up either through your email, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Once it is verified you are a Bruin, which may take a few days, your account will be ready for you to access. Expand your network, gain career knowledge, find jobs and advance your career. By fully integrating with social networks, and cultivating a culture of helping and giving back, you will be amazed by the vibrancy of the UCLA community!
https://alumni.ucla.edu/ucla-one/

Workshops/Panels/Networking Nights/SA Education

Throughout each academic year, the Athletic Department hosts professional development events, such as: Graduate and Professional School Panels, Alumni Career Panels, Networking Nights, Dining and Professional Etiquette and Life after Sports Workshops. These workshops and events are valuable opportunities for student-athletes to meet and network with alumni, get resume tips, and polish their professional skills.

Personal development workshops are also provided to student-athletes on topics such as interpersonal communication, leadership, teambuilding, substance use and misuse, nutrition, social networking, time and stress management. These workshops are conducted by Athletic Department staff, UCLA staff or faculty, and alumni or professional speakers.

NCAA After the Game

The NCAA After the Game Career Center is designed to connect companies with former student-athletes seeking entry-level, midcareer and executive positions across diverse professions, industries and locations. Former college athletes are focused, educated, diverse — and ready to thrive in individual and team environments. College sports shape the skills of participants and strengthen workplace-ready attributes such as communication, collaboration, problem-solving and critical thinking.

This service is free and exclusive to former student-athletes who have exhausted their NCAA eligibility. For mor information, go to http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/former-student-athlete/careers