Three University of Montevallo student-athletes, including former Oak Mountain High School boys’ soccer standout David Esser, were among 400 student-athletes from around the country who attended the recent NCAA Career in Sports Forum in Indianapolis.

Men’s soccer student-athletes Esser and Austin McIntosh of Sheffield, England, along with women’s soccer student-athlete Kristin Rosato pf Pinson, Ala., attended the event. Esser, a goalkeeper, just completed his junior season with the Falcons. The NCAA Career in Sports Forum is a four-day event through which selected student-athletes explore and get educated on careers in sports, with a primary focus on collegiate athletics. The conference lasted from May 11-May 14.

This forum was provided to the participants at no cost. The NCAA covered airfare, lodging and meals during the Forum. Through the use of dual tracks, participants examined the key functions of a coach or administrator within sports. Foundational skills such as communication, networking, recruiting, managing culture, transitioning and budgeting were covered with participants.

The forum’s objectives include encouraging student-athletes to consider how their personal values intersect with opportunities when it comes to choosing a career in sports, providing a better understanding of how behavioral styles impact individual effectiveness and how to develop actionable plans for personal growth and development.

It is the NCAA’s hope that participants will learn a realistic view of the role of coaches/administrators in collegiate athletics, examine the viability of selecting coaching, athletics administration and/or officiating as a full-time or part-time career and also that the student-athletes benefit from the opportunity to network with key decision makers from member institutions and the NCAA.

Student-athletes participated in the forum in two-year rotations by sport, with the first forum open to student-athletes in baseball, basketball, bowling, football, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. Student-athletes then chose an administrator or coaching track. Those who chose the administrator track were educated in the areas of academics, compliance, facilities, life skills, marketing and promotions, and sports information.