🧠 Inside the Grind: A Day in the Life of a Player Development Pro
What it really looks like to lead, serve, and support athletes—sunup to sundown
One of the most common questions I get—right after “What is player development?”—is:
“What does a day in the role actually look like?”
To answer it, I’ve reached out to several colleagues across the player development space. Almost every conversation ended in shared laughter followed by the same exact response:
“Every day is different.”
You might be thinking, Come on, there has to be more to it than that.
But I promise you—this really is the truth.
Still, because I believe in peeling back the curtain and educating others about the realities of this space, I want to give you a deeper look into what a “typical” day might actually look like.
But first, a quick confession…
The Regret That Sparked This
Looking back, one of my biggest regrets during my time in the role was not creating more content—specifically, not capturing or documenting the daily rhythms of the job.
There’s so much nuance, strategy, and humanity involved in player development, and I wish I had recorded more “Day in the Life” experiences to help others understand the depth of this work.
That’s why I’m now laying the groundwork for a Day in the Life video series featuring player development professionals around the world.
If you know someone who would be perfect for this series, let me know!
Also—this is an excellent sponsorship opportunity for companies or products wanting to support the work of athlete development in a powerful and visible way.
A Real-Day Example: Baylor Football
Here’s a throwback to a typical day during my time as Assistant Athletic Director of Player Development for the Baylor Bears Football Program:
🕔 5:00–5:30AM
Wake up, check overnight updates, and head to the office.
💪 5:30–6:00AM
Get a quick workout in.
🏋🏾 6:00–6:45AM
Attend the lift session for newcomers or injured players.
Perfect time to connect with athletes and support the strength staff with energy and presence.
🥞 7:00–7:50AM
Breakfast checks—roster in hand—while catching up with athletes, checking emails, and handling morning communications.
📋 8:00–9:00AM
Staff meeting.
🧠 9:00–9:15AM
Quick huddle with the admin team.
📚 9:15–10:00AM
Class checks, transportation for injured players, and communication with athletes or coaches who missed breakfast.
🎓 10:00–11:00AM
Academic check-ins, lift observation, informal locker room touchpoints.
🤝 11:00AM–12:00PM
Touch base with other departments: sports medicine, nutrition, recruiting, creative, compliance, equipment, strength staff.
🍽 12:00–1:00PM
Lunch or possible second workout. Use this window for networking or explaining the role to curious professionals.
🧠 1:00–1:30PM
Emails, program creation, scheduling player meetings, admin brainstorming.
💬 1:30–1:50PM
Athletes return from class—connect casually in locker rooms and training rooms before meetings.
📢 2:00–2:30PM
Team meeting.
⏱ 2:30–4:00PM
Player position meetings = productivity window. Admin work, emails, meetings, and follow-ups.
⚡ 4:00–4:30PM
Locker room and training room presence—engaging with players while encouraging urgency for practice.
🏈 4:30–6:00PM
Practice time.
This is relationship-building in real time: dapping up players, supporting staff, engaging families, fueling athletes, motivating through humor.
🗣 6:00–7:00PM
Post-practice convos—both for encouragement and accountability. Locker room leadership moments.
🍽 7:00–8:00PM
Dinner with athletes. More relationship building through intentional listening and presence. Follow up with injured players.
📚 8:00–9:00PM
Tutoring check-ins, final desk work, email responses, prep for the next day.
📖 9:00PM
Final walkthroughs of academic wing. One last athlete touchpoint.
Then shower… and home.
Final Thoughts
Yeah, it’s a lot.
But that’s what a “typical” day can actually look like.
There will always be unexpected moments that take priority.
But no matter what, the goal remains the same:
Create time for your athletes.
That’s the heartbeat of this role—and the soul of player development.
The Player Development Pod
Check out this week’s podcast which dives into greater detail about a “Day In The Life".
🎟 Want to learn more and experience this energy in person?
Join me and a dynamic lineup of speakers in Kansas City for the
2025 Player Development Summit, May 29–31.
Tap into real conversations, practical insights, and unforgettable connections.
Let’s grow this space—together.