Why Your Program Needs the Player Development Position
The overlooked role that transforms athletes, staff, and entire programs.
The Urgency
If your program doesn’t have a Player Development position, you need it, yesterday.
This isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.
The difference between a program that thrives beyond the scoreboard and one that silently struggles often comes down to whether someone is intentionally guiding athletes through the off-field experience.
I learned this firsthand in my years at Houston, Kansas, and Baylor. And it’s why I wrote The Player Development Guide. On page 67, I break down the three main areas where this role transforms a program.
1. Impact on the Players
Athletes want more than playing time. They want belonging and clarity in uncertain moments.
Belonging: Every locker room holds walk-ons, transfers, injured athletes, draft hopefuls, and seniors who know their career is ending. A Player Development professional ensures all of them feel they belong, regardless of status. Cohesion like this cannot be faked, it is built intentionally.
Situational Awareness: From the moment fall camp ends and scout team assignments are made, emotions run high. Without support, players disengage. With Player Development, there is someone anticipating the moment, encouraging athletes, and easing the transition.
Example: Before his first college snap, Keith Corbin confided his nerves to me. Because of the trust we built, I could support him, and he went on to have a strong career.
This role creates the safe space athletes need to be honest, vulnerable, and ready.
2. Impact on the Program and Staff
Coaches already carry enormous weight. A Player Development professional lightens the load in two critical ways:
Academic Support: As an academic liaison, I built systems like the “stoplight system” green, yellow, red to give coaches instant clarity on academic standing. It cut meetings in half and kept athletes accountable.
Recruiting Support: Families don’t just ask about depth charts, they ask about life beyond the field. When Payton Turner’s mother told me he would leave Houston if we didn’t stop seating him with O-line coaches, I immediately restructured his visit. That trust led to his commitment, a first-round draft slot, and an NFL career.
This position bridges gaps that otherwise become blind spots.
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3. Impact on the External Community
Programs cannot ignore the people who surround and sustain them. Player Development brings structure to these connections:
Parent & Family Communication: Weekly newsletters, Facebook groups, or simple sideline conversations build trust and reduce anxiety for families.
Alumni Engagement: Alumni are a program’s untapped power. They bring stories, resources, and mentorship that current players need. Too many programs let this connection fade. A Player Development professional makes it a priority.
When athletes know their families and alumni are seen and valued, the program’s culture deepens.
Why This Matters Now
The wins you celebrate on Saturdays are temporary. The lives you shape last forever. Programs that ignore Player Development risk fractured locker rooms, uninformed families, and alumni who feel forgotten.
But those who invest in it? They create generational impact.
Ready to Assess Your Program?
If you’re serious about building cohesion, trust, and long-term success, I’ve created a free Player Development Program Readiness Assessment. It shows you exactly where your program stands and where you can grow.
👉 Take the free assessment here
Closing Thought:
Do not wait for cracks in culture to force your hand.
Start building the structure your players, staff, and community need, today.
🗣️ Developing People. Elevating Programs.