Alex Ricker-Gilbert on Coaches and Walking the Fine Line Between Athletics and Academic Success

It’s no secret that college sports are a big business. Regarding NCAA athletic events, billions of dollars are generated annually from field, arena, and television proceeds. During tournament season, much of those profits are kicked back to Division I programs, with lesser sums allocated to Division II and Division III programs.

But, without the college athlete, there would be no business in college sports. And, thanks to new NCAA rules, college student-athletes can now profit from the massive commitment they make in time and energy that pumps so much enthusiasm into the business of college athletics.

One of the biggest factors that can work against a college athlete is balancing their time and effort between sports practice and game day participation compared to the amount of time and effort committed to academic studies and passing scholastic tests. New NCAA rules state that for any athlete to be eligible for NCAA participation, they must maintain a college GPA of 2.2. Today, high school student-athletes must score higher on SAT or ACT exams to be considered for a college program.

Often, the coaches and ADs are walking the fine line with students that play at a high level in college sports. The success of sports programs can often hinge on the success of college students.

The student-athlete vs. the athlete-student

The NCAA coined the term “student-athlete” in the 1950s. Many college athletes embrace the designation, while others prefer to be recognized for their athletic abilities, with the student component being a necessary evil. In reality, the term student-athlete was likely created as a shield that could deprive these true college athletes of gaining rewards due to their athletic abilities.

While the phrase may seem innocuous, it is today’s athlete-students that have changed the course of future collegiate sports participants who hope not only to achieve academic success but also to reap profits from the use of their image, autograph signings, endorsements, and personal appearances.

Either way, any college student’s result is earning a degree that puts them in a position to have a successful career as a professional – in whatever field they choose. This conversation is only important because the coaches and athletic directors must recognize which of their team or individual sports athletes are student-athletes and athlete-students.

If taken literally, the student-athlete may be aware of the benefits of sports in their current life. And that is to help offset the costs of a college education. On the other hand, it may fall on coaches and ADs to play a more significant role in athlete-students’ lives to ensure their academic performance is on par with other students at their level.

Today’s athlete-students have access to a wider range of academic help, including guidance on selecting the right study major, scholastic tutors, and help in planning their class schedules to fit their practice and game schedules.

The role of ADs and coaches in student-athlete success

As athletic director, Alex Ricker-Gilbert has seen firsthand the results of athletes whose academic performance increased when given the right set of tools and academic help to keep them from falling behind in the first place. The GPA and graduation statistics for college athletes are now tremendously better than just a decade ago simply because of the added emphasis on academics over athletics.

According to NCAA statistics:

Division I student-athletes continues to graduate at high rates…The overall single-year rate held steady at 90%, which continues to be the highest rate recorded…Since the GSR’s (graduation success rate’s) inception, the overall student-athlete rate has soared from 74% to a consistent two-year rate of 90%.

It’s no secret that athlete students have a much greater chance for a higher quality of life if they emphasize academics over athletics during their college term. And this is especially true of college students with tremendous athletic talent but struggle with academics. Any field of professional sports is extremely limited to a talented few.

In the interim, it is often the coaches and the athletic director that must play a larger role in ensuring the academic success of their athletes, to the benefit of both the student and the institution.

Alex Ricker-Gilbert has served as Senior Vice President and Athletic Director at Jacksonville University, one of the regions the region’s premier private institutions, for a combined 8 years. During his tenure, he has been responsible for overseeing the compliance unit, student-athlete services unit, booster engagement program, Hall of Fame, enterprise risk management, and other administrative units and sports program.