University of Illinois

Making career planning a priority while also engaging and educating the Student-Athlete

"Such a valuable product for what we need and how we need to engage our 500+ Student-Athletes in their holistic development."

Dr. Brian Russell

Senior Associate Athletic Director, Administration & Student-Athlete Development

Before the Partnership

Before Illinois partnered with Game Plan, the ability and range staff members had while assisting student-athletes in connecting with potential employers was difficult.  With in-person career fairs and a limited time to meet with student-athletes to discuss in detail during a one on one setting, there was a need for better tracking and implementation.

Their Goal

Illinois wanted to implement an individualized mentorship and career development program that matched Illini student-athletes with professionals in their specific industries of interest.  The networking and mentoring tool, through Game Plan, connects Illini student-athletes directly with former student-athletes and employers who can assist with career development and placement.

The Result

Since partnering with Game Plan, Illinois has been able to connect potential employers directly with their student-athletes which gives them a leg up on the competition in increases their odds of placement upon graduation.  The student-athletes have also taken advantage of the eLearning modules with a large focus on career development and financial literacy.  As a result, the Student-Athlete development staff is able to save time and dedicate more of their attention to helping student-athletes in a one-on-one setting.

The University of Illinois

The partnership with Game Plan has helped The University of Illinois athletics department differentiate itself in the eyes of prospective recruits (and their parents) by demonstrating their commitment to comprehensive student-athlete development.