Notre Dame’s Amir Carlisle leads life after football discussions for current Irish
With players on campus this past week, Notre Dame director of player development Amir Carlisle began a program called “Close the Gap,” a series of discussions about life after football.
Notre Dame tweeted a video showcasing some of the lessons players learned. For the full video, click here.
Carlisle, hired by Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman in March, played at Notre Dame from 2013 to 2015 as a running back and receiver. He brought in a several guests to lead the discussions, starting with former NFL players Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder. The three of them host The Pivot Podcast.
“We are here because we can no longer do it,” Clark said. Clark played 13 years in the NFL as a safety, most notably with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and is now an ESPN NFL analyst. “Talk a little bit about being prepared for the transition out of football.”
Taylor (a 13-year running back, mostly with the Jaguars) and Crowder (a six-year Dolphins linebacker) advised players to make as many connections as possible, before and after retiring from football.
“When people say it’s about who you know, I firmly believe it’s about who knows you,” Taylor said.
“Learn how to communicate and talk to people,” Crowder said. “Like I said, I have no degrees, I own businesses. My network’s higher right now than when I retired. I made money after football, talking to people.”
Next, NBC Universal Local Chicago president and general manager Kevin Cross talked to players about building their own brand.
“As an entrepreneur, you guys are all your own business,” Carlisle said, introducing Cross. “How do you lean into that?
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“Your brand is really starting now,” Cross said. “The things you’re putting on social, the things you’re putting on tape. All those brand elements start now.”
Finally, AWM Capital co-founder and partner Erik Averill came to Notre Dame’s football meeting room to talk about money management. Carlisle said Averill would teach the players how to save money on taxes, maximizing each dollar they had and approaching their brands like a business.
“We’re not just trying to chase piles of money,” Averill said. “We’re trying to accumulate money to do something with. Money’s just a tool to pay for the things that are important, and that impact the people and causes you care about.”
In the age of NIL, as well as social media, college athletes have more of an opportunity to become their own brand and make money off of it — while they play college sports or long after — than ever before. That comes with the opportunity to help their friends, their families and any charitable causes they believe in.
Carlisle, in his new job as director of player development, is looking to educate Notre Dame’s players on how to do it.
