Courtland Sutton donates major gift to SMU Athletics
DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU Department of Athletics is pleased to announce a $300,000 gift from former football student-athlete Courtland Sutton ’17 and The Sutton Family Foundation to benefit the Life After Ball Program and name The Sutton Family Foundation Professional Development Series.
Since its inception in 2018, the Life After Ball Program has offered hundreds of SMU student-athletes career preparedness and networking opportunities with a goal of 100% career placement upon graduation.
After four years of successful outcomes, the program was expanded in 2022 from a football-only initiative to serve all 17 varsity sports. This coincided with the creation of the Student-Athlete Success Department, a new unit inclusive of Life After Ball, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, NIL Education and other leadership & development programming. LAB deploys a variety of career coaching opportunities including partnering with professional development consultants like Evan Burk, SMU alumnus and author of Finding Intangibles.
“The SMU alumni base is a generous one, but it’s particularly meaningful when a former student-athlete gives back,” said Director of Athletics Rick Hart. “We’re proud of Courtland and his accomplishments and grateful that he has chosen to impact the next generation of Mustangs through this impactful gift.”
“The opportunities that SMU gave me have made an incredible impact on my life,” said Sutton. “To be able to give back and positively impact current student-athletes is truly a blessing.”
Supporting SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow, SMU’s $1.5B fundraising campaign, Sutton’s gift will enhance the Professional Development Series, which teaches the basics of career preparation through five different workshops each semester. Upon completion of the series, participants earn a custom suit, and have a professional headshot taken.
“Courtland was an outstanding student-athlete in every facet during his time at SMU,” said Lisa Rawlins, Associate AD for Student-Athlete Success. “To have his name on a significant part of our Life After Ball program is very special.”
One of the best to ever play receiver at the Hilltop, Sutton left his mark during his four seasons at SMU from 2014-17. The 6-foot-4 wideout cemented his place in the program’s record book, ranking third all-time in career touchdown receptions (31), fourth in career receiving yards (3,220) and eighth in career receptions (195). Sutton also holds the program’s single-game records for most receiving yards with 252 against South Florida back in 2016 and most touchdown receptions with four against North Texas in 2017.
With the Broncos, Sutton has become a Pro Bowl wide receiver, appearing in 65 career regular-season games and catching 239 passes for 3,487 yards (16.1 avg.) and 14 touchdowns. He also registered the most receiving yards (1,816) and receiving touchdowns (10) in Broncos history through a player’s first two seasons.
Plans to expand the Department of Student-Athlete Success Department even further are ongoing. Interested parties may contact the Mustang Club at [email protected] to receive more information on contributing to the effort with a charitable gift.
Editor’s Note: SMU press release.
