It’s finally the first weekend of college football season and I find myself surprisingly………SAD. Some of you may know that I spent 10 years working in collegiate athletics. This is my first fall without having a direct connection with a collegiate team. I mean I always support my Alma Maters and previous institutions that were like family but not having a place to call home this year feels weird. Why did I leave that world you ask if I’m feeling out of sorts? Well it’s a decision I am happy that I made around the start of this year.

I’ve been truly blessed to work at institutions that have Division I Intercollegiate Athletics within the Power 5 conferences. If you’re not a huge college athletics fan, let me break this down to you. I’ve worked with revenue sports at some of the top academic and athletic institutions of higher education. For ten years, this was my life. I knew what I wanted and was willing to go get it wherever it was — which led to the many moves across the country over the years. I’ve worked with just about every sport Division I offers – both men and women teams. But lets remember, I’m not alone. I am a single mom and when she was younger, I felt like I could really do both and I did. But as Mini Me got older and more involved in her own extra-curricular activities, I had to take a step back and look at what was my life.

I started realizing a change was needed when I was at a choir recital while she was in elementary school. I was there taking pictures and listening to her and her friends sing every verse of Let It Go and Country Roads. But when we got home, she mentioned how she saw me on my phone. Not taking pictures, but working. I’m sure I denied it, but more likely I did answer a few emails or texts from my student-athletes and/or coaches. Kids notice things like that. I didn’t want her to feel as if she wasn’t the most important person in my life and I knew I had to start practicing the work/life balance. But it’s so hard when you have based your career on the exact opposite. I switched sports to try to help but that didn’t really change anything. I knew I would have to make the sacrifice to be able to have more time to enjoy the precious moments with the kid.

So earlier this year I left the world I called my second family after ten years of saving lives. It was actually a breath of fresh air that I didn’t realize I needed. Burnout doesn’t just affect student-athletes, but those that are with them for what seems like 24/7. So for about two months, I was able to enjoy doing nothing but focusing on Mini Me. At this time she was finishing 6th grade and participating in Track & Field. I was able to attend all of her meets and the end of the year awards ceremony and parties. But not working was not me, plus it’s just me and we have bills that must be paid (LOL).

I knew I didn’t want to go back to the collegiate world but sports is a huge part of my life. How could I truly give it all up? I can’t and I’m thankful for prayer and patience. Prayer and patience led us to our new home in Florida and a position that still allows me to work with college athletics but in a manner where I don’t have to neglect family time. Plus I get to live and work in paradise. Yes, we are where everyone else comes to vacation so in my opinion its paradise 🙂 Will I ever go back to working the collegiate athletics life? I’ve had some offers but as of right now, it is not priority. Do I miss it. . . .of course. But these next years with the kid are more important. She is my world and I’ll make any additional sacrifice for her any time.

~knh