Through my tenure as a collegiate football coach I can assure that some of my greatest and most satisfying moments as a coach came on graduation day. I never missed the ceremony. I always felt that since I emphasized academic success with the young guys that I recruited, I had to be there on the day that day completed their course work and 
were so honored at commencement. I always watched as future educators, attorneys, businessmen, doctors, coaches, engineers on and on, walked across that graduation stage.
Make no mistake about it, if you are prepared to take on the rigors of collegiate athletics it will take great resolve and perseverance to complete both the athletic experience and a great and successful academic experience. Never permit your academic goals to be compromised by the commitment of athletic responsibilities. You can do both! I have seen it on a very first hand basis.
During the recruiting process it is critical to speak to the recruiting coaches about academic support. Inquire as to the academic support office, visit that office, ask questions, and ask specific questions as to how many and who were the athletes that successfully completed your chosen course of study. Ask as to what was the relationship between the athletic support office and the academic department to which you wish to pursue your degree.
During the recruiting process you will be confidently told that your choice of study can be completed as an active member of your respective team. Make sure that promise is defined with facts. I have heard of and witnessed young athletes who were advised into more “athletic friendly” curriculums. In other words courses of study that required less preparation, or less lab time, or less time in a studio. You obviously have great athletic goals, and you basically know what the challenges can be in order to succeed. If you have great academic goals, you need to know that these goals can also be achieved. Never let anyone talk you out of your academic dreams. Your athletic dreams will take you only so far, your academic dreams will take you through a lifetime. Go for it, never compensate those lifetime goals.
Ask those important questions, NOW! Always know that our NCSA staff can and will assist you when you begin to get into that aspect of the recruiting process.
Good Luck, I will be rooting for you!
Coach Chmiel
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