[Podcast] Home Team - Helping Athletes Transition with Jonathan Orr

[Podcast] Home Team - Helping Athletes Transition with Jonathan Orr

By Keith Grabowski | Posted 5/21/2019

Jonathan Orr was born and raised in Detroit, Mich. After high school, Jonathan earned a football scholarship to the University of Wisconsin. During his time in Madison, he earned a bachelor’s degree in community leadership and non-profit management. While at Wisconsin, Jonathan also found success on the football field, which led to him being drafted by the Tennessee Titans. His time in the NFL was short lived, lasting only two seasons before being released from the Oakland Raiders. Shortly after the end of his football career, Jonathan found himself facing significant personal struggles.

He did not know who he was without football or what to do with his life. Eventually, Jonathan developed a plan for transitioning into the next season of his life. This plan included utilizing the transferrable skills and strengths he had acquired from his athletic experiences, identifying his gifts and talents, and setting value-based goals. Shortly after, Jonathan returned to school and earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University (Tenn.) and has since worked in positions of leadership for various non-profit and educational organizations.

In 2014, Jonathan started Athlete Transition Services Corp (ATS), an organization that helps athletes prepare for life after sports. Through workshops and life coaching services, Jonathan and his team educate and equip athletes with the information, tools and strategies needed to facilitate their overall growth and development. Since its conception, ATS has provided services for student-athletes at over 20 universities across the country, including Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Florida, Utah, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin. In 2018, Jonathan released his first book, “Game’s Over Life’ Not: The Athlete’s Guide for Transitioning.” Jonathan and his team have experienced a great deal of personal and professional success and it is his passion to help other athletes do the same. Currently, Jonathan resides in Canton, Mich. with his wife, Heydie, and their children Carsyn, Catheryn and Owen.

Show Notes

1:15 Jonathan Orr bio

3:33 Orr’s story about how he met his wife, Heydie

4:16 Heydie’s backstory and how she is important to Jonathan

6:08 Jonathan’s children

8:03 Background info on Athlete Transition Services (ATS)

9:48 Most common struggle amongst former athletes

11:30 Jonathan’s personal struggle post-football

16:20 What role does a coach have in helping athletes develop identities?

18:04 Does taking time to help kids outside of football help the culture of a team?

19:40 How to respond to coaches who only want to coach ball?

21:26 Little things coaches can do to help kids develop identity