When my football career ended, my true calling began


Football isn't a career, it's an experience that, if you're lucky, sets you up for a career.

Isaac Cooper is a financial advisor living in Birmingham

Isaac Cooper is a financial advisor living in Birmingham

By Isaac Coopera financial advisor living in Birmingham. He played cornerback at Samford University from 2008 - 2011. 

"How did you not know who Pat Sullivan was?"

People often ask that when they hear of my journey from Florida to Birmingham.

I had three older brothers that were standout athletes in multiple sports. One was an SEC All-American for Mississippi State and played football professionally until injuries shortened his career.

By the time I was in high school I had made up my mind about what route I would take: Football.

There's so much power in an image.

The other two potential career paths I considered came from what I saw celebrated: entertainment (rapper or actor) or an entrepreneur--the illegal kind.

If you look at what is considered "success" when it comes to young men of color, you'll see nice cars, clothes, houses and, nine times out of 10, the pretty girls. If I turned on the television or listened to the radio it was the athletes that got the praise, the accolades and the million-dollar contracts. I knew immediately the "entrepreneur" route was risky and only worked in the short term. The other two could offer some longevity.

That's when Pat Sullivan stepped into the picture.

I had a standout senior year in high-school football in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. A number of schools offered me full scholarships, including one SEC school. But I'll never forget when Pat Sullivan wanted to meet with me.

He was coaching at Samford at that point, and honestly I didn't know who he was. I kept hearing "Stanford," so I thought I would be taking a visit to California. But thanks to Google, it didn't take long to recognize Sullivan's significance. I'd have the opportunity to play for a legend.

I wound up with a full scholarship to Samford University with only football on my mind. If you had asked me what it meant when I signed the letter of intent papers, I would have responded, "I get to play football for free" and said nothing about an education. That's unfortunate but true.

The most unfortunate component is that I didn't realize how important the education component was until I got injured, which was during my senior year in college. I realized my physical abilities would not allow me to fulfill my goals and objectives for my family.

I had to identify what my God-given talents were when it pertained to what I could give to others.

I was always good at numbers. I've always had the heart to help people but never knew how I could marry the two. Then I was introduced to financial planning.

I was naturally passionate about helping my friends and NFL players because these athletes didn't know how to build wealth, sustain wealth and then transfer it. But more importantly, this group will have to face the same issue I did.

The NFL, NBA and other sports professions are not careers. It's a short term experience that - if you have the opportunity to participate in it - will provide a head start on your career. But time and time again, kids play these sports without considering a transition at some point.

I never discourage kids from thinking they could make it to the NFL. The issue is not whether you should have a backup plan. It's to have a long term plan, period, one that could or could not include a career in sports.

Young athletes need to realize that every football career is going to end at some point.

If you know that you're going to have to make a transition, regardless of when, you will be more willing to invest in the intangibles: soft skills, business intellect and your college curriculum.

Young black businessmen need to be accessible and transparent about their journeys so that when black children consider career options, business is an option. Those that I've been able to build a relationship with know I am active in my community. I see it as a responsibility to show my community an alternate career path.