University of Oklahoma Athletics

Student-Athlete Development

KERR SOONER CAREER CENTER

The Kerr Sooner Career Center, located in the Prentice Gautt Academic Center, provides many services that educate and guide student-athletes during the career development process. The Career Center is dedicated to assisting current and former OU student-athletes in the transition from college to career.

Services provided by the Career Center include: 

• Resume writing
• Major exploration
• Internship search
• Graduate school entrance exams
• Job search
• Graduate school applications
• Job shadowing placement
• Leadership development
• Career mentoring

The Kerr Sooner Career Center also works closely with OU Career Services to provide student-athletes with resources like the HireSooner job board and multiple career fairs every semester. 

Through the Career Center, the Student-Athlete Development team also provides opportunities for leadership development.  This includes team-based programs as well as programming for small groups with representation from many different sports.

LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM

The Life Skills Program focuses on five commitments in the growth and development of student-athletes: academic excellence, athletic excellence, personal development, community service, and career development. The OU Athletics Academics & Student Life Program offers many services and resources necessary to support success in life after sport. 

In addition, a Life Skills competition was added to the Life Skills Program to challenge and encourage student-athletes to participate in Life Skills events, community service, campus events, and to support other athletic teams.  The competition continues to be a great success with many teams competing with immense enthusiasm.

LEADERSHIP

STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAAC)

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is an organization that represents the voice of the University of Oklahoma student-athlete body. SAAC strives to represent the student-athletes in a way that upholds the traditions of the University, promotes leadership and communication, and enhances involvement in the campus community. To get involved with SAAC or for more information, please contact saac@ou.edu.

BRIDGE BUILDERS

The mission of “Bridge Builders” is to effectively address and find solutions to the academic, athletic, social, cultural, and emotional issues unique to African American student-athletes at the University of Oklahoma. “Bridge Builders” focuses on self improvement and community service and strives to provide all of our student-athletes with the opportunity to broaden themselves and become more enriched as students and as citizens.

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

The Leadership Academy includes three main concentrations. One concentration provides team-based programming that focuses on leadership and team building skills. The second concentration centers on the leadership program to work with individual who show interest on their own, who want to develop as leaders above and beyond their sport , and identify their strengths as a leader. The third concetration focuses on the development of a group of "up and coming" student-athletes who work collectively to develop their leadership skills within the athletic environment for the future. The Academy strives to offer interactive and engaging programming that builds the skills of aspiring leaders, and that gives student-athletes the freedom to cultivate their personal growth and development beyond the scope of their role as a student-athlete.