This past week, USG was able to host a group of eleven members at the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) Convention in Houston, TX, alongside the men’s basketball Final Four weekend. Each of the attendees is presently working with a basketball team as a coach, graduate assistant, or student assistant in hopes of pursuing a career in coaching. Due to our many faithful Clean Out For A Cause donors, USG was able to provide funding for the group's travel down to the convention and allow them the opportunity to grow as coaches and as followers of Jesus. The NABC Convention was held in Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center from Thursday, March 30th, through Saturday, April 1st. The convention offers aspiring and present college basketball coaches the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the game, develop their skills as coaches, and network with coaches from across the country. The convection offered clinics from some of the industry’s most renowned leaders, including former North Carolina head coach Roy Williams and NBA skills trainer Drew Hanlen. Alongside the NABC opportunities were some ministry-focused events held by Athletes in Action (AIA) and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), including an event titled “Coaches Edge,” which challenged participants to consider how they can live out their witness as followers of Jesus in their roles as coaches. On Saturday, our group attended the Athletes in Action (AIA) Coach John Wooden Keys to Life Breakfast. Each year at this breakfast, AIA presents the Coach John Wooden “Keys to Life” Award. The Coach Wooden “Keys to Life” Award is presented to a player or coach who best exemplifies character, leadership, and faith in the home, on the court, and throughout the community. This year's recipient was Baylor University's men's basketball head coach, Scott Drew. The event also provides an opportunity for the name of Jesus to be honored throughout the game of college basketball. At the end of the event, Liberty’s men’s basketball head coach, Ritchie McKay, was able to share the gospel message with the room of nearly a thousand attendees. Our group rounded out the weekend with a church service at the convention center and a fantastic tour of the University of Houston’s athletic complex. USG member Andrew Johnson recently accepted a new position at the University of Houston as the Assistant Athletic Director of Equipment Operations and provided us with the opportunity to tour the school's facilities! The trip wrapped up on Monday with a tremendous service opportunity with a local non-profit ministry called MisFits Mission. The founder of MisFits Mission, Tyler Bothne, recently purchased a home in the Houston area coined as the “Hiding Place” that will be utilized as a halfway house for women who are adjusting to everyday life after being incarcerated. The “Hiding Place” will provide these women with a continuous routine of developing themselves spiritually, mentally, and physically. Our group was tasked with laying down mulch in the yard, pulling weeds around the property, and preparing the garage for its use as a fitness room. It was a joy for our group to work alongside Tyler as she prepares to use the home for ministry! Lastly, we rounded out our final day in Houston by attending the men’s national championship game at NRG Stadium! As each attendee heads back to their respective locations, they are equipped and encouraged to be lights for Christ in their roles as coaches, graduate assistants, and student managers. We are excited to see these young men continue to be Christ-centered leaders within the college basketball world! If you would like to have an experience like this one, apply to become a part of the Uncommon Sports Group community! If you are interested in learning more about our organization, contact a staff member here!

A person’s identity is what they are most known for. We see this evidenced in the sports world, with the most well-known athletes such as LeBron James, Tom Brady, and Lionel Messi. These individuals are known for their success as athletes and the love of their sport. Certainly, many things make up the lives of these athletes, but above all, they will be remembered for what they did on the field or court. Every person to ever exist has an identity. It is the thing or activity that most dominate their time and energy. You, the reader, also have an identity, and as a follower of Christ, the ultimate goal is to have an identity rooted in Jesus Christ. In this blog, we’ll unpack what it means to have an identity rooted in Christ and how to display it to the people around you. From Slaves to Friends It is no secret that sin has a powerful grip on the lives of unbelievers. As Jesus puts it in John 8:34, “everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” Before salvation through faith in Christ, we all have the identity of a slave. We are enslaved to acts of sin, the consequences of sin, the wages of sin, and ultimately, spiritual death (Romans 6:23). However, because of the grace that our God has given us in Christ, that identity changes from “slaves to death” to “slaves of righteousness.” Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul writes in Romans 6:18, “you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness. The believer’s identity is no longer rooted in his or her own sin, but rather in the righteousness that is imparted upon us from Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Furthermore, though our identity was once God’s enemies (Romans 5:10), Jesus gives believers the identity of being God’s friends. Jesus says to His disciples in John 15:14, “you are my friends if you do what I command.” n Christ, our identity shifts to our righteousness from Christ and our newly established friendship with God. A New Creation In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes, “therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” In the life of the Christian, there is an inward change that comes from the Spirit of Christ inside of us (Galatians 2:20). This inward change that makes us into a new creation is what becomes our identity. Before Paul became the obedient servant of Christ, he was known as Saul, the Pharisee and murderer of Christians. Upon Paul’s encounter with the risen Christ in Acts 9, Paul’s identity changed. He became a new creation. In the same way, the things that we were once known for become obsolete to our new identity in Christ. Paul makes this reality clear to us in Ephesians 4:22-24, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” This by no means states that we are to be perfect, but the Spirit of Christ certainly causes change within our lives that will become evident to those around us. Though your identity was once rooted in selfish pursuits and sinful activities, because of the inward change that Christ causes in a believer’s life, your identity shifts to a new way of living, which corresponds to the will of God. Created for Good Works The greatest mistake a believer can make is trusting in their own good works over the finished work of Christ for salvation. On the contrary, another mistake a believer can make is thinking that good works are useless in their walk with Christ. Paul, in Ephesians 2:8-10, writes “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boat. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” In these verses, Paul makes it clear that we are saved only by God’s grace through faith, not by works. However, he does highlight the importance of our good works, and that these works have been prepared in advance by God for believers to do. This reality is a vital aspect to our identity in Christ. We are not created for selfish pursuits or for earthly gain, but rather to be servants of Christ who accomplish the works He has set before us. Therefore, you might ask yourself “what are the good works I am called to do?” The first of these good works that we are called to do is most likely one you have already done. In John 6:28-29 it says, “Then they asked him, what must we do to do the works God requires? Jesus answered the work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” Seems simple enough, right? The work God requires is believing in His Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation. Beyond our faith in Christ, God has also called us into other good works, as Paul stated in Ephesians 2. At the end of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus commissions His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:16-20). He also commissions His disciples in Acts 1:8 to be His witnesses. As disciples of Christ, we have the same calling. This work is telling others about the finished work of Jesus, and the free gift of salvation through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Finally, Jesus calls His followers to be the light of the world. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Our service to others and our righteous actions are also a part of our good works in Christ, and it is evidenced in this verse that these good works lead people to glorify God. In Christ, our identity is no longer focused on our careers or personal successes, but rather our identity is placed in the works that God has called us to do as His disciples. Conclusion We must ask ourselves what we want to be remembered for. Is it for having an outstanding career? For winning championships? Or, would we rather be known for our discipleship and commitment to Jesus Christ our Lord? As believers in Jesus, this is our identity and what should define our life above all else. In life, we have many roles: coaches, teachers, administrators, fathers, uncles, equipment managers, the list goes on. But, our greatest role is being a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let that reality infuse your identity during this short stay on earth.

Have you read Matthew 25:14-30, or the parable of the talents, before? It is a story of a master who entrusts certain amounts of money to three of his servants and then leaves on a long journey. Two of the servants invested the money, and when the master came back, he was pleased because they were good stewards of what they’d received. He says to them both, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come, share your master’s happiness!” But the last servant didn’t do anything with his money. So, the master threw him out and gave what little he had to the servant who had made the most money. I have read through that passage many times, and I have always felt that my call to action was to make sure I am sharing the good news and the hope that I have in Jesus with others. Now, I don’t think that this is ever a wrong way to interpret this passage, but one of the books I recently read had me wondering, what if the call to action was to ask the question, “what are my talents” or “what things have God, my master, entrusted to me?” For me, the answer is that He has entrusted me with three things; my wife, my kids, and the ministry team here at Uncommon Sports Group. And I have discovered the way that I become a good and faithful servant is by investing my time and effort in those three things. Like anyone, there are times when it feels like I can get pulled in a hundred different directions, and it is hard to know what or where to spend my time and energy. But how comforting to know that I need to be faithful to these three in order to please God! So, what are your talents? What are the few things that God has entrusted to you? Have you asked Him? Psalm 131 says, “I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul….” In a world where things can get so busy, the to-do list can get so long, and the burdens to bear seem so heavy, it brings great comfort to know we can lighten our load by focusing our efforts on just a few things God has entrusted to us. So, ask Him today what He has entrusted to you. Then invest your time and resources in those areas and experience the peace and joy of living out the Lord’s will for your life. At Uncommon Sports Group, we desire to come alongside Christ-followers within the sports industry. Through training, discipleship, and community, you will grow in your profession and faith. Join our community and learn more by visiting our website or contact our staff if you have questions!

USG member, Taylor Jackson, was the runner-up for USG's 2022 Fall Reflection Scholarship. We are proud to feature Taylor's scholarship essay below: Runner-up Fall 2022 Essay “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33; ESV). This verse is one that has been bouncing around in my head a lot lately. It’s one that has a lot of implications when we have certain desires… when we want certain things to “be added to [us].” But that would be missing the whole point of the verse, right? The point is not that we will get the things we need or want, but rather that we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Trusting the Lord and walking in servant-hood are the two main ideas from Chelsea’s story that resonated with me. Chelsea spoke of being offered the Director of Basketball Operations position and not feeling ready or qualified. Yet, she speaks of trusting God in that moment and notes, “[God] wouldn’t put you here if [He] couldn’t keep you here.” Now, in hindsight, we can see how God provided through an environment at Liberty University that allowed Chelsea to learn, mess up, and grow. She mentions the action of “looking for what people need,” which encapsulates her servant-like attitude and her approach to the work she does. Chelsea has continued to thrive in that role, I believe, due to seeking first the kingdom of God. I started my career in baseball through strength & conditioning internships and then volunteer coaching opportunities. Similar to Chelsea, I had coaches along the way who invested in me and provided opportunities for me to try, fail, learn, and grow. I truly believe the Lord has guided my path and brought amazing people into my life, who were willing to give me a chance. These experiences culminated in me getting the opportunity to be a Minor League Video & Tech intern with the Boston Red Sox for the 2022 season. After completing this internship, the Red Sox offered me a Minor League Coach role for the 2023 season. This is where Chelsea’s moment of not feeling qualified or ready for the door God opened for her resonates with me. I don’t know what this upcoming season will entail and sometimes when I overthink about it, I have moments of saying to myself, “Who am I that they would trust me in this role?” But, bigger than myself and bigger than the Red Sox, is God. He has already written the story. I don’t know where it leads, but I will do my best to trust Him one step at a time. As Chelsea speaks about in the podcast, we are here for eternity. Practically, this looks like doing good work, valuing everyone, and giving everyone the best experience possible. This was my main takeaway from Chelsea and Noah’s talk. Working in sports is difficult. It is not a normal job and comes with many challenges. But, keeping in mind our ultimate purpose of glorifying God—spreading His light and the good news of Jesus—will better prepare me to navigate the demands of the job. My first year in professional baseball was hard. Our schedule made it nearly impossible to become rooted in church community, which is something I struggled tremendously with. This is an area I am trusting the Lord to equip me for next season, as I believe He has opened the door and will provide, “[keeping] me for Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:1; ESV). I’ll finish this essay with a quote I read today from Andrew Peterson, as I believe it is a good picture of trusting God and His goodness. Peterson says, “Set fire to your expectations, your rights, and even your dreams. When all that is gone, it will be clear that the only thing you ever really had was this wild and Holy Spirit that whirls about inside you, urging you to follow where his wind blows… it will lead you to a good land. It will remind you that righteousness means more than pious obedience; it means letting a strong, humble mercy mark your path, even when—especially when—you don’t know where it’s taking you” (Adorning the Dark, p.3). - Taylor Jackson, Assistant Coach with the Greenville Drive Thank you, Taylor, for participating in last year's Fall Reflection Scholarship! We are also thankful to our sponsor, Texon Athletic Towel, for making this scholarship opportunity possible for all thirteen of our winners! If you are interested in taking part in USG's Reflection Scholarship program, be sure to apply right now for our Spring 2023 Reflection Scholarship. We will be accepting applications until April 29th! Our team looks forward to hearing more encouraging and uplifting stories from the next round of our scholarship program. Click here for more information on our Scholarship Program.

As a young professional, it is vital to be guided along your career path by industry experts. It is no secret that mentorship has a plethora of benefits, and one of the most practical benefits is the consultation that a present leader in sports can give you, as they have already walked the road you are walking. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, the VP of Ticket Sales and Service with the Brooklyn Nets and BSE Global, Jentry Mullins, discusses critical pieces of advice that young professionals need to know as they pursue a career in college or professional athletics. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to follow our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

Uncommon Sports Group seeks to develop Christ-centered future leaders of the college and pro sport industry. A large part of how USG goes about developing future leaders of sport is through the USG Academy. This eight-week program seeks to root young professionals in the firm foundation that Christ offers, as well as providing practical advice on advancing towards a full-time role in the sport industry. Our most recent Academy group, titled Team 34, just wrapped up their eight-week experience at the end of February. Jacob Neu, Graduate Assistant of Athletic Communications at LeTourneau University, was a part of that group and shared some of his reflections from the experience: "The Academy played a big part in my continued development in my life spiritually and within my professional area of work. It was so encouraging to be able to hop on a weekly call and hear about what the other people working in a similar profession were learning about in the world. The way that it set up an intentional time with a group and one on one coaching. Noah Weiss was my coach and I felt very comfortable sharing with him the things going on in my life and asking for advice and prayer in my day-to-day walk. He was super encouraging and a huge blessing to me throughout the eight weeks of the Academy and even before the Academy. The Academy was a great way to be held accountable for something more than a daily devotional. I loved reading through Purpose Driven Life and growing through and thinking through the questions posed by Rick Warren and by the Uncommon Sports Group Playbook. They helped me in reflecting on my personal life and consider the ways that I could better represent Christ and his Kingdom here on earth. Throughout the Academy, there was a variety of topics that we tackled. We went through why we exist, how we should live our lives, why we worship, what is considered worship, how we should consider our finances to be for kingdom wealth and not worldly wealth, and much more. We went through most facets of our lives, and it was always a benefit to be reading this material while also reflecting on it as a group. The professional aspect of the Academy is something that should not be forgotten about as there are a lot of opportunities for growth in that area within the Academy. There were small things like resume reviews to larger things like informational interviews. There is a lot of opportunity for exposure through the USG and within the academy which is incredible. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Academy and highly encourage anyone who is looking to work in sports and wants to build on their relationship with Christ to consider applying." It is incredibly encouraging to see the many ways that God is impacting future leaders of sport through the eight-weeks of the USG Academy. We are grateful for Jacob's testimony and are excited to see how God will continue to use him as a light in his present role at LeTourneau University. If you are a young professional or student desiring to work within the college and pro sport industry, as well as desiring to grow in your faith journey, then the USG Academy is for you! Use the link here to submit the short Academy application and start your journey with USG!

In 2021, Jason Romano, Director of Media at Sports Spectrum, and a former ESPN producer helped us wrap up a nine-week-long book study of his book "The Uniform of Leadership". Jason joined our Equipment Manager's book study to discuss its lessons and the examples of leadership that had impacted him so significantly. The study group was able to gain deeper insight into the background of the stories and message of the book. Jason also shared about his time at ESPN and his work with Sports Spectrum. For your reference, we have included the entire recording below: Thanks for watching! If you are interested, you may still sign up for our current book study. Join us and meet a great group of peers and industry professionals. Just click the link below: Equipment Manager'ss Book Study If you have questions about Clean Out For a Cause or Uncommon Sports Group, please contact us. We'd love to hear from you.

Uncommon Sports Group hosted a virtual networking event with Minnesota Timberwolves Player Development Coach Moses Ehambe, in which attendees were able to ask Coach Ehambe questions about his career and faith journey. This blog will share some of the highlights from the event! A question early on in the event was how coach Ehambe stays connected to a local church, despite the busy schedule he has to work through in his role. Coach Ehambe touched on some important points, including the value of being connected to a source that can revitalize your soul, which would be God, as well as making the time to stay connected with the Lord. An example Coach Ehambe gave was on his drives to work each morning; he is intentional about praying, listening to worship music, and listening to the Bible app on his phone. This is a great example of fitting communion with God into a busy schedule and prioritizing it! In Coach Ehambe's answer to this question, he said, "You make time for what's important to you." Despite the busyness of a career in college and pro sports, it's possible to make time to grow in your relationship with Christ! Another question that was posed to Coach Ehambe was how to get your foot in the door into professional sports. It can be challenging for young professionals to land that initial opportunity that propels them into a career within the industry. Coach's answer was simple: build relationships. In his answer, Coach Ehambe noted the difference between networking and building authentic relationships. Authentic relationships will help you get in the door, but it takes genuine care and interest in people to build those relationships. Toward the end of the event, Coach Ehambe was asked how he maintains relationships within his professional network. He responded, "People remember what you do for them, but even more importantly, they remember how you make them feel." Coach seeks to show people in his network that he cares for them by making those individuals feel cared for. This approach can truly have an impact on the depth of relationships that young professionals have in their networks! It was a joy to have Coach Ehambe share with our group about his experience as an NBA-level coach, as well as how he has navigated that role as a follower of Christ. If you are a young professional in the college or professional sport industry aspiring to be a Christ-centered leader, apply for our Academy and receive a development experience that will leave you feeling equipped and encouraged both spiritually and professionally! If you simply want to get in touch with our staff, contact us here!

Recently, Uncommon Sports Group hosted a virtual event that gathered future leaders of the college and pro sport industry together to hear from present members within the USG community. This event aimed to communicate the value of the USG Academy experience and the opportunities that come with membership within the organization. Throughout the event, various USG members in attendance shared their thoughts on how USG has helped them overcome the many challenges that come with a career in college and pro sports. A common challenge amongst young professionals in the sport industry is making a career a personal identity. When this happens, it can be challenging for young professionals to find joy and fulfillment in their careers because they have placed so much weight on their success in the industry. During the event, USG member and Account Executive of Membership with Florida State Athletics, Paul Conner, shared how his experience with USG shifted his identity from his career to his relationship with Christ. Paul said, "I had lost my identity in the busyness of the sport industry, but USG has helped me prioritize what is truly important in my life." Another common challenge young professionals face in the sport industry is developing authentic relationships. Often, relationships are built in an effort to expand one's career opportunities without much effort in developing a lasting relationship. USG member and Coordinator of Event Production, Alex Kaiser, shared the impact that USG had on his network: "USG has opened my eyes to building a network of support and a network of people that can have my back during a difficult season." Lastly, a challenge mentioned during the event was the tension of sharing your faith openly within a public university or professional organization. For many young professionals, there can be fear surrounding being open about faith in the workplace. USG member and Director of Facilities & Events at the University of Kansas, Therese VanderPutten, said, "I thought the only way I could talk about faith was by being at a religious institution, but USG provided me with a gateway to talk about faith and sports." It was evident throughout the event that Uncommon Sports Group's Academy, community, and membership opportunities have helped young professionals within the college and pro sport industry elevate their success both professionally and spiritually, as well as navigate common challenges within the sport industry. If you are a young professional in the college or professional sport industry aspiring to be a Christ-centered leader, apply for our Academy and receive a development experience that will leave you feeling equipped and encouraged both spiritually and professionally! If you simply want to get in touch with our staff, contact us here!

The sport industry can be filled with unique challenges, pressures, and temptations. In the midst of facing these unique challenges, it can be difficult to stay the course and remain purposeful in your work and life. In this week's episode of the Uncommon Podcast, the Head of Basketball at Cerebro Sports, Derek Murray, joins the show to share his experience in the sport industry and how a period of time away from the game actually helped him land the biggest promotion of his career. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to follow our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

Pursuing a career in the sport industry is an exciting endeavor and one that is often filled with passion. We love sports, and sports play a pivotal role in our culture. Because of that fact, the sport industry can be one of the most competitive industries to work in, making it difficult to land a full-time job as a young professional. The key to being successful in the sport industry is by building authentic relationships that can help carry you into a full-time role. In this blog, we will discuss why it is so essential to build relationships in sports and how to go about the process. The Value of Relationships in Sports The ‘secret sauce’ to getting your foot in the door within the college and professional sport industry is a robust network of established industry professionals. Building relationships in sports can help you along in your career in two different ways. The first is by allowing you to learn from present leaders within the sport industry. The more relationships you build, the more opportunities you will have to gain hands-on experience in different departments within the industry and the more opportunities you will have to ask questions about various roles. Professional mentorship is significantly undervalued in today’s fast-paced world, but it can be a game-changer for those that take advantage of it. The second way that building authentic connections in sports can help you in your career is by making you aware of job opportunities. Long before many jobs are ever posted, some of the most promising candidates have already been made aware of the open position. Business Insider notes that nearly 85 percent of jobs are filled through networking, and there are strong reasons to believe that that figure is even higher within the sport industry. If you have a robust network, you are more likely to be made aware of job openings before they are posted to a job board, which gives you a much higher chance of landing a full-time role in the sport industry. The Keys to Building Relationships in the Sport Industry If you aren’t an extrovert by nature, it can be extra challenging to build relationships. However, there are a variety of strategies that make building your network much more effective and natural. One of the best ways to build your network is by attending industry events. Throughout the year, plenty of conferences and events relating to various sectors of the sport industry are happening. It is vital for young professionals to take advantage of these opportunities and use them as a staging ground for relationship building. Uncommon Sports Group recognizes the importance of industry events and the challenge of young professionals being able to afford the travel and registration costs related to them. For that reason, Uncommon Sports Group offers its members fully-funded access to a wide range of sport industry events and conferences. If this benefit interests you, find out how to gain membership access with USG by clicking here. Another great way to build relationships in sports is through volunteer opportunities and internships within the sport industry. Not only will you gain experience through volunteering and internships, but you will be able to meet a plethora of established sport industry professionals who work within the organization or team that you are a part of. You can find volunteer opportunities or internships in sports through job boards, like TeamWork Online, or by simply asking a professional within the industry if they are willing to let you job shadow or volunteer for the season. Finally, a great way to build relationships in the sport industry is through professional development organizations, like Uncommon Sports Group, which exist to help you navigate the challenges of sport industry. Organizations like Uncommon Sports Group offer ways to stay informed about job opportunities and industry events that can benefit your career journey. Secondly, organizations like Uncommon Sports Group offer access to present leaders within sports who are eager to help young professionals succeed in their career journeys. Conclusion Networking within the sport industry may not seem all that important, but it can be the difference between landing a full-time job and being stuck without one. Our mission at Uncommon Sports Group is to help young professionals within the college and professional sport industry navigate the unique challenges, temptations, and pressures that come with a career in sports. If you are looking for an organization that seeks to help you grow, look no further than Uncommon Sports Group. Learn more about who we are, apply to join, or contact a staff member!

Uncommon Sports Group has the pleasure of providing $15,000 to $20,000 in total funding to thirteen young professionals in the sport industry each semester. These funds allow young professionals to pay off student loans or tuition as they kickstart their careers in the industry. This past semester, we awarded Alexis Conaway with $5,000 in funding as our first-place winner and Taylor Jackson with $3,000 in funding as our second-place winner. In this blog, Alexis and Taylor share the impact that the scholarship had on their journey through the sport industry. Alexis Conaway, Graduate Assistant Director of Volleyball Operations at LSU "The USG scholarship was truly an answer to prayer. Last fall, I began working as a graduate assistant in college athletics. It was clearly an invitation from God, but it was not the ‘financially sound’ option. As the semester progressed, I watched my savings slowly dwindle away. I trusted the Lord’s call to the position. I believed He would provide. But as I looked ahead to the spring, I had no idea how it would happen. Did I need to get a second job? Donate plasma? Adding one more item to my already full plate felt daunting and exhausting. When I heard USG offered scholarships, it almost seemed too good to be true. I went through the application process, which in itself was a huge blessing. It provided an opportunity to reflect on my role and the joy of using it for Kingdom purposes. A few weeks later, I found out I was selected as one of the recipients. I immediately felt the tears fall down my face. I was overwhelmed with gratitude and sheer shock at receiving such a generous gift. A weight lifted off my shoulders, and I walked freely into another semester, knowing my needs were taken care of yet again. God provided just as He promised. And not just sparingly but abundantly. The scholarship enabled me to focus my time and energy on growing and serving in my current role. It gave me a greater capacity for work and school and sharing Jesus with the people I meet along the way. Perhaps most important of all, it increased my confidence to keep saying yes to whatever God calls me to, and for that, I am forever grateful." Taylor Jackson, Assistant Coach with the Greenville Drive Minor League Baseball Club "I was fortunate enough in the Fall of 2022 to receive a scholarship from USG. God blessed me tremendously through this. I found myself in between jobs, having just completed an internship with the Greenville Drive baseball team and offered a coaching position for the 2023 season. So, I had about five months lined up with no income and student debt looming in the back of my head. I have always felt the need to constantly work. I guess, in a sense, I don’t want to not “do my part.” In many ways, this has led to me trying to rely on myself rather than trusting God (and only fooling myself in the process). I took a seasonal job for five weeks, working 6-7 days each week. I planned to work myself to complete exhaustion and then crash after that—not a good idea. I was then approached to oversee the Upward basketball ministry at my local church. I wrestled with this for weeks. I felt the need to say yes—to not disappoint those at the church and to not say no to an opportunity to make some extra money and “provide.” But, something just didn’t sit right; I believe it was the Lord not giving me peace about the decision. It was difficult, but I turned the opportunity down and chose not to work for the remaining offseason, feeling the need to slow down and trusting God would provide financially. Soon after, I got the news that I had received one of the USG scholarships. I truly believe God was reminding me of His goodness at this moment and that I can trust Him fully. I think this was a blessing in response to me saying “no” to constantly doing. I tend to shy away from God’s blessings, feeling more comfortable in the suffering. But God is teaching me that I can enjoy His blessings just as much as embracing the sufferings of following Jesus. He is faithful, and His blessings are good. And, even if I hadn’t won a scholarship, He would still be good—He always is." We are so grateful that God used the Reflection Scholarship to impact Alexis and Taylor as they continue striving to be Christ-centered leaders within the college and pro sport industry. Are you in need of financial aid as you work towards a career in the sport industry? Apply now for our Spring 2023 Reflection Scholarship. We are accepting applications until April 29th, 2023. As always, we'd love to hear from you. If you'd like to connect with USG, contact us. We look forward to speaking with you soon.