Lindenwood Magazine - Spring 2021

16 17 SPRING 2021 EDITION SPRING 2021 EDITION THE LINDENWOOD THE LINDENWOOD ATHLETICS LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS FEATURE STORY LINDENWOOD ATHLETICS The world of sports can be a place where hard work is rewarded with great success. In addition, the realm of athletics can help push the mind to strive for greatness at times when nothing seems to be in sight. For two Lindenwood alums, the influence of sports created different paths after they left St. Charles, Mo., but those paths that would later cross again. Tay Hawker came to Lindenwood in the fall of 2012 as a member of the men’s rugby team. A native of Wanganui, New Zealand, Hawker wanted to play rugby and enjoy college life. However, the structured academic environment was not initially appealing to Tay, and the passion for his classes was difficult to find. “You can talk about what you want to do till the cows come home, but when you do it, that’s when the ball starts rolling,” said Hawker. “I lacked motivation in the classroom, which also led to a lack of motivation in life outside of school. I was frustrated for my first year of college.” As Hawker tried to navigate the college life, Jon Harris joined the Lindenwood football team in the fall of 2014. Harris did not play his first season as he took a redshirt, but when the 6-5 defensive lineman took the field the following year, he made an immediate impact. Harris ended his career as an all-MIAA performer in each of his four seasons, including first-team honors as a junior and senior. To go along with his strong play on the field, the Aurora, Ill. native was voted team captain for his final two seasons. Even though the dream of playing in the NFL took time and energy to bring to fruition, Harris continued to work on his plans for after football. Harris had a vision of becoming an athletics director while he was in high school. He gained exposure to more college athletics leadership opportunities at the NCAA Career in Sports Forum in 2018. Harris attended the NCAA networking event, which opened his eyes to the intricacies of college athletics. “At the NCAA Career in Sports Forum, I got to meet a couple of people, and I just didn’t understand how many different areas of athletics administration there is,” said Harris. “It was cool to see and hear all the different things that go into getting us on the field. It’s not as easy as it seems.” Harris had his eyes set on the NFL, and the work he put in was driven by passion and love for the game. At the same time, Hawker knew he needed to find inspiration. An opportunity to pursue an internship with the St. Louis Rams filled that void. “My life changed when I worked with the Rams,” said Hawker. “I was a 2.0 (GPA) student for my first couple of years and all I cared about was playing rugby. When I got the chance with the Rams, everything in my life turned around. I wouldn’t have had that opportunity if Molly (Hudgins, current Dean of the Robert W. Plaster School of Business & Entrepreneurship) didn’t take a chance on me. She mentored me and helped me earn my first internship. I don’t know where I would be.” After finding a new passion, Hawker began to change his focus from his life-long love for rugby. He began to think about life after college and the steps he needed to pursue a career in the sports industry. “I realized that a career in sports would energize me,” said Hawker. “I found what was going to make me happy for the rest of my life. I had played rugby professionally back home, and we won national championships at Lindenwood, so I had this feeling of content when I made the decision to end my playing career. However, I was fortunate to leave a sport and immediately fill that void with a career, making the transition easier.” Hawker made a name for himself with his efforts and devotion to his job. He was offered a full-time internship with the St. Louis Rams, and began his full-time career when he took a sales job with the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA. While he struggled with sales, his hard work was nothing to scoff at. With an expiring visa, Hawker applied to get his master’s degree at Arizona State University. Acceptance into the ASU master’s program was academically challenging for Hawker, but the networking skills and hard work would pay off when he met with the director of the program. “I told him, ‘I know others might have better grades than me, but if you admit me, no one will work harder and I will succeed,” said Hawker. After waiting for a couple of months, Hawker was accepted into the master’s program at ASU. During his time of study, Hawker found his passion in student-athlete development while serving as a mentor in the athletics department. Hawker earned his master’s in sport law and business from ASU, before accepting a position as Athletic Advisor, Student- Athlete Development Coordinator & International Relations Specialist at Old Dominion University in 2020. While Hawker was completing his master’s degree at ASU, Harris signed an NFL contract with the Chicago Bears in the spring of 2019. Harris was able to play for his hometown team during his rookie season, before moving on to the Denver Broncos. With hopes of having a long career in the NFL, Harris was informed by his agent of a great opportunity from the National Football League Player Association (NFLPA) that could impact his career after football. A chance to mentor student-athletes at Old Dominion, in the field of college athletics. (continued on next pg.) Hawker on field during the Lindenwood vs. Davenport University match. Harris was a defensive powerhouse during his time at Lindenwood. Corporate partnerships team, St. Louis Rams. Harris continues his legacy with the Denver Broncos.