Many children dream of becoming professional athletes at some point during their childhoods. Maybe it was watching Baltimore’s own Iron Man, Cal Ripken Jr., break Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games streak. Maybe it was when they scored their first goal in pee-wee soccer and they heard the parents going wild on the sidelines. Maybe it was the desire to win a championship and hoist a trophy in the air.
But for all but the most elite, the odds of becoming a professional athlete are pretty low. According to a report published in 2022 by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), “Fewer than 2% of NCAA student-athletes go on to be professional athletes. In reality, most student-athletes depend on academics to prepare them for life after college. Education is important. There are nearly half a million NCAA student-athletes, and most of them will go pro in something other than sports.”
Realistically, the odds are even lower in Division III. But that doesn’t mean the dream has to die. Professional sports are, after all, businesses. And businesses need all kinds of experts on their teams to win championships.
Whether recruiting the next big star for the Los Angeles Chargers, moving around the world to find a spot on a roster as a professional soccer player, keeping the Washington Capitals in top physical condition, visually telling the stories of professional athletes, or helping grow awareness of a WNBA team (and women’s sports in general), these Green Terror alumni have found ways to turn their passion for sports into careers they never could have imagined as kids.
THE SCOUTJustin Sheridan ’99National Crosschecker, Los Angeles Chargers
THE PROChloe Allen Gorman ’16Professional Soccer Player, Aalborg BK
THE TRAINERMurphy Luatua M.S. ’14Assistant Athletic Trainer, Washington Capitals
THE MARKETERKaylen Buschhorn ’22Social Media Designer, ESPN
THE EXECDan Gadd ’00Senior Vice President of Growth, Atlanta Dream
“The Green Terror football team had a heck of a run in the late ’90s and into the 2000s. I didn’t know anybody when I came to McDaniel. Now, we’ve got 12 to 15 guys from that team in a daily group text. The importance of that team to me was just seeing how we came together and the importance of player leadership. Those teams were a special group with strong connections to this day.”
— Justin Sheridan ’99, football
“Part of what made the McDaniel women’s soccer team so special was its cohesiveness. Head Coach Sandy Lagana Bly is very intentional in bringing players in and building a dynamic, family atmosphere. We’re going to have each other’s backs on and off the field. We’re going to make sure the academics are there but also that they have the right character for the group. They’re going to put the team first, and there’s going to be joy in other people’s success.”
— Chloe Allen Gorman ’16, women’s soccer and track and field
“Everybody kind of knew if you were an athlete on the Hill and wanted to support each other. That went for our professors, too. I had multiple professors ask when our next game was and whether they could attend.”
— Kaylen Buschhorn ’22, women’s lacrosse
“Having gone on a run of four straight Centennial Conference championships changed how I looked at opportunities, being part of teams, and the hard work it takes to be on a team that had that kind of run. We were all very committed to it, and I could not have imagined having a better college experience in terms of finding the right people in the right situation. It’s one of the periods of my life I look back on with the biggest smile on my face.”
— Dan Gadd ’00, football