By Jim Gehman, Player Engagement Insider
It has taken nearly 10 years, but former Washington Redskins safety Reed Doughty’s initial plan for a career has become a reality.
“My life after football plan was set in motion long before I ever played in the NFL,” Doughty said. “I was planning on going into either teaching or go to a physical therapy school to work in sports performance. Something kind of in that realm.
“It wasn’t until my senior year (at the University of Northern Colorado) that I even thought I would have an opportunity to play in the NFL, and so I was really deep into my academic work. I graduated with a 4.0 (grade point average), and was summa cum laude in sport and exercise science. The NFL thing came about and I was blessed with the opportunity to play eight years.”
Originally selected by Washington in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft, Doughty was released following the 2013 season. He and his family then returned to Colorado, where he worked as a communications manager for a small startup company.
However, this month, the NFL Legend landed a new job “kind of in that realm” he had in mind while in college. Doughty is the athletic director at the Cornerstone Christian Academy in the Denver suburb of Westminster, Colorado.
“It just really weighed on me to get back to my roots in athletics and help the young kids and develop a vision for our program,” Doughty said. “I have an opportunity to impact young people’s lives and build a foundation for future generations. That is why I’m so excited about taking the job and have the support of my family and my three boys to do that. It’s going to be awesome. My kids will be at the school with me. There’s just a lot of positive excitement about the opportunity.”
His goal as the athletic director at the small private school is simple.
“It’s for these kids to have the opportunity to develop skills in athletics that will be applicable throughout their lives,” Doughty said. “That’s their faith, discipline, hard work and teamwork. A big part of that is encouraging the kids, but also equipping the coaches in setting up a culture that encourages that mentorship fundamental and having fun while we’re doing it.”
One of Doughty’s first acts will be to hire a football coach. While he clearly has the background to tackle the job himself, Doughty would prefer to focus on all of the school’s athletic programs.
And much like he experienced while playing in the NFL, Doughty realizes that in his new role, he’ll be looked at as a role model.
“Whether we’re athletic directors or we’re working in business, I think we have a huge responsibility to be role models for young people and our peers, as well,” Doughty said. “It’s not something I’ve ever taken lightly and I hope that the people that I’ve been around with the Redskins and from my college team and with the business I’ve been in, realize that and see that in me. I relish the opportunity to kind of come alongside the young people and help mentor them.”