Fall 2024 NDFB Player Development Semester Report
2024 Fall Semester Player Development Recap
The Notre Dame football program's Fall 2024 Player Development Report demonstrates the continued evolution of our Project UnlockND program (Formerly TransceND - Close the Gap) and our Peer-Oriented Development (POD) methodology.
The Fall 2024 semester presented unique opportunities and challenges as our football program navigated a successful regular season campaign culminating in an 11-1 record and a likely College Football Playoff berth. Throughout this period, our player development initiatives maintained steady progress, with a particular focus on building sustainable habits, fostering peer oriented development, and maximizing development opportunities for all student-athletes.
Program Implementation
Building on our POD framework, this semester saw the continued evolution of our Project UnlockND program through three primary channels:
1. Peer-Led Development
Padawan program expansion from 2 to 18 players
Weekly Monday accountability meetings
Focus on habit formation and time management
2. Community Engagement
Structured service at Ronald McDonald House on home games Fridays.
Educational outreach to three local schools
Player-led initiatives including holiday drives and youth mentorship
3. Professional Development
Introduction of Coffee Chat Fridays program for injured players
Direct connections with Notre Dame alumni network
Focus on relationship-building over transactional networking
Key Metrics
Service Impact
5 visits to the Ronald McDonald House
3 community focused educational programs established
10 special community initiatives
Network Engagement
10 injured players participating in weekly professional development
15 alumni actively engaged in mentorship
10 sustained mentor-mentee relationships established
Leadership Development
18 players committed to weekly accountability meetings
Implementation of structured goal-setting framework
Integration of habit-tracking systems
Looking Forward
As we prepare for postseason competition and Spring 2025, our focus remains on maintaining consistent development programming while adapting to the demands of our student athletes. The foundations established this fall provide a strong platform for continued growth in 2025.
The Padawan Program: Process-Driven Excellence
The Padawan program emerged from a simple commitment: two players seeking to become the best version of themselves. What began as weekly Monday meetings last season (2023) with no formal structure has evolved into a systematic approach to player development, growing from those initial two members to 18 dedicated student-athletes this season. The Padawan Program has both laid, the foundation for our PODs (Peer Oriented Development) methodology and highlighted the power of peer-led development in creating sustainable success.
The Padawan Program: Focus on Process
The Fall 2024 season provided a clear illustration of why process-oriented development matters more than outcomes. After opening with a victory at Texas A&M, we faced adversity with a devastating loss to Northern Illinois the following week. This moment of challenge reinforced the core principle of our team: success comes from consistent dedication to daily habits and processes, not just results.
Our Padawan group has met every Monday since the first day of training camp to focus on a simple but powerful question: "What is our process for progress?"
The answer lies in the program's systematic approach to identifying and closing gaps. Rather than focusing solely on outcomes (becoming a starter, achieving All-American status), the methodology centers on understanding current reality versus desired outcomes across multiple dimensions:
Coaching feedback and skill development
Strength and conditioning and nutrition metrics
Academic performance and trustworthiness
Personal development areas
This gap analysis then translates into specific, actionable habits designed to "win the day." The process emphasizes:
Clear identification of current position
Detailed understanding of desired outcome
Systematic breakdown of gaps
Development of daily habits to close those gaps
Core Framework
The Padawan program operates on three fundamental principles:
Present-Focused Development
Weekly intention setting
Specific, actionable goals
Focus on controllable behaviors
Habit Formation
Breaking down aspirations into daily actions
Time management systems
Organizational frameworks
Peer Accountability
Weekly progress sharing
Collective problem-solving
Habit refinement based on group feedback
Practical Implementation
Padawan meetings focus on concrete aspects of player development:
Time management strategies
Organizational systems
Academic planning
Football preparation methods
Practice habits
When a player identifies a gap, the group helps break it down into manageable habits, then holds each other accountable for consistent execution.
Success Metrics
The program's impact is evident in both individual and team metrics:
Improved time management reported by all participants
Enhanced organizational skills
Academic performance improvements
On-field performance improvements
Case Study: Jaiden Ausberry
Jaiden Ausberry's development exemplifies the program's effectiveness. Starting as a redshirt last season, he approached his development methodically over the last 12 months:
Daily technical skill work
Structured film study
Faith practice integration
Consistent habit execution
His progression from redshirt to contributor this season demonstrates how process-focused development can translate to on-field success.
Integration and Future Development
The Padawan methodology now influences broader player development initiatives:
POD structure implementation
Team-wide accountability systems
Performance tracking
Holistic development approaches
As we prepare for postseason competition and look toward Spring 2025, the Padawan program continues to emphasize that true development comes through daily commitment to process, regardless of circumstances or outcomes.
Community Impact
During the Fall 2024 season, our community service initiatives maintained consistent engagement despite the demands of a competitive football season. Under Coach Freeman's leadership, the program established regular service rhythms that allowed players to make meaningful community connections while managing their athletic and academic responsibilities.
Ronald McDonald House Partnership
The team maintained a consistent presence at Ronald McDonald House throughout the season, with 3-5 players visiting every home game Friday. This allowed for:
Regular player participation on a rotating basis
Relationship building with resident families
Consistent service delivery during the season
Notable participants including Jack Kiser and Riley Leonard made multiple visits, helping establish continuity in our relationship with the facility and its residents.
Educational Outreach Programs
Madison STEAM Elementary
Regular classroom engagement with 3rd-5th grade students
Player-led initiatives:
Kahanu Kia: Game ticket donation program for four families
Benjamin Morrison: Thanksgiving drive providing meals and Christmas gift cards to 10 families
Local High Schools Six players, including Jason Onye and Luke Talich, conducted structured sessions focusing on:
Academic excellence
Leadership development
Student-athlete experience
Player Panel Five players participated in a focused discussion with local high school students, including Jeremiyah Love, and Adon Shuler addressing:
Transition to college athletics and academics
Cultural adaptation
Academic success strategies
Special Initiatives
Fighting Irish Fight for Life: Mock press conference and team integration for a young community member with a rare disease
Make-A-Wish: The program hosted its first Make-A-Wish student in over a decade, creating a comprehensive Notre Dame Football experience for the student and his family.
Joyce Center Trick-or-Treat: Eight players participated in community Halloween event passing out candy to local kids
SBCSC Parent and Family Expo: Team representation at local education event
Coffee Chat Fridays Initiative
The Fall 2024 semester saw the introduction of Coffee Chat Fridays, a program designed to maximize development opportunities for players managing season-ending injuries. This initiative transformed challenging circumstances into opportunities for professional growth and relationship building.
Program Structure
Weekly participation from 8 players every home game Friday
One-on-one connections with alumni and industry leaders
Consistent Friday morning meeting schedule
Industry Engagement
Players connected with leaders from various sectors including:
Private Equity
Venture Capital
Real Estate
Technology
Law
Entrepreneurship
Consumer Packaged Goods
Social Media
Program Implementation
The structure emphasized relationship building over transactional networking:
Players joined group chats to coordinate meetings
Meetings occurred either at coffee shops or designated campus locations
Follow-up conversations were encouraged
Case Study: Kahanu Kia and Ray Connell
This relationship exemplifies the program's intended impact:
Initial connection in early fall
Weekly Friday calls maintained throughout semester
Organic relationship development
Sustained mentorship beyond initial meeting
Integration with Project UnlockND
Coffee Chat Fridays serves as a practical application of Project UnlockND's mission:
Systematic approach to network building
Focus on genuine relationship development
Integration of injured players into development programming
Creation of sustainable networking habits
Measured Outcomes
Multiple sustained mentor-mentee relationships established
Positive feedback from both players and alumni participants
Creation of new professional networking opportunities
Both initiatives demonstrate our commitment to creating structured, sustainable programs that serve our student-athletes while maintaining meaningful community engagement. As we prepare for the Spring 2025, these programs provide a foundation for continued growth and development.
Project UnlockND Integration
The Fall 2024 semester demonstrated the practical implementation of Project UnlockND's framework through structured programs and systematic engagement. While the initiative remains in its early stages, initial results show promise in creating meaningful connections between current players and the Notre Dame network.
Implementation Progress
Mapped alumni network across key industries
Established systematic approach to network engagement
Created structured pathways for player-alumni connections
Coffee Chat Integration
The Coffee Chat Fridays program served as an early proof of concept for Project UnlockND's methodology:
Systematic matching based on player interests
Focus on relationship building over transactional networking
Regular engagement opportunities
Documented success stories
Network Engagement Metrics
15+ industry leaders actively engaged
Multiple industries represented including:
Private Equity
Venture Capital
Real Estate
Technology
Consumer Goods
Law
Entrepreneurship
10 sustained mentor-mentee relationships established
Looking Ahead: Spring 2025
As we prepare for postseason competition and Spring 2025, our focus centers on three key priorities:
Postseason Development
Maintain peer-driven habit building during playoff preparation
Execute end-of-year Shop with a Player community event
Sustain mentor-mentee relationships for injured players
Program Evolution
POD Structure
Launch POD Level 2 programming
Expand peer leadership opportunities
Enhance Project UnlockND integration through:
Expanded alumni database
Refined matching algorithms
Systematic feedback mechanisms
Enhanced engagement tracking
Coffee Chat Fridays
Structured Spring 2025 implementation
Expanded industry representation
Enhanced follow-up protocols
Community Leadership
Strengthen existing relationships
Develop new service initiatives
Expand player-led community programs
The Fall 2024 semester provided valuable insights into our program's effectiveness. As we move forward, our focus remains on creating sustainable, impactful development opportunities while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to our student-athletes' evolving needs.