LAB: Life After Ball 

 

The Utah Islanders’ LAB Initiative helps athletes win beyond the scoreboard. Through three coordinated pillars—Entrepreneurship, Trade School, and Academics—players build real skills, earn credentials, and make steady progress toward careers and degrees while competing at a high level. LAB offers advising, tutoring, partner internships, and real business start ups so every athlete can choose a primary path and (when it fits) stack a secondary one.

 

Football’s Parallels — Entrepreneurial School
Turn football instincts into business results. Football’s Parallels is a hands-on accelerator where athletes build real ventures from idea to execution. Participants test a concept, form an LLC/EIN, create a simple brand and offer, make first sales, and learn how to deliver great service. Core topics include market fit, pricing and basic finance, content and sales funnels, NIL/sponsorship literacy, contracts 101, and operations.
Outcomes: a registered micro-business or paid project, a starter portfolio (offer page, testimonials), first revenue, and a plan to scale or pivot.

 

Trade School — Workforce Services + SLCC
Skill up for high-demand careers fast. In partnership with Utah Workforce Services and Salt Lake Community College, athletes pursue industry-recognized certifications that lead directly to income. Sample pathways include HVAC, welding/fabrication, CDL/diesel tech, IT support/cyber fundamentals, and manufacturing/automation. Funding eligibility may apply; LAB staff helps navigate applications and scheduling.

Outcomes: stackable certificates and licensure where applicable, job-placement connections, and the option to stack with Entrepreneurship or SLCC classes.

 

Academics — College Classes with SLCC
Earn transferable college credit without derailing training. Athletes enroll in SLCC courses (on-campus, online, or hybrid) aligned to the season and long-term degree goals. LAB provides advising on degree maps and transfer pathways, flexible schedule planning, tutoring/study halls, and accountability check-ins.
Outcomes: completed credits toward AA/AS and transfer, resume-ready academic progress, and compatibility with Trade School or Entrepreneurship.

 

Who LAB Is For?
• Athletes launching with entrepenurial aspirations
• Athletes seeking a job-ready trade with strong earnings potential
• Athletes committed to steady degree progress and transfer options

 

How LAB Works
• Choose your primary pillar: Entrepreneurship, Trade School, or Academics
• Meet with a LAB advisor to map goals, eligibility, funding, and schedule
• Start your track—and stack additional pillars as your load allows

 

Next Steps
Apply to LAB, or meet with an advisor to design your individualized plan