Asst. Dean Doubles as NCAA Guru

From an outside perspective, it seems that former Boston College offensive lineman and team captain Anthony Castonzo, BC '11, has the quintessential dream football story. A starter by his freshman year, Castonzo had a record-setting career that included paving the way for BC's 5,924 yards in total offense in 2007, starting 54 total games, and receiving a National Football Foundation National Scholar Award. His indisputable talent was soon recognized by the NFL, and upon graduation he was drafted as a first round pick by the Indianapolis Colts.

But this seemingly smooth path from college football to the professional league is no doubt trickier then it seems. One has to deal with agents, advisors, training camps, unions, vetted interest, all while making sure one does not violate any NCAA rules in the process. And with the NCAA rulebook clocking in at a 474 pages, the latter is difficult to navigate. That is where Warren Zola comes in.

Zola, assistant dean of the Carroll Graduate School of Management, is the chair of BC's Professional Sports Counseling Panel, an organization that advises student athletes seeking careers in professional athletics—including, but not limited to football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, men's soccer, track and field, and men's ice hockey. Appointed to this position in 2005, Zola has helped numerous BC athletes make the transition from college to professional level play, including Castonzo.

"We are a resource for student athletes and their families as they engage in the transition from BC to professional sports leagues," Zola said. "We work with students athletes and their family to assist them in their decision to try to play at a professional level. We try to gather as much information as we can so a student and their families can make an informed decision."

For Zola, as well as fellow panel member Carly Pariseau, associate director of compliance, this includes informing students about disability insurance, collective bargaining and unions, interviewing agents, and picking the right time to leave BC if they are considering an early exit from the University.

Leaving BC before graduation, Zola said, is looked at on a case-by-case basis, as it is a personal and difficult decision.

"My default is to get your education, because regardless of whether you are successful or not in athletics, sometimes your career is going to end and you are going to want to have a degree," Zola said. "That being said, individual student athletes, based on their skills and the demand for their talents by a professional league, coupled with their personal situation, both financially and academically, means it may sometimes be right for them to leave."

Interestingly enough, Zola reports to University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J. rather then the Athletic Department in assurance that he provides neutral advice to the student athlete, especially in the case of leaving early. Zola said however, that he has a good, reciprocated relationship with the Athletic Department.

"In general, BC cares tremendously about the welfare of the student athlete and what is best for him or her," Zola said. "I officially do not report to the Athletic Department, I report to Fr. Leahy. My goal is to give the best advice I can for the student athlete, and not worry about the impact on BC and whether or not we would win more games if the student returned to school."