Athletics and Ambition

For most student-athletes, committing to one sport at the collegiate level is a lifelong dream. For Colin Freer, a single sport was never enough.

A student in the Robins School’s Master of Science in Management program, Freer has been an athlete all his life, beginning his football career at seven years old. “Sports became a central part of my life in high school,” he said. As a freshman in high school, he committed to Princeton University’s men’s lacrosse team, but continued to pursue his love of sports, earning 10 varsity letters across football, basketball, and lacrosse, and serving as team captain for both two teams. “My favorite sport was always whatever season I was in at the time.” 

After four years on the lacrosse team at Princeton, Freer set his sights on achieving another athletic goal – playing Division I football. Using his extra year of eligibility, he entered the transfer portal his senior year. Unsure of his chances, Freer reached out directly to the entire coaching staff at University of Richmond, sharing his high school football highlights and asked for an opportunity to join the team as a walk-on.

After a few conversations with Russ Huseman, head coach, Freer was offered a spot on the team as a defensive lineman.

“It took a lot of guts for Colin to come here as a walk-on after not playing football for four years. He was a nice addition to our team. Very hard worker and a great teammate,” Huseman said. “He will be a Spider for life.”

Freer’s experience on the Spider’s football team and in the business school taught him to appreciate the impact strong culture can have on success. “The football team is built on core values like hard work, resilience, and a team-oriented approach to achieving goals,” he said. This past season, those values translated into tangible results, as the Spiders clinched the CAA Championship.

While excelling on the field, Freer has also embraced the cohort experience of the MSM program. “Our tight-knit group brings together diverse backgrounds and skill sets. We have a collaborative learning environment where everyone thrives,” he said. “It is a team-oriented atmosphere, and the professors prioritize the success and growth of each student.”

One course in particular, Leading Teams for Innovative Change, taught by Mickey Quinoñes, dean of the school, left a lasting impact on Freer. “It set the tone for my experience in the program,” he said. “As I begin to set out on life after sports, I look forward to applying Dean Quinoñes’ core lesson from our leadership class, which is to balance confidence with humility in order to drive collaboration and innovation.” 

As Freer prepares for graduation, he is ready for the next chapter. He accepted a position at Centerview Partners, an investment bank focused on mergers and acquisitions, as an analyst. Though his time as a student-athlete is coming to an end, the discipline, leadership, and resilience he cultivated on the field and in the classroom will continue to drive his success in the professional world.