Sun Devils 4 Life program helps former ASU athletes complete their education
Former ASU basketball player Byron Scott got his degree after enrolling in the Sun Devils 4 Life degree completion program. Courtesy photo
When Byron Scott left Arizona State University without a diploma in 1983, he made his mother a promise: He would finish his education one day.
Then life got in the way. The good life.
Scott was a first-round pick of the then-San Diego Clippers in 1983. He played in the NBA until 1997, winning three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers along the way.
He became a coach following his playing career until retiring in 2017.
Three years later, the pandemic hit. Scott had time — too much time, really — to think. And one of the things he thought about was the promise he made to his mom.
“As an athlete, you always like challenges, and the one thing I’ve always prided myself on was finishing anything I ever started,” he said. “As I started to sit back and think about some of the things I hadn’t done, I could hear my mom’s voice about getting my college degree.”
Thirty-seven years had passed. Scott wasn’t quite sure how to continue his education. Then he made a phone call and heard about ASU’s Sun Devils 4 Life degree completion program, which provides opportunities for student-athletes outside the traditional six-year window to receive post-eligibility aid in completing their degrees.
Scott enrolled in the online program and received his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies.
Promise kept.
“It’s invaluable to me,” Scott said. “You can’t put a price on it. When you give your athletes an opportunity, no matter how long they’ve been away from school, to come back and complete their college degree, it tells me so much about ASU. I’m so proud to be a Sun Devil.”
We came to the realization that it was important to offer opportunities for individuals who had donned the maroon and gold to return and finish what they started.
Jean BoydFormer deputy athletics director at ASU
Outside the Sun Devils 4 Life program, other former athletes are using ASU Online to continue or complete their education. This year alone, 35 ex-athletes are enrolled at ASU through its online services.
“ASU Online provides a flexible, accessible pathway for former Sun Devil athletes to complete their degrees, even if they left the university to pursue professional opportunities,” said Nancy Cervasio, deputy chief operating officer for EdPlus at ASU. “With its innovative online programs and student-centered approach, ASU Online ensures that these athletes can achieve their educational goals while balancing their unique commitments and responsibilities.”
Cervasio said ASU works with athletes in understanding the flexibility they need that might differ from other online students and the “value that a degree will provide them when their athletic career ends or changes.”
And one of those innovative programs is Sun Devils 4 Life. Jonathan Erwin, an assistant director in the Office of Student-Athlete Development, said the premise of the program is to aid student-athletes that were on scholarships, but at some point left ASU to pursue a professional career. Thirty-six athletes have graduated through Sun Devils 4 Life since 2016, Erwin said.
Jean Boyd, a former deputy athletics director at ASU, said the program emerged through conversations that took place in 2012 among athletic department officials.
“We came to the realization that it was important to offer opportunities for individuals who had donned the maroon and gold to return and finish what they started,” Boyd said. “Certainly, for the betterment of their life, but also for the betterment of the program.”
By its existence, the program recognizes that college-age athletes may not always place academics first when they’re in school, Boyd said.
“When you’re 18 to 22, you have different things on your mind. Different priorities,” Boyd said. “You may have this fantasy that professional sports or Olympic sports are going to be the pathways toward your future success.
“But regardless of whether you make it to the next level of your sport, it will come to an end. So if you haven’t completed your degree, and if you haven’t prepared your mindset for how to advance in life, it’s great to have that opportunity to get rerouted. We’ve seen situations where guys or gals who struggled when they were in school come back with a different mindset and get straight 'A’s.'”
The program provides funding for tuition and books, and ASU is flexible with scheduling. Some former athletes can take a full course load per semester; others may only be able to take a class or two because of family and work commitments.
“Essentially, you can walk away from here with zero debt,” said Courtney Skipper, assistant athletic director for football and men’s basketball academics.
For Scott, going back to school was a painless and stress-free experience. He called former program director Jessica Richardson an “angel” for guiding him through re-enrollment, scheduling and more. Scott initially wanted to return to campus and attend classes in person, but after learning how Sun Devils 4 Life would be available to him through the pandemic and help make up the 30 credit hours he lacked for graduation, he willingly went virtual.
“I think it was the easiest and most efficient way for me,” Scott said. “It was funny, though. In a couple of my Zoom courses, the teachers were like, 'I keep telling my husband that you’re in my class,' and they’re like, 'That can’t be the same Byron Scott.’”
Sun Devils 4 Life not only helped Scott fulfill his promise to his mother, but he was able to set an example for his grandchildren.
“I wanted to show them how important it was to me and make them understand how important education is for them,” he said. “And ASU allowed me to do that.”
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