In The Huddle

EP#52: From Golf Recruit To Recruiting Mentor: Introducing Our New Team Member, Jarrod Mann

• Study & Play USA • Season 3 • Episode 16

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What if you could navigate the challenges of being a student-athlete in a foreign country while chasing your dreams of professional sports? Meet Jarrod Mann, our newest team member and recruiting mentor at Study and Play USA! 

Jarrod takes us through his incredible journey from the junior golf courses of Australia to earning a scholarship at Eastern Arizona Community College. He shares his trials and triumphs, from managing homesickness to forming lifelong bonds with his teammates. Hear how he balanced his expectations and leveraged his college experience to gear up for a promising professional golf career in Europe.

Jarrod’s passion for mentoring the next generation of student-athletes shines through as he discusses his desire to help them achieve a balance between sports and academics. Listen as he talks about his admiration for Tiger Woods, his favourite American sports team—the LA Lakers, and his dream of playing at Augusta National. 

Recounting his best golfing day at Quintero in Arizona, Jarrod's enthusiasm is infectious. Don't miss this episode full of insights, personal stories, and valuable advice for any aspiring student-athlete. Get ready to be inspired by Jarrod's journey and his commitment to guiding others toward their dreams.

Chris Bates:

In the Huddle was created to give student athletes, parents and coaches an inside look at the journey through US college sport and all that comes with it the demands, the experiences, the excitement and the opportunities available to our student athletes from around the world.

Chris Bates:

Study and Play USA facilitates a comprehensive, customised approach for student athletes andletes and families for their whole journey, from their high school preparation years right through to US college graduation. Hi, folks, delighted to introduce a brand new team member to our listeners, a new team member of our Study and Play USA team, and we're going to hear about his role, his background and how he's going to inspire student-athletes along this pathway. So, jared Mann, welcome to our latest In the Huddle episode. Mate, thanks for having me. It's awesome to have you in the podcast, but equally as exciting to have you as part of the team. Mate. Look, I reckon a good place to start is obviously. I know the answer to this, but if you can just describe your role that we've brought you in here, yeah, so you guys have brought me in to be a recruiting mentor.

Jarrod Mann:

So basically helping people facilitate almost the entire journey from first point of contact with study and play all the way through to graduation.

Chris Bates:

So, yeah, yeah, awesome mate. We're excited about that. That, and even just the words of recruiting mentor, that sums up pretty well. That's, that's what we do in terms of the mentoring part of it. Um, what do you think the modern student athlete needs mentoring in along this pathway the most? Do you think you know where do you see that role going with the mentoring?

Jarrod Mann:

perspective. Probably the biggest thing is, uh, it's just such a big shift from australia to the united states. You know um, all through high school you're living with your family, um, in most cases, or you know um, if you're in boarding school, it's a little bit easier for you, I'd say. But living with the family, spend your whole life at home, it's a a big, big adjustment moving over to the States, so it's really just helping balance expectations and homesickness and what the whole experience is going to be like, yeah, that's great and you've done it, so that helps too, albeit a few years ago now.

Chris Bates:

So I guess, talk us through that, mate. How did you end up going to the us, and where'd you go and just give us an overview of your whole, uh, us college golf experience?

Jarrod Mann:

yeah, so, um, luckily, I had friends that had gone through you guys. They're a few years older than me but grew up playing junior golf without a comparacera Country Golf Club and they'd gone over and it just seemed like the greatest thing ever. Every time they'd come back for Christmas or summer break, they'd meet me up on the golf course. That's all they'd chat about, and obviously I spent my entire childhood watching even watching the NCAA golf, watching the PGA Tour just wanted to get over to America. So, yeah, I engaged yourself and yeah, you guys helped me get over there and I ended up signing a scholarship with Eastern Arizona Community College.

Chris Bates:

And how did you find you went for two years and came back for sort of family reasons after that. So for those that are not aware of the system over there junior college, two years. The idea from there is you then progress, if you want to, onto a four-year college to finish your final two years, which you had the opportunity to do. You were doing really well. You came home for other reasons, but, yeah, how did you find those two years? What were some of the highlights, mate? I loved it.

Jarrod Mann:

I miss it every day. I still talk to the boys that I was teammates with and roommates with over there. It was definitely very different Living in a dorm on a campus. Community college was a smaller town but like an hour and a half away from Phoenix major city, so spent most weekends there, but I absolutely adored it and would go back in a heartbeat.

Chris Bates:

Yeah, no, that's awesome. I love hearing that because that's the way it should be right. And if we talk, if we just stick on the golf, because I remember you were a good golfer when you went, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to go and you came back a better player and you just kept going from strength to strength and haven't seen you on a golf course lately and but for more reports, you're still killing it. So talk us through that post college journey to you know, obviously, trying to get your ticket to play professionally and and where that took you and maybe some of the learnings and and and. Yeah, generally that whole story.

Jarrod Mann:

Yeah. So I believe really the biggest thing I learned from college golf was I did. I want to be a professional golfer. The life of a college golfer is very similar. There's a lot of responsibility, you're playing a different course week in, week out. Basically You're playing against the best golfers. You really get to understand whether that's a life you want to lead and live, and I loved it. So I definitely wanted to have a crack and so I ended up playing a little bit of professional golf over in the UK, a little bit through Europe. So I played over there Very expensive. Obviously, covid was a bit of an issue and made things very difficult, but I definitely learned from college that that's something I wanted to do and I did really enjoy chasing that dream?

Chris Bates:

Yeah great. And where to now? Where to now that being a golfer age becomes less of a factor in your sport, right? So is that door closed for now or closed forever? What's your thoughts on the professional front?

Jarrod Mann:

Oh, the door's never closed. I'd say with golf, like you've always got, that there's obviously like senior tours, all that sort of stuff. I just felt for my time being I'd been playing golf semi, you know, professionally, at high, amateur level for a long time and I just got a little bit burnt out, a little bit tired and I just want to get back to just enjoying the game I love. You know it becomes a grind, which you've got to love the grind if you want to get there. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, yes, but um, yeah, I just at that point where I was just like you know, I'm happy to just play with the boys on a weekend and, and yeah, start starting a bit of work yeah, no, that's great.

Chris Bates:

and work you are, and and obviously we're delighted to have you here because, uh, even just you know you relaying your story there you've you know what it's like to be thinking about going to America on this path and planning it and getting to a level good enough. You know what it's like to live it and that was obviously a pretty positive experience for you as well. Beyond that, and how it is settling into life out of college and the ups and downs of trying to be a professional and what other options become available to you through you know that college experience. So we're delighted to have you here. We think you're going to be an incredibly good asset to our families that we work with and our golfers, and we look forward to our golfers meeting you and working with you. So that's great. And I guess there's other thing I think I'd love for the listeners to know about you, which we think is pretty cool as well, is the awesome work that you're doing with some special needs golfers. You want to talk about that a bit, mate?

Jarrod Mann:

Yeah, so it just happened by sheer coincidence I was playing a fair bit and my coach my swing coach was actually coaching a special needs golfer and he just was watching me hit balls. His parents just asked if I compete, which I do, and they just said, hey, we'd love to come watch you play. He came and watched a few of my tournaments and we just struck up a real bond and just became friends and so for a period of time there I was just taking him out on the golf course, just helping him get out, and it's kind of grown to where. I've been involved in the Special Olympic community here in Queensland and got to know a bunch of awesome athletes that are unreal at the game of golf and really switched on when it comes to competing at that level.

Jarrod Mann:

And so Dylan Price is probably a shout out to him. He's the golfer I've been working with for a while. He actually is an Olympian now. He's a bronze medalist at the World Championship stage. So over in Berlin last year so I got to caddy for him at the National Championships where he won gold, which is brilliant, but yeah, he's now officially an Olympian represented Australia and yeah, it's brilliant seeing them just kick goals left, right and centre.

Chris Bates:

Yeah, well done, that's awesome. And well done to Dylan. He's obviously going to appreciate that shout out as well. But yeah, kudos to you too, because obviously that's something that it's something you probably haven't had practised in before you doing it. So you're learning on the run and obviously done a really good job, the proofs in the pudding there, with Dylan's results. So that's awesome, mate. And again, that's another. I think it's a great thing that we hope that you're able to continue, because I can see when you talk about it, your sort of eyes light up when you talk about that role, even when we first spoke to you about this role.

Chris Bates:

But yeah, just moving just backward a little bit, jared, I think one of the things that I'd like to quickly get you to share with listeners as well is and I hope you don't mind me saying you're well into your 20s now, so you're experienced, right, and so you can now look back, after a considerable distance of time or amount of time, back on your college experience to now. We've had COVID. In the meantime, we've had all those things. What do you think is the biggest difference now, if you were Jared Mann going to college next year, to what you were going? You know, eight to ten years ago, when you first went, what's the biggest difference for a young golfer, let's say, looking to go in the college experience looking to go in the college experience.

Jarrod Mann:

The biggest difference that I see from when I went over to now is basically just the knowledge of the game, of everything that's involved to create an elite program, elite players. Obviously, the game of golf is something that's really adapted and changed a lot over the last 20 years, probably thanks to Tiger Woods. Realistically, when it comes to diet, gym workout, the advancing golf equipment, launch monitors now becoming a thing, it's something that universities have really grabbed a hold of and noticed that that's a big key part of creating elite and awesome golfers. So that's probably the biggest thing is the facilities and how much they're putting into their athletes has probably just been tuned up a bit extra.

Chris Bates:

Yeah, look, sometimes we're in this industry and have been for a long time, and so we sometimes don't see it because we're in it. But from your point, having gone outside this industry and doing your own thing, now coming back in as an adult, um, you know what, what are the biggest changes like? For us, it seems like gosh, this is. This is such a growing pathway, and we know that because we see it. But what's your take on that? Like it must be, you must feel like there's so much more interest in college sport now than there was even when you went over.

Jarrod Mann:

Right yeah, it's uh. It's interesting because obviously, being in the states you realize, like how massive sport college sports is over there and how it's treated by the people over there and it's not as much really known over here at all. But obviously that knowledge is growing and it's growing pretty fast and it's awesome to see that it's getting exposure, because for myself, I just think golf it's almost where you need to be is the States and the fact that so many young talents are now finding out and without having to have someone shove it in their face to be like hey, did you know this was there, what are you talking about? So it's awesome seeing that knowledge and awareness that's starting to go out there in the community.

Chris Bates:

Yeah, and I guess, looking back for you you to those, uh, young lads that you said at your at your um local club at capera, who'd been and done it through this pathway, and that was something that sparked for you I said, the more of those people that are getting around golf courses around australia, the more likely they are to be talking to younger kids, and that that's probably the number one reason why I think it's growing. More and more people are doing it and therefore that gets carried on to the younger generation. So that's certainly really cool to hear that as well from you. But I suppose, yeah, what I'm curious about also hearing from you is in terms of your role with study and play. You are not going to be just working with golfers. Even though golf is your baby, so to speak. Much as tennis is mine, I obviously work across all sports as well. What do you think are the things that you know, regardless of the sport? What are the things you're most looking forward to helping student athletes with in terms of um, this role?

Jarrod Mann:

just getting over. There is the big thing. Um, it's. It's awesome to sort of feel like I'm helping facilitate sort of a dream. It's one thing that a lot of young athletes, regardless of the sport, you envision yourself being on a big stage competing against the best, and I feel like this is a way of helping them achieve that and really push forth into the space of whatever sport they're playing. And if they want to get to that professional level or just want to compete at a super high level while getting a degree, it's just awesome knowing that you're helping people chase a dream and that's really impactful.

Chris Bates:

Yeah, well said. Well, you've come to the right place. I think we're going to be on a pretty cool journey together While you're here, mate, we're looking forward to our student-athletes benefiting from your knowledge that's a key word that you've used a lot today but also your passion, which is pretty evident as well. So, mate, just going to wrap it up, we've got a quick podcast today to introduce you. I'm sure you're going to be on more of our episodes coming ahead in the upcoming episodes, but a few little quickfire questions. Mate, very curious to know. Put you on the spot. No prep for this. Who's your favourite all-time athlete?

Jarrod Mann:

Tiger Woods oh, I knew you were going to say that I knew you were going to say that and give us one reason why. Mentality. He's just undeniable, Simple as that. You just can't beat him. He's just record just how he went about it. Just ruthless. Awesome, love it and favourite food that's a loaded question, but I'll go steak okay, and and what about when you're in the us?

Chris Bates:

what was your favorite us uh food in an outbagger in an outbagger was so good, I miss it every day no, no, young athletes, of course you are allowed to have the occasional cheat meal over there, and obviously that was yours, mate. Oh, yeah, so good Favourite American sporting team.

Jarrod Mann:

LA Lakers, Basic, basic. But I still ride or die with them, still watch them all the way through.

Chris Bates:

Good on you. Favourite all-time player for the Lakers Kobe Bryant yeah Easy, there's a theme. Lakers, kobe Bryant yeah Easy, there's a theme. There's some seriously good athletes there that you're talking about. Look, let's wrap it up with, I think, a golf question. I think it's one to finish on, but favorite golf course in the world that you A have not played on, that you'd like to play on, and the best one that you've played on.

Jarrod Mann:

Well, the obvious one that I haven't played on is Augusta National. Got to play Augusta. I don't know if I'll ever get the opportunity, but I've been there. Got to go to the Masters in 2016 where Danny Willett won when Jordan Spieth a little bit of a hack job on the back nine, but the course was just magical. It just made me want to play it so bad. But the best I've played in the world is probably Quintero in Arizona, just outside Phoenix, carved in the mountains, in the desert. It's just unbelievable what they can do. It was just the best day I've ever had on a golf course.

Chris Bates:

Is that through your college experience? Is that representing the university at the time or was that separate to that?

Jarrod Mann:

It was separate. It was actually just some friends I made over there just made good. Basically I call them family now. But yeah, they were friends I made over there, just made good. Basically I call them family now. But you know, they were friends I made over there and it was just in a summer break, went and played golf and they went hey, you've got to play this course. It's unreal, come out with us. And I did and unreal Awesome.

Chris Bates:

That's awesome. Well, look until you get to Augusta National, right? We're just so pleased to have you here, jared. And look, if you do get over to Augusta, we just expect tickets. Right, that's the only deal working here at Studying Play USA, but we hope you can do it. But for now, look fantastic to get to know you a little bit more, and hopefully our listeners will get to meet you in person in due course. So thanks for coming along.

Jarrod Mann:

All right. Thanks for having me Appreciate it.