The Way of the Athlete ― The Role of Sports in Building Character for Academic, Business, and Personal Success

There comes a time in every competitive athlete’s life when the cheering stops and it’s time to move on to other pursuits. Written by a former Division 1 football player and Academic-All America, The Way of the Athlete argues that sports prepares athletes for this transition by instilling qualities that contribute to academic, business, and personal success.

Rob Pate draws on his own experience, together with the experiences of coaches and other athletes, to highlight the parallels between athletic achievement and attainment in other areas of life. The author looks beyond the time-honored qualities of discipline, dedication, teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership. He examines other must-have athletic attributes that help build character, including the ability to bounce back and learn from failure.

Not every athlete can make a Division 1 roster. But everyone who’s played sports can take the experience and chart a path to success in other areas of life. Written by someone who’s done precisely that, The Way of the Athlete is a guide to getting the most from the lessons that sports have to teach us.

Rob Pate was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. A four-year starter in football, basketball, and baseball, and the winner of the Class 5-A Bryant-Jordan Achievement Scholarship, he accepted an athletic scholarship to play football for the Auburn Tigers. As a four-year starter for the Tigers, he was a member of many All-Conference teams, a two-time Academic All-America All-District selection, a four-time SEC Honor Roll recipient, and the Pat Dye Leadership Award winner. He lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife of fifteen years, Dana, and their five children. He is a partner at EyeCare Associates, Inc. in Hoover, AL. Pate also co-hosts the popular Eyes on Auburn Podcast and is a columnist at AuburnSports.com.