High School Graduation Year
2011
What did you do right after graduation? College/career/travel/military?
After graduation I went to Princeton University to study economics and continue my athletic career as a middle linebacker on the football team. While at Princeton, I was fortunate to be part of an Ivy League championship team. After four years, I earned my bachelor's degree and secured a role in sales and trading at Bank of America in New York.
Please describe DeSales in three words.
Formative, Resilient, Grounded
Where are you and what are you doing now?
I live in midtown Manhattan and continue to work at Bank of America. I recently started a new position in our real estate capital markets group. This year marks 10 years living in the city and working at the bank.
What do you like most about what you are doing?
I work in municipal fixed income, which funds public works around the country. My work can be intellectually challenging at times, and when paired with the underlying benefit of the product, it's often deeply rewarding. More than that, I've built many high-quality relationships with friends, coworkers, alumni, and family. I would consider these relationships in and outside of work to be what I value most.
What is your favorite memory about DeSales?
Playing for Mark Sander in a state championship game. We didn't win but it was unforgettable.
Who influenced you most during your time at DeSales?
My head football coach, Mark Sander, was a ferocious leader who instilled passion into his players. I believe having passion for what you do is invaluable. Sam Gilbert also influenced me - he brought modern training philosophy to our athletic programs and was instrumental in my physical development. He was an inspiring presence: youthful, relatable, and effortlessly influential.
What classes and learning experiences did you have at DeSales that are beneficial to the work you do?
Without a doubt, my favorite teacher was Paul Houpt. He had an uncanny ability to make calculus enjoyable. You don't expect to be cracking up in math class, but Mr. P had jokes - and he was just a really cool dude.
What is the most important thing you learned while you were at DeSales?
How to handle adversity. Being a student-athlete is full of ups and downs - managing injuries, handling losses on the field and in the classroom, getting into trouble, JUGs, overcoming obstacles, bouncing back, winning. All of it requires discipline and execution, which only come with experience. And DeSales offers the right environment for that experience if you are motivated to find it.
What advice do you have for current (or potential) students at DeSales?
Open up your curiosity to the world. If you don't care about something, you'll never learn about it. If you're not looking for anything, you'll never find anything. At the core of all knowledge gained and experience had is curiosity - to know more, to see more, to do more. Also go to the gym.
What is your favorite DeSales Event? Why?
Nothing beats Friday night lights. No explanation needed.
What do you like to do in your free time?
By ranking of time invested, my answer must be lifting weights. Nothing makes me feel better than self-improvement. But I also enjoy adrenaline-driven activities like skiing, scuba diving, cycling in the city, motorcycle trips, flying planes with my brother, and traveling. I have been fortunate enough to see many parts of the world. I also have a large network of college football friends from around the country, and we do a good job staying in touch and planning great trips every year.
What is something people may not know about you?
I broke my leg skiing in Zermatt, Switzerland and had to be helicoptered off the mountain into a hospital in the Alps for emergency surgery. I now have a nice long Swiss metal plate in my tibia.
Do you still stay in touch with any of your DeSales friends?
Yes of course! I've had some visit NYC over the years, and I make trips back to Louisville occasionally. In fact, I'm probably due for a Derby outing with the boys next year.
What’s next for you/where do you see yourself in five years?
Probably make like a billion dollars or something. I'll figure it out.