BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Athletics has announced a new partnership with Shift Group, a career development company that specializes in helping student-athletes transition successfully into the business world. This collaboration supports BGSU Athletics' strategic mission, Forward Falcons, by empowering student-athletes with the tools, guidance, and connections they need to thrive beyond their playing days.

"As a head coach and former athlete, I know the struggle that comes with finding yourself once the game ends. That's why this partnership with Shift Group matters — it gives our student-athletes real tools, real mentors, and a roadmap for what's next," said Head Football Coach Eddie George. "We're not just preparing them for the next season, we're preparing them for the next 20 years of their lives."

As part of this partnership, Shift Group will be integrated into BGSU's Athletics Life Design Mentorship Program—providing coaching, mindset training, career development resources, and access to professional opportunities. The services provided will complement the work that is taking place on campus to support Life Design and career readiness. Together, BGSU Athletics and Shift Group will help student-athletes confidently navigate the transition from sport to career.

"BGSU Athletics is excited about this partnership and the opportunities it provides our student-athletes to prepare for life after sports," said Derek van der Merwe, Vice President for Athletics Strategy. "Our mission is to support the success of student-athletes—both in competition and in their preparation for life beyond athletics. Shift Group's vision, platform, training program, and network give our program a competitive edge in delivering on that mission."

Shift Group's support model includes 1:1 coaching, mindset assessments, personalized upskilling, interview preparation, and a long-term career community. Their approach helps athletes reframe their identity post-sport while translating the grit, discipline, and drive developed in competition into real-world success.

"College athletics shapes young men and women into focused, resilient people," said JR Butler, CEO and Founder of Shift Group. "But it also comes with a built-in identity and playbook. Our partnership with BGSU helps athletes rewire those hard-earned traits for the next chapter—and tell their story with clarity and confidence."

"This isn't just about the first job," Butler added. "It's about giving Bowling Green's student-athletes a team behind them for life."

For Shift Group, this partnership supports its mission to guide high-character, high-performance individuals into careers where their discipline, drive, and competitiveness create real impact, while helping companies tap into a proven pipeline of ready-to-win talent.

"As Coach George says, your sport is not your entire identity; it is the conduit to finding your purpose," said Dylan Rheault, Chief of Staff at Shift Group. "At Shift Group, we aim to be the conduit to helping them find their next game, identify what that purpose is, and give them the tools to go win at it."

"What stood out most when we visited campus was how much BGSU cares about its people," Rheault added. "You can feel it—from Derek and Coach George to Bryan and the entire support system. They're committed to helping their athletes reach their full potential, on and off the field."

The partnership also strengthens BGSU's Athletics Life Design Mentorship Program, which focuses on holistic development, mentorship, and career preparation to ensure student-athletes are ready for life after sport.

"Shift Group's first-class service will enhance our student-athlete experience," said Bryan Mestre, Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development: Mentorship & Life Design. "This partnership directly supports our mission to equip student-athletes with the mindset and skills they need to become competitors in their future careers."

About Shift Group

Shift Group bridges the gap between military veterans, former athletes, and the business world through coaching and career upskilling. Our mission is to help these individuals unlock their unique skills and experiences and match them with top-tier companies in need of resilient, coachable, and team-oriented professionals.

Learn more at shiftgroup.io.