More than 94

More Than 94

Welcome to "More than 94", the podcast that breaks the stereotype that college athletes can only go pro in sports. In each episode, we interview former collegiate athletes who have found success in non-sports careers after graduation. Join us as we explore the personal stories and unique journeys of these individuals, and how their experiences as athletes have prepared them for success in other fields. From business to entertainment, law enforcement to entrepreneurship, our guests prove that the skills and mindset developed through athletics can be applied to any profession.

  1. FEB 14

    Former College Athlete Jahbari McLennan on Identity After Sports, Sales Lessons, and NIL Money Management | More Than 94

    n this episode of More Than 94, host Shania interviews her husband, former athlete Jahbari McLennan, about redefining success after sports. Jahbari recounts starting with baseball, playing multiple sports in middle and high school in Austin, Texas (John H. Reagan), then focusing on football, attending Trinity Valley Community College for two years, and transferring to Arkansas State University where he met Shania. He explains the defining moment when he chose to walk away from pursuing a professional football career due to injuries, an underwhelming senior year, financial realities of training for pro day (including an offer to train with Brandon Kennedy in Fayetteville), and a growing focus on faith and identity beyond athletics. Jahbari details his transition into the workforce—networking to find banking opportunities at Regions Bank, facing low starting pay and limited raises, and pivoting into sales through Vector Marketing/Cutco (door-to-door knife sales) where he learned perseverance and handling rejection, later selling cars, and eventually becoming a full-time real estate agent, investor, and coach. The conversation explores how athletic habits translate into entrepreneurship—relationship-building, practicing more than performing, training for objections, and learning to have hard conversations—while challenging the idea that Division I athletics automatically builds time management since schedules are largely managed for athletes. They discuss the need for discipline, consistency, boundaries, delegation, and building a team to avoid becoming a slave to the business. Shania and Jahbari also address misconceptions that athletic success always equals strong work ethic, noting that talent can carry some athletes without discipline and that poor coaching can model weak leadership. Living near Texas A&M in the NIL era, they discuss gaps in financial education for young athletes, including taxes, asset-building, people skills, trust, and the risks of wasting money early. Jahbari shares practical advice for graduating athletes not going pro: develop curiosity outside sports, study fields of interest like you would study the game, consider leaving home to grow in new environments, and prioritize community and character development (including being part of a healthy church). The episode closes with a brief discussion of their marriage as two opposite personalities and how accepting differences has strengthened their relationship.

    45 min

About

Welcome to "More than 94", the podcast that breaks the stereotype that college athletes can only go pro in sports. In each episode, we interview former collegiate athletes who have found success in non-sports careers after graduation. Join us as we explore the personal stories and unique journeys of these individuals, and how their experiences as athletes have prepared them for success in other fields. From business to entertainment, law enforcement to entrepreneurship, our guests prove that the skills and mindset developed through athletics can be applied to any profession.