About LAND | Life After Notre Dame
Built by athletes, for athletes. LAND makes sure no Notre Dame student-athlete, team manager, or athletic trainer is left to navigate life after sport alone. We turn the edge of the cliff into a runway: fast, confidential, and hands-on so everyone has a place to LAND.
The jersey is proudly hung up for the last time. The ball is left on the field for others to pick up. The next step in life’s journey awaits, yet the gameplan can feel uncertain and overwhelming.
LAND provides the tools and resources necessary to empower former student-athletes and managers to succeed in their post-athletic careers. Our services include career transition coaching, innovation and entrepreneurship training, mental wellness and safety net navigation, physical healthcare and rehabilitation guidance, and emergency assistance.
Our Founders & Leadership
Life After Notre Dame (LAND) began in 2019 with a philanthropic gift from Jack Shields, Sr. (ND ’83) and his wife Kathy Shields in support of the football program Jack proudly played for. In 2022, LAND expanded to serve all 26 varsity sports with the support of founding member Pat Eilers (ND ’89). Together with LAND CEO Dr. Tom Carter III (ND ’95), these leaders built a personalized model of care that connects former athletes with the resources they need, while fostering a strong alumni community committed to the “4-for-Forever” promise.
Who’s Eligible
- Any former Notre Dame athlete who practiced or played a varsity sport—no minimum time required; graduation status doesn’t matter.
- Varsity team managers and athletic trainers.
- Referrals can be anonymous, and every intake is confidential.
What We Do
Cost & Coverage
Career services are provided at no cost. Provider fees may apply for clinical care. Emergency aid is available to eligible individuals after a brief internal review.
How it Works
Buddy System → LAND Connection → Customized Plan
A teammate, coach, or alum flags someone in need—or the athlete comes directly to us. We mobilize quickly and build a tailored plan across career, mental health, physical rehab, entrepreneurship, and emergency support.
Why This Matters
Every year, thousands of college athletes play their last game. Most will not go pro, and many face identity shifts, lingering injuries, and financial stress just as the crowd noise fades. That is where people fall through the cracks. LAND is the net and the launchpad.
Proof of Impact
- 500+ Notre Dame athletes served across all of our pillars
- A structured buddy system and class-rep network opening doors for jobs, mentorship, and clinical care
- Formal University partnership supporting life-after-sport services for Notre Dame athletes
- The LANDing Pad app unifying alumni across 26 sports with high engagement and customized career placement
You cheered when it was 4th-and-short. Now it is 4th-and-life for someone you would recognize from the locker room. If we do not step in, a teammate slips into debt, depression, or silence. If we do, they find care, land a job, or build a company. This is how Notre Dame keeps its “4-for-Forever” promise by making sure everyone has a place to LAND.
