Like when hitting, Ian Choy has a plan (for ex-players)
By Ian Choy
The Terriers mission is “to be the defining force in developing student athletes who become successful young men on and off the playing field.”
I am hoping to help contribute to the success of student athletes off the playing field by helping them transition into life after sports.
Having been part of the inaugural 2006 season, I was on the Terriers team that helped the organization set out on that mission. Hard work, talent, exceptional players, and impeccable coaches helped us gel as a team. This combination resulted in an Ontario league championship, a US Sandlot Baseball World Series championship, and more importantly numerous collegiate scholarships.
I was one of the lucky few to earn a NCAA D1 scholarship to play at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY.
My time with the Terriers helped me develop the skills I needed to step in and succeed at the collegiate level. As a freshman I was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, first-team All-Conference, and the first Metro Atlantic conference Rookie of the Year in Canisius history. Over the next three years, I was named to the All-MAAC team two more times, the All-MAAC Academic team three times, and named an ESPN the Magazine First-Team Academic All-American after my senior season.
Despite a successful collegiate career, I did not receive any interest from pro scouts. I lacked a true defensive position, and I was undersized. However, I would not take no for an answer and decided to bet on myself. I found out through Mike Goemans, a former teammate at Canisius and fellow Terrier alumni, that a major-league affiliated pro league named the Australian Baseball League (ABL) was holding open tryouts and would host pro players from across the world.
Within a few weeks we had secured host families through a local ball club and we were on our way to Australia. The tryouts went well, and I was signed to a season-long contract with the Canberra Cavalry. I not only made the opening roster but also worked my way into the starting lineup. This starting line-up consisted of numerous players that went on to play in the majors, the most notable being current Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Didi Gregorius.
When Ian Choy played in Australia
After the season I returned home to Canada and continued my pursuit of a pro career in North America. Unfortunately, once again I did not receive any interest. As a result, I had to make the tough decision whether I wanted to go back to Australia or focus on my life after sports.
I recalled a conversation with a former teammate; he shared that he was in the minor leagues for 10 years and made it as high as triple-A. My teammate explained the harsh reality of life in the minors. While in the minors, he had little savings, was on the road all the time, and did not have the chance to start a family of his own. This knowledge had an impact on my decision.
I decided that I had achieved my goal of playing pro ball in Australia and instead of continuing to pursue baseball I would focus on my career after sports. This is where my real struggle began.
I had little work experience outside of athletics. Every moment of my spare time was dedicated to preparing my mind and body for success at the highest level of competition.
Consequently, I did not have the ability to pursue internships during the summers or part time jobs during under grad. I was also not able to attend college job fairs or campus recruiting events due to my athletic commitments. Despite having graduated with honours, I lacked a professional network and work experience to help me transition into the “real world.” It took me over a year to secure a part-time job as a bank teller, and almost another year before I found meaningful employment in Finance with a six-month paid internship at TD Bank.
The internship on the surface seemed like it was a step backward. However, I recognized that this was an opportunity to get my “foot in the door” that I had not previously had. I needed to take a chance on myself. I needed to prove I could do this; I could be asset in a new field. Since then, I have held several different successful banking roles in both the USA and Canada. Currently, I am a vice president of model risk management at TD Bank.
I feel athletes already possess many of the skills that employers are looking for, but often are overlooked due to a lack of work experience. This inspired me to start an organization to help athletes facing similar circumstances through what I am calling Athletes Excelling After Sports (AEAS). The purpose of AEAS is to support athletes as they transition into the professional fields of their choice.
Additionally, I want to help employers recognize the valuable transferable skills athletes possess that make them an asset to their organization. Athletes should not be disadvantaged for tirelessly working hard, often year-round, to be the best they can be at their respective sport. Grit, commitment and coachability are qualities employers value.
I have witnessed this firsthand. Many of the skills I gained during the pursuit of my professional baseball career prepared me for success in my current field.
My vision for AEAS goes well beyond helping athletes secure employment. I am also looking to start a program which will provide ongoing support and continuous development opportunities to athletes. We know athletes train year-round and may not have the ability to pursue an internship or a part time job. We also recognize that some athletes may have family commitments in addition to their academics and athletics.
The AEAS program works around their busy schedules to make sure that they obtain a broad range of professional development opportunities such as: independent research projects, case studies, technical skills, soft skills, resume writing, public speaking, and interview preparation. Students can work with AEAS trainers and mentors in their free time. This will allow athletes to obtain the same work skills often obtained during an internship in a more flexible manner.
More importantly, regular check-ins with our athletes will help to provide them with the necessary support to thrive post athletics. AEAS is committed to seeing each athlete flourish both professionally and personally.
When my athletic career ended, I felt lost. I hope to prevent other athletes from experiencing the same feelings and challenges. My commitment to my fellow student athletes is to make sure they feel supported, to see that their hard work does not go unnoticed, and to work with employers who recognize the transferable skills athletes possess.
Ian Choy was a charter member of the Intercounty Terriers when they began in August of 2005. He moved on to play outfield for the Canisius College Golden Griffs where he was first Metro Atlantic conference Rookie of the Year in school history. In his career, he hit .348 with 45 doubles, one triple, 19 homers and 142 RBIs in 213 games. Choy earned a spot on the Canadian Baseball Network Second Team as DH in 2009-10 and was a Third Team All-Canadian in 2007. He also played for the Mississauga Twins in the Intercounty League before heading Down Under to play for the Canberra Cavalry in Australia.
Editor’s note: We’re told that there is zero cost for athletes or former players. Choy’s goal is to work with large companies on both sides of the border that are always looking for entry level talent. Hopefully, these companies would act as corporate sponsors allowing him to add specialized personnel to provide ongoing support as AEAS grows. Essentially working as a staffing agency for these big companies but focusing on student-athletes as my clients.
AEAS contact information and to learn more: