Employment Guide: Malecki a prime example of Pitt’s “Panther Game Plan” program

If you think your job search is hard, you probably haven’t met John Malecki.

Malecki, the… If you think your job search is hard, you probably haven’t met John Malecki.

Malecki, the former Pitt football defensive-tackle-turned-offensive-lineman, took home all-Big East honors in 2009. But he isn’t having the easiest time finding a job in the NFL.

Malecki wasn’t selected in the 2010 NFL Draft and ended up signing with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent this past April.

Since that time, he has been waived by the Titans, signed by the Cleveland Browns, waived by the Browns, signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, released by the Buccaneers, signed again by the Browns, released by the Browns and picked up again by the Buccaneers, with whom he is currently under contract.

It’s been a whirlwind first season for Malecki, but his experience is fairly typical of athletes pursuing a professional career.

It’s especially difficult for NFL hopefuls to find a job. After all, the average career of a player in the NFL is just three and a half years.

Malecki was fully aware of this when he started out.

“I knew my opportunity would be small and slim,” Malecki said. “I knew it was going to be hard to get a look. I would have given it a 25 to 30 percent chance that I would have made it.”

But if Malecki’s estimation was correct, his chances were relatively good. The NFL Players’ Association notes that out of approximately 100,000 high school seniors that play football every year, 9,000 go on to play in college and just 215 of those players will ever make an NFL roster.

With those odds, having a backup plan becomes crucial.

“For me, it was always important to make sure that I had my degree and I was graduating,” Malecki said. “In the NFL, the joke is that [‘NFL’] means ‘not for long,’ and it’s definitely true.”

Pitt’s athletic department hopes its student athletes will excel after college, regardless of whether they end up playing professional sports. With this in mind, Pitt initiated the “Panther Game Plan” program in 1995.

The program’s self-stated mission is to “provide a holistic experience for Pitt student-athletes utilizing educational, athletic and community resources and to prepare them for success during and after their collegiate experience.”

Career development is a crucial aspect of “Panther Game Plan,” and former Pitt offensive lineman Penny Semaia is a driving force in helping student-athletes map out their futures.

Semaia, currently Pitt’s assistant athletic director for student life, heads what is called Pitt’s “Life Skills Program.” It’s his job to make sure that student-athletes are prepared for life after school, both on and off the field.

“We want to make sure we have a base process for all student-athletes,” Semaia said. “One thing we want all of our student-athletes to understand is that life continues on, even beyond the sports. How we advise them is to prepare everything for a career beyond their sport, and if they have the opportunity [to play professionally], we’ll face that time when it comes.”

Semaia’s influence reaches beyond Pitt’s current pool of student-athletes. During one of Malecki’s runs as a free agent, Semaia was available to help him set up interviews for management and sales positions in the Pittsburgh area.

Semaia emphasizes the importance of avoiding tunnel vision in life, no matter what students plan on doing for a living. He says that preparation is a critical component of success.

“It’s all about your thinking process and your decision-making process,” Semaia said. “What is going to be the best outcome for you, your family and those that you love?”

For some student-athletes, this process yields a decision to leave Pitt prior to graduation and enter a professional league’s draft.

Just as he does with any student-athlete, Semaia helps draft-bound players establish their priorities and make a plan for their future.

“They have to maintain their objectives,” Semaia said. “What are they trying to accomplish by declaring? What are they trying to accomplish by pursuing a professional career?”

Semaia sees his job as simply helping each of Pitt’s student-athletes live up to the motto that is displayed in the lobby of the Petersen Events Center: “Only Big Dreams.”

“Dream big,” Semaia said. “We will help you achieve those [dreams]. We also want to prepare you for success in life as well.”