Bluffton University

From player to coach

02/24/2025

During a summer coaching apprenticeship, Chris McLaurin observed and learned from high-level high school coaches, before ultimately coaching the wide receivers.

Giving back to the game

Chris McLaurin '25 from Jackson, Miss., has played football for as long as he can remember. With graduation from Bluffton University only a couple months away, McLaurin has turned his passion from playing, to coaching.

“When I realized that I wouldn’t get to play football forever, I knew I had to stay around the game in another way,” said McLaurin. “Teaching the sport to younger people always seemed to excite me.”

This past summer, McLaurin had a unique opportunity to go to Arlington, Texas, to help coach a high school team. During this coaching apprenticeship, McLaurin was able to observe and learn from high-level high school coaches, before ultimately getting responsibility to coach the wide receivers.

“After a couple weeks the coaches felt comfortable giving me more responsibility with the players,” said McLaurin. “I worked to refine my leadership and time management skills, and just learn some of the more intricate details that coaches have to know, that players may not be as keen to.”

McLaurin praised the faculty and staff at Bluffton for encouraging him, and getting him ready for professional opportunities such as this one.

“This is the most supporting group of faculty, staff and coaches that I have come across,” said McLaurin. “Professors Evan Skilliter, Kelly VanGilder, Christy Garmatter and Tami Forbes have been especially important to me. They have been the biggest mentors and are like family now.”

Moving from Jackson, Miss., to Bluffton, Ohio, was quite the culture shock for McLaurin, but he found comfort in his friends and in the community. McLaurin says that his time here has demonstrated that if you put your effort into building relationships and devoting time into the community, the community will return the support.

In the past, McLaurin has been the one mentored by players and coaches. Now, it's his turn to give back to the game.

“I had older teammates who taught me the game and taught me how to put myself out there in a professional way,” said McLaurin. “Now I have a chance to be the older figure to guide students, not only as players but teach them as men as well.”