​To Serve. To Learn.
To Lead.

A New Playbook for Success: Athletics Meets Entrepreneurship in Groundbreaking Program
 

OKLAHOMA — In the world of post-graduate athletics, wins and scholarships typically define success. But at Oklahoma Wildcats Academy (OWA), they are rewriting that playbook entirely, creating a revolutionary model where athletic development serves as just one chapter in a much larger story of purpose, entrepreneurship, and lifelong success.
 

"All of our graduates leave here with an LLC of some sort, regardless if they choose to continue at the next level with sports or get right into their entrepreneurship," explains OWA leadership, whose vision has transformed from a semi-pro football team into a comprehensive post-graduate academy that's rapidly expanding toward becoming a fully accredited university.

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The Purpose Playbook

What sets OWA apart isn't just its athletic training, which draws students from across the nation and internationally. It's the academy's unwavering focus on connecting young people to their deeper purpose—a mission strengthened through its groundbreaking partnership with Voice Up.

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"When you get to the purpose level, nobody can touch you," says Art Fuller, Chief Operating Officer for OWA through the Voice Up partnership. "You can't be touched because you already know what your purpose is, and that's where you're going and nobody's going to stop you from getting there."

 

This purpose-driven approach begins before students even arrive on campus. Through advanced DISC assessments, OWA coaches and staff gain detailed insights into each student's strengths, communication style, and learning preferences.

 

"You'll be able to connect to them from day one, before you even meet them," explains Raymond Williams of Voice Up, who oversees the implementation of these assessments. "You can get those strengths, those weaknesses and know how to meet them where they are."

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The Entrepreneurial Advantage

In an era where the average millennial will change careers five to seven times, and where NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals are transforming collegiate athletics, OWA's entrepreneurship focus provides a critical advantage.

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Every student-athlete at OWA completes comprehensive entrepreneurship training and financial literacy education. By graduation, each has established their own LLC, gaining practical experience in business development, marketing, and financial management—skills that serve them whether they continue in athletics or pursue other ventures.

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Coach Rodney Thompson, who brings over 20 years of coaching experience to OWA, emphasizes this balanced approach: "My purpose is to guide people to where they want to be in the game of football and in life, because it's not just about sidelines and hash marks."

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A Day in the Life

The OWA experience is intentionally rigorous. Students follow a structured schedule from 5:30 AM to 10:30 PM, combining athletic training, academic coursework, personal time, entrepreneurship, and leadership development in mental health.

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"We don't give them a lot of free time," OWA leadership admits. "We're very strict with their time and their schedule, because we need to focus."

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This intensity mirrors the demands of both collegiate athletics and entrepreneurship, preparing students for the discipline required to succeed in either path. The academy maintains high academic standards as well, requiring a minimum 3.0 GPA for admission.

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Building Success Beyond Sports

Brandon Hill, who played at Mississippi State University before joining the military and now coaches at OWA, represents the program's holistic philosophy: "This is your chance to build as a young man and provide some type of guidance for you so you can be successful. That's what I'm in it for."

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The results speak for themselves. While some OWA graduates have continued to Division I programs like South Carolina State, others have launched successful businesses in construction, media production, and other fields.

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Coach Clay, who leads OWA's softball program, puts it simply: "We strengthen in numbers. I'm passionate about the game, but I'm just ready to get to work."

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Expanding the Vision

From its current foundation serving approximately 160 students across multiple sports, OWA is rapidly expanding. The academy recently acquired a hotel property in Guthrie to serve as its campus and is developing new programs in volleyball, wrestling, and track and field.

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Media development is another frontier, with plans for a Roku channel, radio station, and YouTube presence that will not only showcase student-athletes but provide hands-on experience in media production.

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Perhaps most innovative is OWA's commitment to community integration, including veteran mental health initiatives and a planned community garden.

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"When a person comes to our door, there's no way possible you could leave these doors without being completely changed," stated with conviction by the executive team.

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A New Model for Athletic Development

What began as a vision to create opportunities where few existed is evolving into a potential blueprint for how athletic development can serve a greater purpose in young people's lives.

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"We want our university to be different." "We don't want us to have to put the kids in hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt to get to the next level in life. We want them to be able to come here and secure certainty within themselves, in their plans, in their futures."

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With its ambitious goal to become a fully accredited Division I independent university within seven years, OWA represents a bold reimagining of what athletic development can achieve when purpose and entrepreneurship take center court alongside athletic excellence.

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"A lot of people want change and just don't have the means or the access to it. And that's all we need to do is let them know we're here for them." The OWA executive team is ready to serve.

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For more information about Oklahoma Wildcats Academy and its innovative programs:

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Contact Art Fuller at info@owawildcats.com or visit https://owawildcats.com
 

Oklahoma Wildcats Academy is now accepting applications for the upcoming academic year across all sports programs. Coaches interested in joining the OWA team are also encouraged to apply.