University alum John Schroeder said yesterday he remembers feeling clueless about his career goals when he was a student athlete at the University in the mid-1960s.
It is for this reason the professional golfer and former Michigan All-American golfer pledged $2.6 million to the University's Athletic Department, with the intent of establishing a career counseling program for the more than 600 student athletes.
The money will be given to the University after he and his wife Kathy are deceased.
"I do feel very strongly as an ex-scholarship athlete that you have an obligation to pay the University back," Schroeder said. "It's something I had always wanted to do."
Schroeder said he hopes the career counseling program will provide a professional support network for student athletes who need guidance in their job search.
"It's a program to utilize alumni, all the people associated with U-M and to allow them to create job counseling," Schroeder said. "When I was a student, I had no idea what I was going to do.
"You're here to get an education, but you're also here to get a life," Schroeder continued. "The more questions you can get answered early on, the more sure you are when you start off."
Kyle Dobbs, a member of the men's golf team and a Kinesiology senior, said career counseling would give a helping hand to student athletes.
"It's always nice to have extra assistance and counseling service," Dobbs said. "(In Kinesiology) you are left on your own. The supplies are available to you, but the phone calls and ground work are up to you."
Parameters for the program have not yet been finalized, said Athletic Director Joe Roberson. Roberson applauded the donation and said he hopes other alums will do the same.
"I think it is neat to have a student athlete whose experience was so positive that he wanted to give back to the University," Roberson said. "I hope that it would trigger some others to do the same thing."
Schroeder said the University isn't much different than when he graduated from the School of Business in 1968.
"There hasn't been much of a change as far as attitude of the University," he said. "It's really positive; it's constant."
After graduating from the University, Schroeder joined the Professional Golf Association Tour in 1969, his first year as a professional athlete. Schroeder's accomplishments during his 13 years on the tour include a victory at the 1973 U.S. Professional Match Play Championship. After retiring from the tour in 1982, Schroeder turned to television broadcasting with ABC, NBC and ESPN, covering PGA and LPGA Tour events.
The Schroeder family has many connections to the University, which his wife also attended. Schroeder's daughter, Molly, is currently a Kinesiology junior, and his youngest daughter, Jenny, is scheduled to join the University in the fall and be a walk-on to the women's volleyball team.
JENNIFER BRADLEY-SWIFT/Daily
U-M men's basketball Coach Steve Fisher makes an appearance yesterday to greet former Michigan All-American golfer John Schroeder at a news conference.