In the Pioneer Football League, success goes beyond the scoreboard and into the classroom. At the University of Dayton's School of Business Administration, that commitment is clear. According to the Pioneer Football League, the Flyers led the league with 81 Academic Honor Roll selections, marking the fourth time in 25 years the program has surpassed 80 honorees.
It’s a strong signal: at UD, academics are part of the game plan.
For rising junior wide receiver and finance major LeRoy Lewis, that recognition is personal.
“It feels great to be recognized, not just for your on-field excellence, but also for your academic excellence as well. This is my second year in a row, so it feels really good,” said Lewis.
Balancing Academics and Athletics: The Secret Is Time Management
Balancing Division I football with the demands of a business degree isn’t easy. It’s a full-speed schedule: plan, study, practice, repeat. For Lewis, each week is a disciplined cycle of back-to-back morning classes, afternoon practices, film sessions and preparation, all leading to Saturday’s game day. He is also intentional about carving out time to recharge.
“Time management really is about how well you use those breaks and would pretty much dictate how well you're gonna do in the classroom,” said Lewis.
He credits that mindset to both his upbringing and the example set at home.
“I get it from my parents. They also have rigorous schedules, almost as rigorous as mine, and just being able to see that growing up, it meant a lot to me,” said Lewis. “They always tell me I'm a student first, then an athlete. Nothing should be above your grades.”
The Full Roster: UD’s Support System in Action
Support isn’t just at home. At UD, student athletes are supported by a network designed for success. Athletic academic coordinators, including football’s Vera Gomes, work closely with the School of Business Administration’s holistic academic advisors to keep students on track. “Ultimately, our partnership thrives because both sides focus entirely on the student as a whole person,” said Gomes. “The business holistic academic advisors and athletic academic coordinators proactively work to navigate all aspects of the collegiate experience. Together, we bridge the gap between rigorous academic demands and intense athletic commitments.”
Another layer of support is the coaches.
“Coaches are going to make sure you have goals and that they know what your goals are because they want to help you reach them,” said Lewis. “Same thing within the classroom with your professors.”
Classroom Experiences that Build Relationships
One of Lewis’ favorite classroom experiences was the first Career Flight Plan, BIZ 101 (Launching Your Business Career: Foundations for Student Success), taught by his holistic academic advisor, Jeni Gerard. Through career and strengths assessments, the course helped him discover a new direction.
“The Career Flight Plan curriculum helps a lot with building the foundation of what you want to be,” said Lewis, who realized through these assessments that he wanted to change his initial major of management to finance. He worked with Gerard to review his course options. It isn’t just about scheduling. “We also talk about what my future looks like.”
The advising relationship begins early, built directly into the first-year classroom experience. Through courses like BIZ 101 and BIZ 103 (Develop Your Vocation and Career Flight Plan), business students connect with their advisors regularly, meeting at least weekly and more often as needed for guidance, scheduling, and support.
“If I hadn't taught LeRoy in BIZ 101 and BIZ 103, I don't think I would have had the opportunity to get to know him so well. It was clear to me from the first day that he has the drive and capacity to achieve his goals,” said Gerard.
Lewis has taken full advantage of the resources available, from mandatory first-year study halls to supplemental instruction, advising and faculty office hours.
Built for More Than Game Day
Lewis’ experience at UD mirrors the real world. Time management, discipline and accountability aren’t just lessons, they are daily expectations.
And the results speak for themselves.
UD football’s consistent presence on the Pioneer Football League Academic Honor Roll is no accident. It is the product of a culture that refuses to separate athletic and academic success.
At Dayton, business students do not have to choose between competing at a high level and earning a meaningful degree.
They do both.
