Former Play Overseas Athlete Lands Basketball Coaching Role

Every year, we take immense pride in witnessing our former student-athletes transition into their first professional roles.

For many, coaching becomes an exciting way to remain deeply engaged in the sport they are so passionate about. From basketball to volleyball, our accomplished students have successfully secured coaching positions at clubs and colleges across a range of sports.

Having successfully navigated the challenges as international student-athletes, their diverse experiences have allowed them to effectively apply their qualifications in shaping the next generation of athletes within the NCAA.

Last year, Warren Wilson College graduate (’22) and UK University graduate (’23), Kris Carroll transitioned into his first coaching position with the Allegheny College men’s basketball team.

We look back on Kris’s remarkable journey as a postgraduate student-athlete in the UK and explore the numerous advantages that a postgraduate season overseas can provide.

A standout senior year at Warren Wilson College for the New York native

Following an impressive senior season (21-22) with the Owls where he averaged 14 points per game, Kris decided to look for ways where he could extend his basketball career and contacted Play Overseas to explore postgraduate playing opportunities in the UK.

Using our free service, Kris was connected with college basketball coaches at institutions across the UK that would allow him to compete at a high level while pursuing a master’s degree.

A standout senior year at Warren Wilson College for the New York native Following an impressive senior season (21-22) with the Owls where he averaged 14 points per game, Kris decided to look for ways where he could extend his basketball career and contacted Play Overseas to explore postgraduate playing opportunities in the UK. Using our free service, Kris was connected with college basketball coaches at institutions across the UK that would allow him to compete at a high level while pursuing a master’s degree.

Overseas Finals appearance and Scotland’s National Basketball League

Kris ultimately chose to extend his student-athlete journey in the picturesque country of Scotland, where he worked toward his masters degree in International Business and took his university team all the way to to the Scottish University Championship finals.

Benefiting from more lenient eligibility rules in the UK, Kris seized the opportunity to not only compete for his university team but also play an additional season with an external club in the top division of Scotland’s national basketball league.

Named Assistant Coach for Allegheny College’s Men’s Basketball Team

After his outstanding season overseas, Kris returned to the States with a master’s degree in hand and in October 2023, secured his first coaching role as an Assistant Coach for Allegheny College’s men’s basketball team.

Reflecting on his time in the UK, Kris stated:

“My time overseas was great and I am extremely grateful to have had that experience. I learned a lot about myself on and off the court. It really cemented the idea of basketball having to be apart of my life as long as I live no matter the capacity, and I was able to get started on that sooner than I expected.”

Kris’s story highlights the unique pathway for student-athletes willing to explore postgraduate education beyond the confines of traditional NCAA or NAIA eligibility. His experience showcases that the journey doesn’t have to end with graduation – it can be a stepping stone to new heights within your sport.

Regardless of what sport you play, there are a number of benefits of pursuing postgraduate education in the UK.