Kayla Bock: Athlete To Impact Leader- Episode 143

Welcome back to another episode of the RU Strong Podcast. I’m your host, Jeff Durr, and today I’m excited to welcome former Rutgers University softball player, athlete leader, and rising star in collegiate athletic development, Kayla Bock.Kayla’s story is all about leadership, resilience, identity, and finding purpose beyond the game.Growing up in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, Kayla was a two-sport standout athlete who excelled in both softball and swimming. She was the 2020 Female Athlete of the Year, a varsity captain in both sports, a two-time All-Area First Team selection, and an All-State honorable mention swimmer before taking her talents to Rutgers University to compete in Big Ten softball.But what makes Kayla’s journey so powerful is that her impact extended far beyond the field.While balancing the demands of Division I athletics during the challenges of the COVID era, Kayla became heavily involved in student-athlete leadership and mental health advocacy. She served as President of Rutgers’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Vice President of Mental Health and Wellness, helped launch Rutgers Athletics’ first-ever “Life After Sports” panel, created a freshman student-athlete mentorship program, and organized mental health and suicide prevention initiatives for athletes.After graduation, Kayla continued her mission of helping athletes succeed beyond sports by working for the Big Ten Conference in athletic development and community engagement before serving as Chief Operating Officer for Scottfield Project, helping lead youth athletic redevelopment initiatives.Today, at just 24 years old, Kayla is the Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Success at La Salle University, where she focuses on athlete development, leadership, career readiness, mental wellness, and helping nearly 600 student-athletes prepare for life after the game.In this episode, Kayla shares her journey through leadership, recruiting, COVID, athletic identity struggles, mental health challenges, career development, and what it truly means to help athletes transition successfully beyond sports.This is an inspiring conversation about perseverance, growth, leadership, and using your platform to positively impact others.