Maryland Made Mentor Program: More Than Just A Connection

The Maryland Made Mentor Program will focus on building and developing strong, trusting relationships between professionals and current student-athletes. The program is committed to providing an atmosphere that fosters the positive growth and professional development of Maryland’s student-athletes. 

“The Maryland Made Mentor Program is so much more than just a connection — it’s really a catalyst for growth,” Maryland’s Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development Coly Wilson said. “Bringing together student-athletes and professionals from all over reminds us that distance doesn’t limit development; it actually expands opportunity.”

One partnership brought DJ Tarver — a Terrapins track & field athlete — and Brandon Cates together. The two men have shared interests in running and in the world of sports business, especially the human resource components.

“Having a mentor who shares not just your career interests but also your personal interests creates a stronger and more natural connection,” Tarver said. “It makes the learning relationship feel genuine rather than transactional. When your mentor’s lifestyle, values, or hobbies align with yours, it builds trust and comfort in our relationship allowing for deeper and more open conversations.”

During the Maryland Made Mentor Program, mentor and mentee pairs will connect virtually or in-person once per month from October to May. October featured a virtual mixer while future events include a February basketball game and Maryland Made’s Block Party at the conclusion of the school year.

“It is my goal for DJ that he sees not all paths are linear and that those along the way influence your journey more than any other tangible thing you could learn,” Cates said. “For me, I hope that I am able to enhance my leadership and communication style as well as the best way to connect with those coming through an ever-changing world.”

The virtual kickoff call helped student-athletes learn the importance of virtual networking and professionalism, while also allowing the program’s mentors from various geographic areas to join in.

“Our virtual kickoff showed that mentorship isn’t about where you are, but about showing up — building real connections, sharing experiences, and growing together,” Wilson said. “This program gives our student-athletes a chance to take that same drive they bring to competition and apply it to their professional journeys, supported by mentors who are truly invested in their success every step of the way. I am super grateful to lead this program, and have such invested student-athletes who showed up, as well as mentors like Brandon willing to give time out of their busy schedules to provide guidance to our Terps. Brandon and DJ is just an example of how strong our pairings will be, and I cannot wait to see how they and the rest of our mentor program progresses."

The virtual kickoff was the first time Tarver and Cates were able to connect through the program and begin to shape their bond that will only grow as the year progresses.

“My biggest takeaway from my first conversation with Brandon was realizing how important the behind-the-scenes work really is,” Tarver said. “For everything that happens on game days, there’s always someone coordinating and managing it from behind the curtain. I thought it was fascinating to hear that Brandon’s role requires him to be one of the main people overseeing all those game day processes and making sure everything runs smoothly.”

For Cates, being able to share wisdom with Tarver and help him for life after sports is a full-circle moment. 

“Mentorship has helped guide me throughout the course of my professional and personal life,” Cates said. “I strongly believe that having a mentor can yield immeasurable results and thus I believed it was important to pay it forward and give back to what was given to me. The Maryland Made program has a strong culture and mission behind it and I align with the values it represents.”

As the year goes on, Tarver and Cates will serve as just one example of how the Maryland Made Mentor Program is helping student-athletes at UMD both on and off the field.