Indiana University Athletics
Lumpkin Eyes Financial Success After Football
7/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 21, 2005
As he approaches his fifth and final season at Indiana University, Hoosier senior free safety Will Lumpkin has made his mark on the field and in the classroom. Lumpkin, a business major, is an Academic All-Big Ten selection, and Lumpkin and running back Yamar Washington were both named Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholars by the journal Black Issues in Higher Education. In order to qualify for the honor, a student-athlete must be a significant contributor in their sport and carry a 3.2 cumulative grade point average.
On the field, Lumpkin intercepted a pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown in IU's 30-21 victory over then-No. 23 Minnesota last fall, and he added a 72-yard fumble return for a touchdown at Purdue. Lumpkin had two of Indiana's school record four defensive touchdowns last year.
As Lumpkin eagerly anticipates his final Cream and Crimson campaign this fall under first-year coach Terry Hoeppner, he is already preparing for life after football. The Dayton, Ohio, native recently completed a 10-week financial analyst internship with Merrill Lynch in Indianapolis.
The Merrill Lynch stint marked Lumpkin's second financial internship. The 5-10, 205-pounder spent eight weeks in the summer of 2004 with Eli Lilly in Indianapolis. Proximity to Bloomington was crucial in Lumpkin's options for off-season professional development.
"I worked for Rich Searles and Greg Akers in the wealth management group. It oversees about $800 million in assets," Lumpkin said. "It was important for me to stay close to Bloomington. Rich and Greg allowed me to be very flexible with my schedule. I would work out in the morning at Memorial Stadium and then shower, change and drive up to Indianapolis."
According to the senior free safety, the one hour and 15-minute trip to the office was invaluable.
"It was just good, practical experience," Lumpkin said. "I had an opportunity to do a variety of things - marketing, mutual fund analysis, research alternative investments. I enjoyed the interaction with Rich and Greg. I appreciate the fact that they trusted me to make decisions and contribute to projects."
Lumpkin's tenure at Merrill Lynch is just one step toward a bigger goal.
"I would love to be a financial advisor," Lumpkin said of his post-football aspirations. "That would be the ultimate - to be able to educate and advise people about different aspects of their money."
But before he pursues Wall Street, Lumpkin has his eye on IU's 2005 season.
"There's just such a positive energy about this program," Lumpkin said. "And that is going to pay huge dividends. Coach (co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Joe) Palcic is a great guy and has a strong rapport with the players. We're going to have an active, big-play defense."
