Episode 6- Mission: Strength

On this episode of Driven by the Mission, Jean Boyd and Raymond Harrison sit down with Karl Holmes Jr., Director of Player Engagement for Oregon Football. Karl opens up about a non-linear path—from arriving at Arizona State with his belongings in trash bags, to JUCO detours, seven concussions, a cleared arrest that still echoes, and a degree earned at Grand Valley State. He explains how those chapters forged his purpose: advocating for student-athletes as whole people in a high-pressure NIL/revenue-share era.
Karl breaks down “Flight School,” his 8–10 week onboarding for freshmen and transfers, why radical authenticity beats any budget, and how he pushed for due process when a player was prematurely dismissed. He also shares a powerful story supporting a transfer navigating his mother’s illness and draft-night grief—reminding us that money and accolades can’t replace community.