Scarlet Knights For Life, 42U Deliver Tangible Results in Helping Student-Athletes Prepare for Success
Jan 28 | General, Scarlet Knights for Life™
In the summer of 2024, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights For Life program, led by Carey Loch, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development and Success, partnered with a company named 42U in an alliance which augments the work her office performs daily in support of student-athletes.
Scarlet Knights For Life
The vital mission of Scarlet Knights For Life remains one of preparing the more than 700 Rutgers student-athletes for personal and professional success while ensuring Varsity R Letterwinners are connected and engaged with alumni.
"Scarlet Knights For Life focuses on custom one-on-one advising sessions with our student-athletes, ensuring they have the time and attention needed to develop their career goals and materials, while also receiving direct assistance in connecting with Rutgers' vast alumni and professional network," said Loch.
Through the Scarlet Knights For Life office, Rutgers student-athletes consistently receive individualized advising, career planning, and alumni networking support often well beyond what their peers at other institutions experience. Staff members spend countless hours introducing athletes to alumni, helping them craft outreach messages, primarily via LinkedIn and email, and preparing them for conversations that can positively impact the trajectory of their futures.
A Partnership Built on Substance, Not Surface
The collaboration between Scarlet Knights For Life and 42U is built on a shared belief that student-athletes thrive when they have comprehensive development that provides additional substance to support their impressive resumes and accomplishments as they prepare for life beyond competition.
Rutgers became the first university to partner with 42U to deepen how student-athletes understand themselves, articulate their value, and translate their experiences into long-term success. What began as a career-development resource has evolved into a holistic framework that blends professional preparation with personal brand clarity.
An interest from other Big Ten student-athlete development professionals inspired an introduction of 42U to student-athletes from the 17 other institutions at the Big Ten Student-Athlete Engagement Leadership Retreat in the summer of 2025.
Birth of the Brand Kit
Unlike traditional branding efforts that rely on surface-level aesthetics, 42U places student-athletes at the center of the process. Participants actively engage in assessments, reflection, and one-on-one conversations that result in the development of a "personalized brand kit" grounded in who they are - not who someone thinks they should be.
This brand kit is delivered in the form of a detailed five-page PDF document that Rutgers student-athletes use to promote themselves online and in-person.
Loch explains, "Student-athletes receive their personalized brand kit electronically so they can take it all in and then have the opportunity to meet with 42U to make edits and talk through how they can use it to help tell their story. Our team touches on the kits in career advising appointments and assists student-athletes with sharing them on their personal social media accounts. We also use the kits to strengthen the connection to those who support these student-athletes in achieving their goals. Donors love to learn more about those they support and professionals can more easily identify those who may be a great fit for their employment and sponsorship spaces. The student-athletes are active participants in building something that allows them to differentiate themselves from their teammates and their peers in a really unique and positive way."
The addition of 42U strengthens that ecosystem, offering student-athletes a clearer way to articulate who they are beyond statistics and roster bios, at a moment when self-definition is critical both personally and professionally.
The brainchild of marrying Scarlet Knights For Life with 42U has been, and continues to be, a winning formula. So just who and what is 42U?
42U — And Why Its Approach Resonates
Co-founded by Stephen Bienko, Joe Donato, and Chase Munkholm, 42U draws on decades of leadership, entrepreneurship, and athlete-centered experience within the collegiate sports space. Bienko brings a proven record of founding and scaling performance-driven organizations, most notably as the founder of the Institute of Athletic Performance and Parisi Speed Schools. His expertise pairs seamlessly with Donato's perspective as a former Rutgers football student-athlete, longtime corporate sales professional at Canon Solutions America, and small business owner who led National Dance Showcase, Inc. for more than 20 years.
Complementing this foundation, Munkholm contributes branding, marketing, and social media expertise shaped by his studies in organizational leadership and entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware, along with firsthand experience as a high-level basketball player and deep family ties to tennis. Together, they lead a team designed to guide student-athletes through the complexities of NIL, career exploration, and personal growth.
The firm's name is rooted in symbolism and inspired by Jackie Robinson, the Hall of Famer who famously wore the number 42 which is now retired in all of Major League Baseball. 42U emphasizes the importance of living one's values under pressure. Robinson's legacy reflects more than athletic excellence; it represents self-awareness, courage, and leadership in environments that demand resilience.
That philosophy underpins the program's mission to support student-athletes not just during college, but as they transition into life after sports. "No individual lived his brand stronger than Jackie Robinson," Donato noted. "He knew who he was, understood his surroundings, and stood his ground for what he believed in."
Brand. Develop. Activate.
At the core of 42U's methodology is a simple but powerful framework: Brand. Develop. Activate. Branding, Donato explained, begins with helping student-athletes identify who they are and how they want to tell their story. Development is an ongoing process that evolves over the course of an athlete's career, from first year to graduation. Activation ensures that the work doesn't live in a folder, but shows up regularly in interviews, networking, and career decisions.
As Donato explains, "This is not a one-off. We're with them from day one at Rutgers all the way through graduation."
That continuity is what separates the program from more transactional models. Rather than asking athletes to fill out a form and receive a static profile, 42U engages them through sustained mentorship and individualized coaching.
Psychological and Performance-Based Under Pressure Analyses
A key component of the 42U program provides psychological and performance-based assessments, guided by Dr. Nick Molinaro, to help student-athletes better understand how they respond under pressure. Molinaro is a nationally recognized licensed psychologist with more than 35 years of experience in sport and performance psychology. His career spans every level of athletics - from collegiate programs and Olympic competitors to the PGA, NFL, NBA, NASCAR, and beyond - helping athletes and teams elevate their performance.
The insights derived from the analysis are then translated into language and narratives that resonate in interviews and networking settings.
"When an athlete shows they can read the field, adapt quickly, and stay composed," Donato explains, "those same abilities carry real weight in a boardroom or an internship interview. Our job is to help them recognize those strengths and translate them into opportunities beyond the field."
A Coach's Perspective
Several Rutgers athletic teams, including men's lacrosse and field hockey, have new team members onboarded as soon as they arrive on campus. Rutgers head men's lacrosse coach Brian Brecht has seen the impact firsthand. He credits the partnership between Scarlet Knights For Life and 42U as a major asset in the ultra-important role of recruiting, particularly in attracting high-level transfers.
"Our recruits and their families are blown away when they see what Rutgers offers in preparing student-athletes for life after sport," Brecht said.
"What Scarlet Knights For Life demonstrates to recruits is essential. And Joe and his team are constantly with our current guys — not just in team sessions, but one-on-one. The detail, the preparation, the time invested — it separates our student-athletes from other schools, and both our current players and recruits recognize that."
Testimonial from a Student-Athletes' Success Story
One of the many tangible success stories derived from the partnership between Scarlet Knights For Life and 42U is that of Al DeSantis, a former Rutgers wrestler who went from a walk-on to being a 2024 Big Ten Championship starter at 157 pounds, in addition to a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
Shortly after his graduation in May 2025, DeSantis landed a full-time position as an associate sales representative with Stryker, one of the world's leading medical technology companies.
During the interview process with Stryker, DeSantis leveraged his 42U brand kit. Towards the end of a final in-person group interview, which included former RU standout defensive lineman and current Stryker sales representative Ryan Neill, DeSantis pulled out his brand kit. It made quite the impression. "They were like, 'Whoa - what is this?'" DeSantis recalled. "They'd never seen anything like it and it offered me the chance to reinforce my unique fit as a candidate for the role."
While no single tool guarantees success, DeSantis believes the kit helped tell his story in a way that matched his journey - from walk-on to Big Ten starter - and ultimately contributed to his landing the position.
"The 42U program is special because it isn't focused solely on the final product - the process is what makes it truly transformative. It allows student-athletes to develop their personal brand based on their unique talents and values, inspiring motivation and activating a confidence that many lack in the networking space," said Loch.
Together, Scarlet Knights For Life and 42U have created a tried-and-true model that empowers student-athletes to understand themselves, articulate their value, and navigate an increasingly complex landscape with confidence.
More than a program, it's a commitment - one designed to last well beyond the final whistle.
A recipient of seven NJ Press Association Awards for writing excellence, John Beisser ('86) served as Assistant Director in the Rutgers University Athletic Communications Office from 1991-2006, where he primarily handled sports information/media relations duties for the Scarlet Knight football and men's basketball programs. In this role, he served as managing editor for nine publications that received either National or Regional citations from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). While an undergraduate at RU, Beisser was sports director of WRSU-FM and a sportswriter/columnist for The Daily Targum. From 2007-2019, Beisser served as Assistant Athletic Director/Sports Media Relations at Wagner College, where he was the recipient of the 2019 Met Basketball Writers Association "Good Guy" Award. In addition to contributing stories for scarletknights.com, Beisser is a feature writer for Sports Illustrated's High School on SI. Beisser resides in Piscataway with his wife Aileen (RC '95,) a four-year Scarlet Knight women's lacrosse letterwinner, and their 16-year old daughter Riley.
Scarlet Knights For Life
The vital mission of Scarlet Knights For Life remains one of preparing the more than 700 Rutgers student-athletes for personal and professional success while ensuring Varsity R Letterwinners are connected and engaged with alumni.
"Scarlet Knights For Life focuses on custom one-on-one advising sessions with our student-athletes, ensuring they have the time and attention needed to develop their career goals and materials, while also receiving direct assistance in connecting with Rutgers' vast alumni and professional network," said Loch.
Through the Scarlet Knights For Life office, Rutgers student-athletes consistently receive individualized advising, career planning, and alumni networking support often well beyond what their peers at other institutions experience. Staff members spend countless hours introducing athletes to alumni, helping them craft outreach messages, primarily via LinkedIn and email, and preparing them for conversations that can positively impact the trajectory of their futures.
A Partnership Built on Substance, Not Surface
The collaboration between Scarlet Knights For Life and 42U is built on a shared belief that student-athletes thrive when they have comprehensive development that provides additional substance to support their impressive resumes and accomplishments as they prepare for life beyond competition.
Rutgers became the first university to partner with 42U to deepen how student-athletes understand themselves, articulate their value, and translate their experiences into long-term success. What began as a career-development resource has evolved into a holistic framework that blends professional preparation with personal brand clarity.
An interest from other Big Ten student-athlete development professionals inspired an introduction of 42U to student-athletes from the 17 other institutions at the Big Ten Student-Athlete Engagement Leadership Retreat in the summer of 2025.
Birth of the Brand Kit
Unlike traditional branding efforts that rely on surface-level aesthetics, 42U places student-athletes at the center of the process. Participants actively engage in assessments, reflection, and one-on-one conversations that result in the development of a "personalized brand kit" grounded in who they are - not who someone thinks they should be.
This brand kit is delivered in the form of a detailed five-page PDF document that Rutgers student-athletes use to promote themselves online and in-person.
Loch explains, "Student-athletes receive their personalized brand kit electronically so they can take it all in and then have the opportunity to meet with 42U to make edits and talk through how they can use it to help tell their story. Our team touches on the kits in career advising appointments and assists student-athletes with sharing them on their personal social media accounts. We also use the kits to strengthen the connection to those who support these student-athletes in achieving their goals. Donors love to learn more about those they support and professionals can more easily identify those who may be a great fit for their employment and sponsorship spaces. The student-athletes are active participants in building something that allows them to differentiate themselves from their teammates and their peers in a really unique and positive way."
The addition of 42U strengthens that ecosystem, offering student-athletes a clearer way to articulate who they are beyond statistics and roster bios, at a moment when self-definition is critical both personally and professionally.
The brainchild of marrying Scarlet Knights For Life with 42U has been, and continues to be, a winning formula. So just who and what is 42U?
42U — And Why Its Approach Resonates
Co-founded by Stephen Bienko, Joe Donato, and Chase Munkholm, 42U draws on decades of leadership, entrepreneurship, and athlete-centered experience within the collegiate sports space. Bienko brings a proven record of founding and scaling performance-driven organizations, most notably as the founder of the Institute of Athletic Performance and Parisi Speed Schools. His expertise pairs seamlessly with Donato's perspective as a former Rutgers football student-athlete, longtime corporate sales professional at Canon Solutions America, and small business owner who led National Dance Showcase, Inc. for more than 20 years.
Complementing this foundation, Munkholm contributes branding, marketing, and social media expertise shaped by his studies in organizational leadership and entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware, along with firsthand experience as a high-level basketball player and deep family ties to tennis. Together, they lead a team designed to guide student-athletes through the complexities of NIL, career exploration, and personal growth.The firm's name is rooted in symbolism and inspired by Jackie Robinson, the Hall of Famer who famously wore the number 42 which is now retired in all of Major League Baseball. 42U emphasizes the importance of living one's values under pressure. Robinson's legacy reflects more than athletic excellence; it represents self-awareness, courage, and leadership in environments that demand resilience.
That philosophy underpins the program's mission to support student-athletes not just during college, but as they transition into life after sports. "No individual lived his brand stronger than Jackie Robinson," Donato noted. "He knew who he was, understood his surroundings, and stood his ground for what he believed in."
Brand. Develop. Activate.
At the core of 42U's methodology is a simple but powerful framework: Brand. Develop. Activate. Branding, Donato explained, begins with helping student-athletes identify who they are and how they want to tell their story. Development is an ongoing process that evolves over the course of an athlete's career, from first year to graduation. Activation ensures that the work doesn't live in a folder, but shows up regularly in interviews, networking, and career decisions.
As Donato explains, "This is not a one-off. We're with them from day one at Rutgers all the way through graduation."
That continuity is what separates the program from more transactional models. Rather than asking athletes to fill out a form and receive a static profile, 42U engages them through sustained mentorship and individualized coaching.
Psychological and Performance-Based Under Pressure Analyses
A key component of the 42U program provides psychological and performance-based assessments, guided by Dr. Nick Molinaro, to help student-athletes better understand how they respond under pressure. Molinaro is a nationally recognized licensed psychologist with more than 35 years of experience in sport and performance psychology. His career spans every level of athletics - from collegiate programs and Olympic competitors to the PGA, NFL, NBA, NASCAR, and beyond - helping athletes and teams elevate their performance.
The insights derived from the analysis are then translated into language and narratives that resonate in interviews and networking settings.
"When an athlete shows they can read the field, adapt quickly, and stay composed," Donato explains, "those same abilities carry real weight in a boardroom or an internship interview. Our job is to help them recognize those strengths and translate them into opportunities beyond the field."
A Coach's Perspective
Several Rutgers athletic teams, including men's lacrosse and field hockey, have new team members onboarded as soon as they arrive on campus. Rutgers head men's lacrosse coach Brian Brecht has seen the impact firsthand. He credits the partnership between Scarlet Knights For Life and 42U as a major asset in the ultra-important role of recruiting, particularly in attracting high-level transfers.
"Our recruits and their families are blown away when they see what Rutgers offers in preparing student-athletes for life after sport," Brecht said.
"What Scarlet Knights For Life demonstrates to recruits is essential. And Joe and his team are constantly with our current guys — not just in team sessions, but one-on-one. The detail, the preparation, the time invested — it separates our student-athletes from other schools, and both our current players and recruits recognize that."
Testimonial from a Student-Athletes' Success Story
One of the many tangible success stories derived from the partnership between Scarlet Knights For Life and 42U is that of Al DeSantis, a former Rutgers wrestler who went from a walk-on to being a 2024 Big Ten Championship starter at 157 pounds, in addition to a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
Shortly after his graduation in May 2025, DeSantis landed a full-time position as an associate sales representative with Stryker, one of the world's leading medical technology companies.
During the interview process with Stryker, DeSantis leveraged his 42U brand kit. Towards the end of a final in-person group interview, which included former RU standout defensive lineman and current Stryker sales representative Ryan Neill, DeSantis pulled out his brand kit. It made quite the impression. "They were like, 'Whoa - what is this?'" DeSantis recalled. "They'd never seen anything like it and it offered me the chance to reinforce my unique fit as a candidate for the role."
While no single tool guarantees success, DeSantis believes the kit helped tell his story in a way that matched his journey - from walk-on to Big Ten starter - and ultimately contributed to his landing the position.
"The 42U program is special because it isn't focused solely on the final product - the process is what makes it truly transformative. It allows student-athletes to develop their personal brand based on their unique talents and values, inspiring motivation and activating a confidence that many lack in the networking space," said Loch.
Together, Scarlet Knights For Life and 42U have created a tried-and-true model that empowers student-athletes to understand themselves, articulate their value, and navigate an increasingly complex landscape with confidence.
More than a program, it's a commitment - one designed to last well beyond the final whistle.
A recipient of seven NJ Press Association Awards for writing excellence, John Beisser ('86) served as Assistant Director in the Rutgers University Athletic Communications Office from 1991-2006, where he primarily handled sports information/media relations duties for the Scarlet Knight football and men's basketball programs. In this role, he served as managing editor for nine publications that received either National or Regional citations from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). While an undergraduate at RU, Beisser was sports director of WRSU-FM and a sportswriter/columnist for The Daily Targum. From 2007-2019, Beisser served as Assistant Athletic Director/Sports Media Relations at Wagner College, where he was the recipient of the 2019 Met Basketball Writers Association "Good Guy" Award. In addition to contributing stories for scarletknights.com, Beisser is a feature writer for Sports Illustrated's High School on SI. Beisser resides in Piscataway with his wife Aileen (RC '95,) a four-year Scarlet Knight women's lacrosse letterwinner, and their 16-year old daughter Riley.
Men’s Basketball Post Game Press Conference - Michigan State
Wednesday, January 28
Women’s Basketball Post Game Press Conference - Washington
Monday, January 26
KEEP CHOPPIN' 2026
Monday, January 26
Men’s Basketball Post Game Press Conference - Indiana
Saturday, January 24
