These mentors guide Texas Wesleyan athletes into their next chapter

A TV commercial states that less than 2% of college athletes turn pro, and asks the question, “What happens to those who don’t?”

Hugo Martinez has an answer. Martinez, assistant chief immigration judge at the Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center and 2001 Texas Wesleyan University graduate, leads a football mentor program at the school.

Started in 2018 by former head coach Joe Prud’homme and TWU alum Jeff Johnson, the program has hosted several events for the student-athletes. And now it has the assistance of NBT Financial Bank, the first business to donate funds to assist, thanks to managing partner Steve Eargle.

“I have had mentors in my life that have been invaluable. They have helped me prepare for the challenges of life, and now I would like to do the same for others,” Martinez said. “I believe that our lives will be measured not by the rewards we receive, but rather by those we give.”

Post college prep

This year the mentorship program is focused on preparing the student-athletes for careers after college. During the planning process for events, Martinez and Eargle realized that most of the young men probably did not own professional attire and were probably not in a financial position to purchase such clothing.

Eargle and NBT stepped in to help. The football team had already been wearing the bank’s logo on their uniforms since the 2022 season.

That was, likewise, Eargle’s doing — and he was hooked, entering the mentor program.

Eargle reached out to NBT President and CEO Wade Donnell, who approved the funding for clothes. NBT Financial also agreed to host an etiquette dinner and participate in mock interviews with the student-athletes.

“Steve and I understand that one of keys to success when entering the workforce is looking like a professional, especially at job interviews. We both believe that something as simple as a blazer for a young person can boost self-esteem,” Martinez said. “It can have a positive impact on how that young person perceives themselves and might just give them that extra confidence to succeed in that first interview.

“A blazer is also a symbol of transition for these young men. They are entering a new phase of life.”

NBT presented gift cards to Jos. A Banks to around 35 upperclassmen student-athletes in the program who had exhibited excellence on and off the field and are closest to graduation. Each card is enough for them to purchase a blazer or suit coat and even have some extra money to put toward a shirt or tie, Eargle said.

In addition, those players were invited to a mock business dinner on April 8 at the Fort Worth Petroleum Club, where they will have the opportunity to wear their new clothing.

“The goal is to give them real world experience and confidence before they enter the workforce,” Eargle said. “I sent my son to a similar event years ago, and he said it really just helped him feel comfortable when he ultimately was in that situation.”

Also, those players have the opportunity to sign up for more mock interviews to be conducted the last week of April at the NBT Operations Center in North Fort Worth.

“Since, as Wade says, ‘Your first interview is typically your worst,’ each player will have two back-to-back mock interviews conducted by NBT employees,” Eargle said. After each interview, the NBT employees provide feedback to the players.

“As much as we can, we want the players to feel confident and prepared walking into their first real interview,” Eargle said.

Players and mentors

Overall, the program has 100 players participating and more than 20 mentors, Martinez said. This included professionals such as dentists, doctors, lawyers, real estate brokers, bankers, and insurance professionals.

“Early on, we started with a small group of people, but the program has grown over the years,” Martinez said. “Our hope is that we continue to grow and continue to prepare these young men for life’s opportunities.”

Martinez said anyone from the public is invited to participate in the mentorship program.

“I am constantly recruiting mentors from all walks of life. Also, most of the mentors have no connection to the university,” he said. “Our goal is to have a diverse group of mentors to be able to reach the greatest number of young men.”

Eargle said he became a mentor because many of the young men will be the future leaders of Fort Worth.

“They will be our accountants, nurses, coaches, IT experts and our future business leaders. We don’t dwell on their football prospects,” he said. “We want them to become good fathers, good local business leaders and good men. We see value in supporting their development early.”

Daniel Aigbogun is a senior majoring in exercise science. He plans on becoming a physical therapist and is participating in the program.

“My favorite part is having the mentor mixers and getting to connect with all the different mentors and learn about their careers,” he said.

Sir Hill, also a senior, is majoring in business with plans to someday be a business owner and “build something that creates opportunities for others in my community.”

“The mentorship program led by Judge Martinez has meant a lot to me because it gave me the chance to learn from people who have already walked the path I’m trying to follow,” Hill said. “It showed me the importance of leadership and giving back to the next group coming up behind us.

“My favorite part was seeing some of my former teammates come back to help mentor.”

Success story

Martinez noted a special success story with one of the student-athletes he mentored, Kieran Koltun. He came to TWU from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.

“Prior to attending TWU, Kieran had never visited Fort Worth. Other than hearing about the Dallas Cowboys, Kieran did not know much about Fort Worth,” Martinez began. “Nonetheless, in 2024, he graduated magna cum laude with a BBA in finance. Kieran fell in love with Fort Worth and stayed.”

After graduating, Koltun became a credit analyst with NBT Financial. He has also become a legal permanent resident of the United States, is married, and is expecting his first child.

Now Koltun is giving back to the program that helped him in his journey, having joined the program, mentoring members of the same team he once played on.

Coach’s take

Fran Johnson, now the head coach at TWU, said the mentor program has grown to what is today because the people involved in the group believe in the same vision and genuinely want to help people and future generations. He’s watched the program grow as he was formerly Prud’homme’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

“The relationships that have I have witnessed in their developmental stage through this program have turned into lifelong relationships,” Johnson said. “I have both mentors and former players who talk about how they have helped each other, and that they continue to stay in contact.”

Johnson said not only has this partnership led to players securing jobs before they graduate, it gives them a leg up in a very competitive world of getting jobs.

“Our players learn very quickly that they will get out of this experience what they put into it, and it is about who you know, not what you know,” Johnson said.

“The mentors give of their time and have no expectations of anything in return,” he continued. “Their hearts are in the right places, and because of that they have changed lives in many of these kids.”

This story was originally published April 1, 2026 at 2:26 PM.