When the lights go out and the fans stop cheering, the experience of being a collegiate student-athlete is over for many. But some student-athletes who have said goodbye to the playing field don't say goodbye to athletics altogether. Many continue on in their sport in numerous ways, even if one of those ways isn't by playing.

Although playing professionally is the ultimate goal for many student-athletes, the chances of attaining that level are slim. In fact, only 10.5 percent of NCAA baseball student-athletes will play professionally, even given all of the minor-league opportunities that are available. The percentage of NCAA basketball players who play professionally is only 1.3 percent.

Josh Cross, former basketball student-athlete at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, is one athlete whose dream of playing professionally is coming true.

Although the tragic events of September 11 have put Cross' contract on hold until further notice, he will be spend this season playing in the Overseas League in Sweden, with paid living expenses and a stipend. Currently, Cross is coaching a seventh-grade basketball team and finishing his degree.

"While it will be hard to leave my family, I get to pursue my dream of playing professionally. I hope to one day play in the NBA, and this opportunity will help me achieve that goal," Cross said.

After an injury ended his professional baseball career, former Baylor University baseball standout Preston Underdown returned to school to finish his degree. He currently is a graduate assistant in the athletics department and is pursuing his MBA. The sudden change in plans was disappointing but not devastating because he had a solid academic background.

Now, he has the opportunity to share his experiences with other Baylor athletes and ensure that they, too, cultivate areas other than athletics.

"I have the experience because I did well in both athletics and academics. I think I know what it takes," he said. "The thing I'm trying to do is make others keep their priorities straight. I think they feel they can talk to me, too."

One way to reconnect to your sport is via the route Judy Culhane has taken. Culhane, assistant women's volleyball coach at Duke University, played professionally for a year after graduating from Colgate University. Culhane said she was ready to stop playing but wasn't ready to leave the sport. By coaching, she has fulfilled that need to stay involved.

"I bring experience to Duke. I know what it is like to be a student-athlete at a school where academics are such a high priority, and I know what it is like to deal with disappointments as a student-athlete," Culhane said.

Aside from coaching, there are many other opportunities to remain involved with athletics -- including a bevy of athletics administrative positions. Other avenues such as athletic training, compliance, CHAMPS/Life Skills or sports information also are available.

Much like college athletics, careers in sports are available to people with all majors and academic backgrounds.

Troy Kema, former football standout and current academic counselor for student-athlete services at Utah State University, said his role as an academic advisor in the athletics department stemmed from his desire to keep a balance between athletics and academics while he was a student-athlete.

Kema learned the importance of giving back to his university while he was taking a break from sports working as a youth counselor in a Logan, Utah, detention center.

"I missed athletics, and time off gave me the motivation to get back into it," he said, "My mom always insisted that football wasn't always going to be the highlight of my life. I didn't fully understand her until I hurt my knee my junior year and missed a few games. While everyone else was focused on becoming an all-American, I focused on becoming an academic all-American."

Aside from pursuing a career on a college campus, opportunities at conference offices also are a possibility.

Amy Huchthausen, director of compliance at the Missouri Valley Conference and former softball student-athlete at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, said the people who touched her life through athletics made her want to continue to be involved after the playing stopped.

A career in college athletics seemed like a natural step for Huchthausen, who wanted to ensure other student-athletes walked away with an equally positive experience.

"I enjoy working in the conference office because it provides a good opportunity to be involved with various aspects of athletics administration on a daily basis," she said.

Although many former student-athletes choose a career on a campus, there are other sports-related paths to follow, as well.

Former student-athletes can be found with successful careers in broadcast journalism, or in administrative positions with national sports organizations such as the Olympics or the NCAA.

Although the end of playing sports is inevitable, if the desire to stay involved remains after the last home game, the career possibilities are almost endless.