Name: Curtis Clay
Major: Broadcast Journalism 
Graduation: 2010 and 2012
Hometown: Lockhart, Texas
Occupation: Advisor at Breakthrough Central Texas 

Curtis Clay ’10 lives in Austin with his family but is still very much an active Horned Frog. While at Texas Christian University, Clay played wide receiver for the football team, pursued his dreams of becoming a sports show host, and met his wife, Brittany.  

After graduating with his bachelor’s degree, Clay remained at TCU to complete his master’s degree in educational administration, which he earned in 2012. He realized, after completing his undergraduate degree in broadcast journalism, that he had a greater passion for working with kids.  

Clay and his wife moved to Austin, Texas, after he earned his master’s degree and so Clay could become the Lake Travis High School football coach, where he stayed for seven years. In 2017, his hard work and dedication to his students was recognized when he received the Teacher of the Year Award. “My students know they have someone in their corner that truly cares about their well-being and wants to see them thrive in and out of the classroom,” he said.  

In his free time, Clay is developing his own podcast, which will put his communication skills to the test. With a 2-year-old daughter, Clay’s many hobbies revolve around her and his wife. When he has time to unwind and watch sports, he loves watching his Horned Frogs play.   

Today, he works at Breakthrough Central Texas, a nonprofit organization for first generation college-goers. He advises groups of high school students and develops programs preparing them for a successful college experience. “After making the decision to transition out of the classroom, this was the perfect fit because it still allows me to use my expertise in education,” he said. “I encourage students to remember their ‘why’ regardless of their field, pursue what you are passionate about and what fulfills you. If your work is purpose-driven, the money will come and you are less likely to burn out.”  

As a kid, he always dreamed of becoming an ESPN commentator. He idolized Stuart Scott from SportsCenter, so with that in mind, he chose TCU because of its phenomenal journalism program. While at TCU, he wrote for The Skiff, the school’s newspaper, reported for TCU News Now, a student-run news broadcast, and even co-hosted a sports-talk show on the campus’ radio station.  

Click here for more information on the journalism major.