Name: Julie Doles
Major: Strategic Communication
Class: 2020
Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan  

Although Julie Doles grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, her love for football made her a Texan at heart.  

As an undergrad at Texas Christian University, Doles knew she wanted to get involved with the football program. By the time she entered her senior year, she was working for the team as a student worker in the recruiting department. Little did she know at the time that this would serve as the milestone in her decision to pursue a career in sports after graduating college.   

Like many college seniors, Doles felt both excited and anxious to graduate college and enter the real world. After all, graduation has always been something she looked forward to and worked for. However, graduating college was just the beginning of a number of challenges. Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, her post-graduation career plans were open to constant change.  

The COVID-19 pandemic left many college students around the country questioning the future. Universities shut down in-person classes, resorting to online lectures mid-March, extended spring breaks and canceling commencement ceremonies. For graduating seniors like Doles, the future was now more complicated and ambiguous.  

While working for the TCU football team, Doles reached out to the cornerback coach, Jeremy Modkins, about a career in sports. Modkins connected her with his brother, TCU alumnus Curtis Modkins, the current running backs coach of the Denver Broncos. Modkins was able to become her advocate, and once spring break came around, she interviewed for a communications/public relations seasonal assistant position with the Broncos.  

Doles has never been one to shy away from a challenge in the pursuit of her ambitions. During her years in college, she found herself taking any job opportunity she could get. At one point, she was working five jobs at once. So when it came to preparing for the interview for the job of her dreams, she was confident. “Having a strong work ethic and being a good person can go a long way in getting a job,” she said.  

Although the position Doles applied for was highly competitive, she was offered the job. However, shortly after being notified that she was hired, the Broncos told her they would no longer be able to hire her due to the organization’s uncertainty around the growing pandemic.  

Shortly after receiving the heartbreaking news, Doles received a phone call from David Cohen, director of communications at the University of Southern Mississippi, who offered her a graduate assistant position. Although she was upset about losing the position with the Broncos, she felt relieved that a new opportunity had presented itself. 

Doles decided to take the position at the University of Southern Mississippi and was in the process of completing her application when she was notified that the deadline to apply had passed. Once again, she was back to square one. She was devastated. “My identity was in what I did and in my job, so I felt defeated and empty,” she said.   

After receiving the news that both jobs fell through, Doles went back home to Grand Rapids where she began working retail and for a local news channel, WOOD TV, as a coordinating producer. “Moving back into my childhood bedroom made me feel even more defeated. It definitely struck my pride and I felt humbled,” she said. “But it was good to be back with my parents and little brother. They made an effort to make me feel special and loved. It was really meaningful.” 

For Doles, the job search continues, but her faith is strong and her spirits are high. For her, no challenge is too big. Once he got word of her graduate assistant position falling through, Broncos coach Modkins didn’t hesitate to reach out, giving her words of encouragement and reassurance.  

Although Doles may be uncertain of the future, after she spoke with Modkins, one thing remains certain in her mind: Frog Family is forever, and nothing can change that.