Posted on June 16, 2026

How a 2018 Dissertation Became the Foundation for the National Growth of the CKA SAVE Project

By Dr. Keith Adams, Ed.D.
President & Founder, CKA SAVE Project

In 2018, I successfully defended my doctoral dissertation titled:

"Finding the Balance Between Academic and Sport Motivation: A Study of NCAA Division I Student-Athletes."

At the time, college athletics looked dramatically different than it does today.

There was no NIL marketplace. The Transfer Portal had not yet transformed roster management. Collective bargaining discussions were largely absent. Social media had not become a primary driver of athlete branding and identity.

Yet eight years later, the central question that guided my research remains just as important:

What motivates students and student-athletes to succeed?

As I continue leading the national growth and expansion of the CKA SAVE Project, I find myself returning to the lessons learned through that research. The findings not only help explain many of today's challenges facing student-athletes, but they also provide valuable insights for educators, parents, coaches, and school leaders working with all students.

Today, perhaps more than ever, understanding motivation matters.

The Question Behind the Research

For decades, educational researchers have recognized that student-athletes often struggle to balance the competing demands of academics and athletics.

While colleges and universities invest tremendous resources into athletic performance, researchers identified a need to better understand what motivates student-athletes academically.

The question seemed simple:

If a student-athlete is highly motivated in sports, does that same motivation transfer into the classroom?

To explore this question, my study surveyed 91 NCAA Division I student-athletes using two nationally recognized research instruments:

• Academic Motivation Scale (AMS)
• Sport Motivation Scale (SMS)

The study examined three forms of motivation:

Intrinsic Motivation

Doing something because it is personally meaningful, enjoyable, and fulfilling.

Examples include:

• Desire to learn
• Pursuit of mastery
• Personal growth
• Love of competition
• Continuous improvement

Extrinsic Motivation

Doing something because of external rewards or pressures.

Examples include:

• Scholarships
• Recognition
• Playing time
• NIL opportunities
• Professional aspirations
• Social media attention

Amotivation

A lack of motivation or purpose.

Examples include:

• Disengagement
• Burnout
• Lack of direction
• Feeling disconnected from goals

The Most Important Finding

The study found a statistically significant relationship between academic intrinsic motivation and sport intrinsic motivation.

In simple terms:

Student-athletes who were internally motivated in athletics were also more likely to be internally motivated academically.

This finding reinforced something I had witnessed throughout my career as a teacher, coach, athletic administrator, and student support specialist:

The characteristics that drive success in sports often drive success in life.

These include:

• Discipline
• Accountability
• Resilience
• Commitment
• Goal Setting
• Persistence
• Self-Improvement

When intentionally developed, these traits do not stay on the field or court.

They transfer into classrooms, careers, leadership roles, and personal development.

What the Research Did Not Find

The study found no statistically significant relationship between academic and athletic extrinsic motivation.

Likewise, there was no significant relationship between academic and athletic amotivation.

This finding is particularly important in today's environment.

Many people assume that scholarships, money, recognition, followers, endorsements, and future professional opportunities naturally motivate student-athletes in every area of life.

The research suggested otherwise.

External rewards may influence behavior temporarily.

However, they are not reliable predictors of long-term academic engagement.

That distinction has become increasingly important in the NIL era.

Why the Findings Matter More Than Ever

Since 2021, college athletics has experienced one of the most significant transformations in NCAA history.

Student-athletes now navigate:

• NIL opportunities
• Personal branding
• Revenue-sharing discussions
• Collective bargaining conversations
• Increased transfer activity
• Social media influence
• Expanded professional opportunities

These developments have created tremendous opportunities for student-athletes.

However, they have also increased the emphasis on external rewards.

Many athletes receive constant messaging about:

• Money
• Exposure
• Followers
• Marketability
• Endorsement deals
• Professional contracts

These opportunities are valuable.

But they also create an important challenge:

What happens when external rewards become the primary source of motivation?

My research suggests that sustainable success is rooted in something deeper.

When the scholarship ends, the season ends, or the endorsement opportunity disappears, intrinsic motivation remains.

The Challenge Extends Beyond Student-Athletes

While my dissertation focused on NCAA Division I student-athletes, the lessons extend far beyond athletics.

Across the country, educators are reporting increased challenges with student engagement.

Students often struggle with:

• Sustained attention
• Academic perseverance
• Long-term goal setting
• Delayed gratification
• Personal accountability

Many schools are asking:

How do we help students remain engaged in an age of instant gratification?

The answer may be similar to what my research revealed about student-athletes.

Students need opportunities to connect learning to purpose.

They need ownership.

They need structure.

They need support.

Most importantly, they need environments that help develop intrinsic motivation.

From Research to Practice: The Foundation of the CKA SAVE Project

Long before I completed my dissertation, I founded the CKA SAVE Project in 2009.

The mission was simple:

Help student-athletes and the people who work with them find the balance between academic success and athletic achievement.

My dissertation strengthened that mission.

The research validated what years of coaching, teaching, and mentoring had already taught me:

Success is rarely accidental.

It is built through intentional systems.

That philosophy eventually became our proprietary:

SDS Framework

Structure. Discipline. Support.

The SDS Framework serves as the foundation for every program, service, and initiative offered through the CKA SAVE Project.

We help students develop the intrinsic habits and behaviors that support long-term success.

How the CKA SAVE Project Helps Students Find the Balance

Through educational leadership, academic support, professional development, and research, the CKA SAVE Project helps students build skills that transfer across every area of life.

Programs and initiatives include:

• Academic Skills Assessments (ASA)
• Academic Monitoring Grid (AMG)
• CKA Virtual Internship Program (VIP)
• Career Launch Academy (CLA)
• Post Graduate Basketball Academy (PGA)
• Find the Balance Grant
• Balanced Student-Athlete Recognition Programs
• Educational Consulting and Professional Development
• National Student-Athlete Research Initiatives

Our work is designed to help students become:

• Better learners
• Better leaders
• Better communicators
• Better decision-makers
• Better prepared for life after athletics

Continuing the Research

One of the major conclusions from my dissertation was the need for continued research on motivation.

Today, the CKA SAVE Project continues that commitment through three national research studies examining:

Student-Athlete Motivation in the Evolving Landscape

Exploring the impact of NIL, the Transfer Portal, social media, and the post-pandemic environment on student-athlete motivation.

Student-Athletes' Perspectives on Collective Bargaining

Examining how athletes view compensation, representation, and their evolving role within college athletics.

Coaching in the Era of NIL and the Transfer Portal

Investigating how coaches are adapting leadership, recruiting, and player development strategies in a rapidly changing environment.

These studies are designed to ensure that future decisions affecting student-athletes are informed by evidence rather than assumptions.

Key Takeaways for Parents, Coaches, Educators, and School Leaders

1. Intrinsic Motivation Remains the Strongest Predictor of Long-Term Success

Students who are internally motivated tend to perform better across multiple domains.

2. Athletic Talent Alone Is Not Enough

Intentional support systems are necessary to connect athletic habits to academic achievement.

3. External Rewards Have Limits

Scholarships, NIL deals, recognition, and financial incentives can motivate behavior, but they rarely sustain growth over time.

4. Balance Must Be Taught

Students need guidance, mentorship, accountability, and support to successfully balance competing responsibilities.

5. Research Should Inform Practice

Schools, athletic departments, and organizations should use evidence-based strategies when developing programs designed to support students and student-athletes.

Why Schools, Parents, and Athletic Programs Should Partner with the CKA SAVE Project

The CKA SAVE Project is not built on theory alone.

It is built on:

• More than 30 years of educational leadership experience
• Research-based practices
• Proven academic intervention strategies
• Student-athlete development expertise
• National research initiatives
• A commitment to helping students thrive academically, athletically, professionally, and personally

Our work bridges the gap between research and real-world application.

Whether supporting a middle school student struggling with academic engagement, a high school athlete pursuing college opportunities, or a college student navigating NIL and the Transfer Portal, our mission remains the same:

To help students develop the structure, discipline, and support necessary to find the balance and achieve long-term success.

Looking Ahead

The future of education and athletics continues to evolve.

Students today face opportunities and challenges that previous generations could not have imagined.

Yet the central lesson from my dissertation remains unchanged:

Success is not built solely on talent, opportunity, or external rewards. It is built on purpose, discipline, growth, and intrinsic motivation.

At the CKA SAVE Project, we remain committed to helping students and student-athletes develop those qualities every day.

Because finding the balance is not simply about performing well in school or sports.

It is about preparing young people to thrive in life.

About the Author

Dr. Keith Adams, Ed.D. is the President and Founder of the CKA SAVE Project, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering students, student-athletes, and the people who work with them through educational leadership, research, professional development, academic support, and career readiness programming.

Dr. Adams has over 30 years of experience as a teacher, coach, athletic administrator, student support specialist, restorative justice coach, and educational leader. His doctoral research on student-athlete motivation continues to guide the national work of the CKA SAVE Project.

For more information, visit CKA SAVE Project, email [email protected], and subscribe to the Odd Coaches Podcast YouTube Channel — The Global Authority on Coaching Leadership.