I recently crossed paths with Tre Stallings who is currently Director of Player Engagement for the Tennessee Titans. It’s always a pleasure to run into former Ole Miss athletes who are doing so well. We were able to conduct a brief Q&A.
HottyToddy.com: Tre, tell us what a Director of Player Engagement actually does.
Tre Stallings: The mission of Player Engagement is to challenge National Football League players to be lifelong learners while pursuing continuous improvement in family relations, social interactions, personal growth and career development during and beyond their NFL careers. Our department proposes a wide range of programs to meet the needs of players and their families in today’s NFL. While also offering prevention, education and intervention to all active, practice squad, injured reserve players and their significant others.
HottyToddy.com: What did you learn from your experience at Ole Miss that is helping you today?
Tre Stallings: Coach Cutcliffe impressed upon me that anything you experience in life, leave the place better than how you found it. That has been a lasting memory to me and is definitely part of my mindset.
HottyToddy.com: Help us retrace your path following your outstanding career in Oxford.
Tre Stallings: I played at Ole Miss from 2002-2005 having been redshirted in 2001. I was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2006 and remained with them for 3 years. In 2008 I was picked up by Baltimore and saw my NFL career come to an end in 2009. At that point I had to select an alternative career path.
HottyToddy.com: Apparently you made some right decisions.
Tre Stallings: Initially I returned to Mississippi (Sumner) where I was a permanent substitute teacher during 2010. Next, a mentor to me with the Chiefs informed me about an internship with the PAC 10 which took me to California. This ultimately led to a position (Asst. Director of Championships) with the SEC. My role was a liaison with all coaches (all sports) involving the logistics for playoffs and championship games. I held that position from October 2011 until May of this year when I joined the Titans in Nashville.
HottyToddy.com: What about your family?
Tre Stallings: My wife, Kimblee, and I have been married for 7 years and have 2 wonderful children…Kaylee (6) and CJ (8 months). Kimblee is from Tyler Town and I’m from Magnolia. We met at Ole Miss.
HottyToddy.com: Speaking of Ole Miss what do you see as the future for our 2014 Rebs?
Tre Stallings: We need two complete games. Coach Freeze has done a great job. The Arkansas game is just as big as the Mississippi State game. Arkansas is a team that has flown under the radar barely losing to Alabama and Texas A&M. They are a team that “wants to win.”
HottyToddy.com: You selected Ole Miss over other possible choices. Why so?
Tre Stallings: Relationships. I felt like I was at home at Ole Miss. Magnolia is just less than 4 hours from Oxford and the commute was not difficult.
HottyToddy.com: You come from a football family?
Tre Stallings: My dad (Robert) played TE with the Cleveland Browns and also St. Louis.
HottyToddy.com: What are your immediate goals?
Tre Stallings: My job is vital in assisting our players in understanding who they are. We are building the man and helping to understand their identity outside of football. I am building trust with them in order to plan for their future beyond football.
Tre Stallings has definitely accomplished the very thing he is now counseling the current players about. It doesn’t seem all that long ago when he was anchoring our offensive line; now he is assisting both sides of the ball in an even more meaningful task!
Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. In addition, he is a certified economic and community developer and currently, a highly successful leader in the real estate business with Premier Properties of Oxford.You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.
