Nearly 10 years after graduating from Montezuma-Cortez High School, Cortez native Jarin Giesler is taking steps to achieve similar recognition.
The founder of Giesler Sports World-Wide Athletic Representation, Giesler works as a sports agent and attorney and advises several athletes, including recent Washington Redskins signee Kenny Horsley.
A potential fast-riser in the sports agent industry, Giesler’s path from local football fields and M-CHS classrooms to NFL meeting rooms serves as a testament to the power of hard work and the benefits associated with pursuing one’s dreams.
M-CHS provided foundation
Like many freshmen who walked through the doors of M-CHS in 2001, Giesler dreamed of becoming a local sports star.
A member of M-CHS’ football and wrestling teams, Giesler helped the freshman football team go undefeated before moving up to varsity as a sophomore and remaining there during the next three years.
Never the biggest or most athletic player, Giesler’s work ethic stood out as he enjoyed a solid career as a member of on the M-CHS’ offensive and defensive lines.
As a senior, Giesler was named a team captain and received the M-CHS football team’s Fighting Heart Award.
“Football taught me basics and fundamentals that allowed me to get to where I am today,” said Giesler. “I learned about camaraderie, leadership and hard work. I learned that you can’t just show up on day one and expect to succeed.”
College broadened horizons
Possessing strong work habits, but too small to attract scholarship offers from top flight colleges, Giesler enrolled at Colorado State University in the fall of 2005.
Although he was unable to walk on to the CSU football team, Giesler kept his dream of playing college football alive. After performing well at several camps hosted by nationally acclaimed long snapping coach Chris Rubio, Giesler received a scholarship offer from Delaware State University and signed prior to 2006 season.
Over the next three years, Giesler was a longsnapper for the historically African-America University’s football team. He graduated in 2009 as the top-ranked student in the department of Political Science, History and Philosophy, earned Mid Eastern Athletic Academic All-Conference Honors three times and was the Departmental Chairperson’s Award Winner in 2009.
“(Delaware State) broadened my horizons tremendously,” Giesler said. “Coming from Cortez to the East Coast, I saw a whole (new) world.”
Law school opened doors
Knowing that he wanted to work in the legal field, Giesler enrolled at Oklahoma City University School of Law in the fall of 2010.
Drawn to legal issues related to sports, Giesler joined the Sports and Entertainment Law Association, eventually became president, and along with teammate Cameron Feil, won the National Sports Law Negotiation Competition in 2012.
Giesler also placed third at the 2013 Fordham National Basketball Negotiation Competition and cracked the top 10 at the 2013 Tulane National Baseball Arbitration Competition.
“Law school was crazy,” said Giesler. “I spent more time in the library during the first week than I did during the rest of my academic career combined.”
Profession offers challenges
Bolstered by his success in law school and intent on pursuing a career as an agent, Giesler became a member of the Arizona Bar Association in 2013 and became a certified NFL agent the same year.
Using the connections he made while playing football at Delaware State, Giesler made connections with, and advised, multiple NFL prospects.
In September 2013, Giesler began representing defensive end Kenny Horsley, a Canadian Football League player looking to break into the NFL. After working out for seven NFL teams, Horsley signed with the Washington Redskins on Jan. 3.
Giesler is currently looking to add more players to his growing list of clients prior to the NFL draft.
“We’re competing with some of the biggest agents around the country,” Giesler said. “There is always a learning curve and when we have problems thrown our way, we have to be creative with our solutions.”
As for his future as a sports agent, Giesler said that he hopes to continuing adding clients and living his dream.
“My goal for the future is to help as many (athletes) as I can,” Giesler said. “I want to become a player on the national scene.”