Learn about Ed Jones II and Beyond The Field
Edward Jones II is a distinguished leader in athlete and player development, with a career dedicated to enhancing the personal, professional, and holistic growth of student-athletes. With over a decade of experience, he has served as Director of Player Development at the University of Houston, the University of Kansas, and Baylor University, directly impacting more than 500 student-athletes. His work has consistently focused on personal wellness, career development, community engagement, and transferable skill development. Across each institution, Edward helped drive record academic outcomes, meaningful community impact, and structured development programming that prepared athletes for success beyond sport.
In 2020, Edward founded Beyond The Field Program, LLC, an organization built to equip athletic programs and professionals with intentional, scalable player development systems. Through Beyond The Field, he created the Player Development Conference, which has grown into one of the premier professional development platforms for those who do the work of developing athletes. The first in-person Player Development Conference was held in Kansas City in May 2025, marking a major milestone in the event’s evolution. The next in-person conference will be held in Detroit in May 2026, continuing its expansion and national impact among professionals across collegiate and professional sports.
Edward is a three-time author, having written Beyond the Field: The Program That Creates Generational Impact, The Head Coach’s Guide to Player Development, and his most recent book, The Player Development Guide: How You Can Create Impact in the Lives of Athletes. His writing provides essential insights, practical frameworks, and real-world systems that coaches and player development professionals rely on to build effective programs. His work is widely used as a reference for creating structure, alignment, and measurable impact within athletic departments.
He is also the host of The Player Development Pod, one of the most consistent and trusted platforms in the player development space. Edward has produced over 263 podcast episodes, with more than 1,500 subscribers and 453,000+ listens across platforms. In addition, he produces two Player Development newsletters, which together reach more than 4,000 subscribers, further extending his reach and influence within the profession.
A sought-after speaker and facilitator, Edward has made three appearances at the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Convention, where he speaks on player development, leadership, and the transferable skills athletes gain through sport. He was also selected for the inaugural NFL College Football Administrator Committee, further cementing his leadership within the profession. Edward was a featured speaker at the NFL/NCAA Administrators Academy in Indianapolis, presenting at the NCAA offices on player development to rising college and NFL coaches. In addition, he served as a mentor in the NFL/NCAA Administrators Academy for two years, where he guided mentees toward success in their roles, ultimately helping two mentees secure high-level positions within the NCAA and one at the NBA level. Known for his ability to connect, educate, and challenge audiences, Edward is an effective speaker and workshop facilitator whose player development systems are relied upon by programs seeking clarity, consistency, and long-term impact. He continues to shape the future of the field by helping organizations develop people and elevate programs.
About Beyond The Field
Beyond The Field was founded in 2017 by Edward Jones II while serving as the Director of Player Development for the University of Houston Football program. What began as an internal player development framework was built out of real, lived experience working directly with student athletes navigating the demands of high-level athletics, academics, identity, leadership, and life beyond sport.
While at Houston, and later with the Kansas and Baylor football programs, Edward used Beyond The Field as a working system to intentionally enhance the student-athlete experience through holistic, structured, and purpose-driven development. This was not motivational programming or one-off events. It was a repeatable, intentional approach to developing people while supporting winning programs.
In 2019, Beyond The Field officially evolved from an internal player development program into a standalone player development business. This transition was driven by a clear gap in the industry. As the player development role expanded across college athletics and professional sports, there was no centralized resource, playbook, or ecosystem designed specifically for those doing the work or those trying to enter the field.
Since its inception, Beyond The Field has grown into one of the premier resources in the player and athlete development space. It serves current professionals, aspiring practitioners, coaches, administrators, and organizations looking to better support athletes on and off the field. Beyond The Field is rooted in systems, not slogans, and emphasizes sustainability, clarity, and impact over surface-level inspiration.
Today, Beyond The Field provides value through a comprehensive ecosystem that includes curated content, structured curriculum, professional development education, consulting, coaching, and events. Every offering is informed by years of experience inside athletic departments, on the road recruiting, in staff meetings, in locker rooms, and in real conversations with athletes, coaches, parents, and administrators.
Beyond The Field is also home to several cornerstone platforms that serve the broader athlete development community. The Player Development Pod is one of the longest-running podcasts dedicated exclusively to player and athlete development, featuring hundreds of conversations with professionals across college athletics, professional sports, education, and leadership. The Player Development Newsletter provides ongoing insight, reflection, and practical guidance for those navigating the role or seeking to elevate their programs.
In addition to digital content and education, Beyond The Field convenes the industry through live experiences, most notably the Player Development Summit. The summit brings together practitioners from across sports to share best practices, build relationships, and advance the profession through collaboration and shared learning.
At its core, Beyond The Field exists to do one thing exceptionally well: Develop People and Elevate Programs. Whether through content, consulting, curriculum, or community, the mission remains the same. To enhance the athlete experience, strengthen organizations, and ensure those doing the work of player development are supported, equipped, and valued.
Beyond The Field - Purpose, Vision, Mission
Purpose:
Create generational impact in the world through the life of athletes
Vision:
Build impactful player development professionals and programs
Mission:
Provide exposure to the player development position through education
Beyond The Field - Tagline
Develop People. Elevate Programs.