2023 Outstanding Young Alumni Award

Rennie Curran is a former professional athlete who currently serves as an active keynote speaker, author and CEO of Game Changer Coaching. Recently inducted into the Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame and Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame, he uses his platform to inspire students, athletes and business professionals to reach their fullest potential.

Born in Atlanta and the son of Liberian immigrants, Curran has a diverse background with humble beginnings. He began his football career at Brookwood High School in Snellville, becoming the all-time leading tackler in Gwinnett County history. He was initially considered undersized according to various critics but quickly silenced the doubters by exploding onto the field as a true freshman at the University of Georgia.

His experiences of overcoming many circumstances to reach his childhood dream of becoming a three-time All American, Butkus Award Finalist, permanent team captain, a third-round draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft (Tennessee Titans) and transitioning into becoming a successful entrepreneur have given him a unique perspective on what it takes to handle adversity and maximize opportunities while having a positive impact on others.

Through his innovative presentations, he teaches individuals, teams and organizations how to transform their personal and professional lives through leadership, teamwork and personal development. Rennie has been counseling and inspiring people for many years. He is the CEO of Game Changer Coaching, whose mission is to help elite athletes, business professionals and executives become influential leaders by improving performance and building their brand.

In 2013, he published a motivational self-help book, Free Agent: The Intangibles for Overcoming Adversity and Times of Transition. This book discusses how to overcome adversity during the times of transition that we all face along our journey to achieve our dreams. He also has a newly released children’s book titled “What Does It Take to Be a Star,” co-written with his 9-year-old daughter, Eleana Curran. The book taps into every child’s curiosity to find their own personal greatness by helping them to realize that being a star has less to do with your title and more to do with who you are as a person.

Rennie obtained a bachelor's of business administration from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business and a certification in personal development coaching from the Life Purpose Institute. He has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, Fox Sports, ESPN College GameDay, The Huffington Post and much more.

When Rennie is not speaking, coaching or writing, he is usually spending time with his daughter or catching up on one of his favorite hobbies: music. He grew up playing the piano, drums and viola. He is also a public servant who spends lots of time giving back through several organizations including Boys and Girls Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, ALS Foundation, Boys Scouts of America and many more. Curran is a man of faith, humility, integrity and resilience.