UA Little Rock Alum Turns Passion for Basketball Into Player Development Career
Lawrance Triplett has always wanted to understand the game of basketball beyond the Xs and Os and the box score.
After spending much of his life as a player, his curiosity shifted behind the scenes — driven by a desire to learn how teams are built, supported, and developed. That passion for growth, both his own and others’, led him to pursue a Master of Science in Sport Management at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and into a role developing student-athletes on and off the court.
A 2025 graduate of the program, Triplett has stayed connected to the game that shaped him, seeking to understand what it takes to run a successful program.
“What originally drew me to the field was my passion for wanting to learn and grow within sports,” Triplett said. “I had always been interested in what it takes to run a team from the front office and managerial perspective.”
That interest grew during his time in the Sport Promotion program, where he gained a behind-the-scenes perspective of how athletics departments operate. Seeing the preparation required for games, events, and practices reshaped the way he approached his own work.
“There is so much that goes on behind the scenes that you’re unaware of as a player,” he said. “Learning the different processes departments go through to make sure everything functions properly has made me more in-depth in my own process now.”
Today, Triplett serves as the director of player development for the men’s basketball team, a role centered on supporting student-athletes both on and off the court. Working in coordination with head coach Darrell Walker, he creates and implements individualized development plans that address academic, athletic, and personal growth.
“What energizes me the most is the look on players’ faces when something I’ve taught them works,” Triplett said. “And when they come back later saying they’ve grown not just on the court, but as men and spiritually — that’s what gives me the greatest sense of energy.”
Much of his approach reflects the intentional integration of classroom learning and professional experience emphasized in the Sport Management program. Dr. Katie Helms, an associate professor in the School of Counseling, Human Performance, and Rehabilitation within the College of Business, Health, and Human Services, said Triplett consistently connected theory to practice during his time as both a graduate student and graduate assistant coach.
“Lawrance arrived at UA Little Rock ready to dive in,” Helms said. “He had a challenging dual role as both a graduate student and a graduate assistant coach for men’s basketball, and he embraced them both fully.”
Helms said she had frequent conversations with Triplett about coaching experiences through the course material.
“He would often come into my office and tell me about a recent situation in his coaching that related to something we were doing in class,” she said. “I enjoyed our conversations like this, because it showed that he was putting together his coursework and his professional work in a way that was enhancing both.”
That connection, Helms said, is central to the mission of the Sport Management program.
“This is an important goal of the MS Sport Management program at UA Little Rock — to integrate theories, tools, and best practices with sports-related job experiences,” she said. “Knowledgeable professionals who provide sports opportunities are difference-makers for their participants and communities, and Lawrance has certainly become that here at UA Little Rock.”
Triplett credits that foundation with helping him navigate leadership, communication, and strategic planning in his current role.
“Knowing how to speak to certain players in specific ways to get the best out of them is huge,” he said. “Another part is game-planning for different opponents and understanding personnel to maximize each game plan.”
Several mentors and moments at UA Little Rock helped prepare Triplett for the transition from graduate student to athletics professional. Among them was coach Walker, whose encouragement continues to guide him.
“He told me I’d have a team of my own one day,” Triplett said. “He encouraged me to be genuine, never doubt my abilities, and always be willing to listen, learn, and grow. To see where I was then compared to now has been a major blessing.”
When it comes to balancing performance, development, and well-being, Triplett believes the key is focusing on the individual rather than just the athlete.
“When the individual improves, the athlete naturally improves,” he said. “By pouring into student-athletes on a personal level, they’re more willing to give their best in workouts, practices, and games.”
For current UA Little Rock students, especially those pursuing Sport Promotion, Triplett encourages patience, self-belief, and consistency.
“Remain faithful and consistent to who you are and your process,” he said. “Find your why, trust your journey, and don’t compare your path to anyone else’s. That advice applies not just to Sport Promotion, but to life.”