ALUMNI PROFILE
Football, Faith and Priory Former National Football League player Ben Noll ’00 grew in athletics, academics, and faith as a student at Priory. He attended the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and he says Priory gave him the skills he needed to realize his dreams. Foundation Formed At Priory “You don’t realize the gift that Priory gives you until later in life,” Noll says. “Priory gives you a foundation. If you look at the Order of Saint Benedict, you realize he was a bright guy. Look closer at the monks’ lives. There are three parts to the day: pray, work, and rest.” Noll says it’s a very intentional way to live your life. “There’s a piece of me that appreciates the monks’ guidance. It felt like I had 30 more dads. Each one brought a unique love or passion to the community and wanted to share it with us.” While he was a Form I and Form II student, Noll developed a steadfast relationship with God. “I spent intentional time each day and opened my heart.” To get to know his classmates, Noll joined the football team. “The coaches put everyone’s name on the helmets. I came to practice to meet other students and learn their names,” he says.
Once he moved up to the High School, Noll realized he needed to work harder. He began with a vision. “I realized I needed to utilize my mentors, and I developed a ‘don’t stop’ attitude. My sophomore year, I wasn’t a dominant player. Coach Marty Combs taught us that if we put in the work, we would be able to execute and win.” The coaches at Priory dedicate their lives to the success of countless students. “The impact is so big. They have created pathways for students to play at the next levels,” Noll says. “Other schools don’t have the 100-percent-participation-inathletics requirement. You come together as a team no matter what your role is. Priory teaches you that. Learning how to be a part of a team will take you far. You learn to utilize your God-given talents. Your horizons are opened up because of Priory.”
Making Dreams Come True While playing football at Penn, Noll’s best friend and teammate suggested they try out for the NFL. “He said we had the characteristics, but more importantly, the mental aspects to handle the rigor of it. So, I left Penn before my final semester to pursue the NFL.” Noll thought, “You’re going to pay me money to work out with my idols – okay! Priory gave me the confidence. The individuals who coached me told me what to focus on. I stayed in the moment, and we were able to impress enough people to make it on an NFL roster.”
Ben Noll ‘00 senior photo
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