Graduation Spotlight: From the pitch to a purpose: Macready finds his path at Lipscomb
Kim Chaudoin |
For George Macready, the soccer field has always been a place of focus and drive.
But when injury brought an unexpected end to his collegiate athletic career, he found something more at Lipscomb University — a deeper sense of purpose and a faith that now guides his future.
This May, the Chester, England, native will graduate with a STEM Master of Business Administration, a distinction earned by students who complete an analytics certificate alongside their MBA coursework. The milestone marks the culmination of a journey that began more than 4,000 miles from home and has shaped Macready in ways he never anticipated.
“I’ve been playing soccer ever since I can remember,” said Macready. “From a very young age, I was introduced to it by my dad and never looked back.”
He began playing club soccer at 4 years old for his local team, and then eventually moved up into an academy and then first-team soccer as a teenager. He played four seasons for the University of Chester in England before joining Lipscomb’s men’s soccer team.
At Lipscomb, Macready quickly learned the balancing act of being an NCAA Division I student-athlete — juggling training, travel and games with his academic studies.
I knew the day I got surgery that it meant the end for me on the soccer field at Lipscomb, as it was my final year. But the injury showed me I was so much more than just a soccer player. — George Macready
“Being a student-athlete is all about balance and resilience, and I love that challenge. It’s not just about showing up to class or practice, it’s about pushing yourself to excel in both,” he said. “Having the opportunity to continue to play the sport I love alongside bettering myself academically was the perfect situation for me.”
“It for sure isn't easy, but it builds so many valuable skills that you can take with you into the next stage of your life — time management, discipline and adaptability to name a few,” continued Macready. “In the beginning, it definitely was a struggle for me. Over time, you learn to adapt to the demands and begin to thrive both in the classroom and in your sport.”
He quickly found his stride on the field at Lipscomb. During the 2023 season, his first with the Bisons, he was named a member of the 2023 ASUN All-Tournament Team, played in 16 games with 15 starts on the season and scored one goal on the season. This past fall, Macready started the first four games of the season before he faced a setback — two hip surgeries that sidelined him and ultimately ended his time on the pitch.
“My hip surgery messed things up a little, but I’m so grateful for the surgery as it brought me closer to God,” he explained. “I kept falling back on the verse John 13:7 - ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ I knew the day I got surgery that it meant the end for me on the soccer field at Lipscomb, as it was my final year. But the injury showed me I was so much more than just a soccer player.”
What’s impacted me the most at Lipscomb is how faith is lived out here, not just talked about ... I started to see what a real relationship with God could look like. — George Macready
The transition wasn’t easy. But as his time on the field ended, a new chapter began — one marked by spiritual growth and a stronger sense of self.
“When I first came to Lipscomb, I was still figuring out what faith even meant to me,” said Macready. “I didn’t grow up in a deeply religious environment, so I was honestly a bit unsure and even hesitant. But Lipscomb met me where I was. It offered a place to explore and grow at my own pace.”
He found support through a tight-knit Bible study group called Sunrise Slayers and encouragement from professors, classmates and teammates who modeled their faith through action.
“What’s impacted me the most at Lipscomb is how faith is lived out here, not just talked about,” said Macready. “Professors, classmates and teammates didn’t just preach — they showed what it looked like to live with purpose, grace and love. I started to see what a real relationship with God could look like. Slowly, my curiosity turned into conviction.”
Though as a student athlete Macready did not have time to be involved in many activities other than his sport, he said he witnessed daily “the amazing things students on our campus are involved in and how they reflect what it means to be intentional in their relationship with Christ.”
Macready now looks ahead to a future in consulting or business analytics, where he hopes to grow under strong mentors and one day lead teams of his own.
“I’m hoping to join a company that values continuous learning,” he said. “Eventually, I’d love to specialize in strategy or operations analytics and eventually move into a leadership role where I can shape business decisions at a higher level.”
While Macready’s time at Lipscomb has been relatively short, it has left a lasting impact.
“My time at Lipscomb has been life-changing. The people at Lipscomb have challenged me in so many ways and have shaped me into a person I can be proud of,” he said. “Through the challenges and adversity of moving 4,000 miles away from home into the unknown, it has prepared me to take any challenge head-on in the next step of my journey.”