For West Philadelphia native Debarrin Norman ’26, athletics have been more than competition; they’re a springboard for leadership, connection, and future career goals.

The Sociology major hit the ground running in his first year at Arcadia. He joined the men’s basketball team, which won the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Championship that same year, a feat that Norman calls his proudest accomplishment. Now entering his final year, he’s looking to cap off his career at Arcadia at the top. 

“I’m looking forward to a good final year,” said Norman. “I’m very blessed to be where I am and to just have fun while handling my business. I’m hoping to make one more run to win another championship this year.”

This summer, Norman attended the 2025 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Career in Sports Forum at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind., as he was interested in learning more about career paths within the organization.

“I wanted to attend the conference because it fit perfectly with a career that I want to pursue in life after college,” Norman explained. “Being surrounded by so many like-minded individuals and professionals within the variety of fields the NCAA has to offer was very beneficial to me, and having the opportunity to be there was a blessing that I’ll forever be grateful for.

“This experience helped me obtain a clearer vision of what I feel my purpose is, and that purpose is to help the next generation of student-athletes,” he continued. “Whether it’s on the business side, background work, coaching, or working directly with them, I know that it is something that I 100% want to do. I’ve made many connections with peers and also people who work in the NCAA, who are more than willing to help me get there from the Career In Sports Forum and also the 2025 student-immersion program at the NCAA Convention I attended in January.”

At Arcadia, Norman is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and some of his hobbies include working out, playing video games, listening to music, taking walks, and taking a good nap. He credits his time at Arcadia with shaping his personal and professional aspirations.

“My time at Arcadia has played a huge role in supporting my goals,” Norman said. “From an athletic standpoint, seeing what can be improved on and taking the feedback from teammates and building upon that. Also, my coaches and staff who work in the background, such as [Student Athlete Success & Leadership Coordinator] Oliver Moe, for example, who has been a great help to me since the day I first got here. Just in general, being able to learn from friends, peers, and staff here at Arcadia has helped me in so many ways, from taking in the information I’ve learned and applying it to myself.”