For Plez Transou ’26, choosing a college was never just about leaving home. Growing up in Fort Worth, TCU had always been part of the backdrop of his life. Something familiar, admired and quietly aspirational.  

“I remember being a kid, riding the bus with my friends to elementary school, talking about how I would go to school here one day,” he explains.  

Now a senior health and fitness student preparing to pursue a master’s degree in exercise physiology at TCU, Transou’s college experience has become much more than a hometown story. It’s a story about resilience, mentorship and discovering opportunities he never expected. 

Finding Everything He Wanted Right at Home 

Like many students, Transou explored other colleges before making his final decision. But after touring campuses elsewhere, he realized the place he was looking for had been nearby all along.  

“After going on a few different tours to other colleges, I realized that everything I was looking for was already in my own backyard,” he says. “The facilities are incredible, the faculty are amazing and the students were super welcoming.” 

Even as someone who grew up around campus, visiting as a prospective student changed everything. 

Watch Plez's full video interview. 

“Everybody talks about that feeling of when you know, you know,” Transou explains. “And I always kind of thought it was cliché until I stepped foot on TCU’s campus.” 

A Waitlist, a Chance Encounter and a Life-Changing Call 

Transou’s TCU experience almost didn’t happen. 

Originally waitlisted by the university, he left a college tour at another school feeling discouraged and uncertain about his future. Before heading home, he attended a TCU baseball game in what he called a “last-minute Hail Mary” to meet people and explore whether there was still a chance for him to attend his dream school. 

Instead, he unexpectedly crossed paths with Chancellor Emeritus Victor J. Boschini, Jr., Ed.D. 

“I introduced myself,” Transou recalls. “And he said, ‘I haven’t seen you around campus before. Are you a freshman here?’” 

 Transou explained that he had been waitlisted and shared his story. Boschini asked for his name again and told him to watch for an email. 

“I kind of just thought, this is what he says to everybody,” Transou admits. But the next day, his phone rang. 

 “He said, ‘I want you at TCU. I want you here. You need to be a Frog.’” 

 That moment changed everything. “It was surreal,” Transou said. 

Looking back, he says the experience reflects something unique about TCU’s culture. 

“The fact that you can rub shoulders with someone like that on a random afternoon is super unique to this school.” 

Turning a Setback into a Career Path 

Before college, Transou thought football would define his future. But during the first game of his senior season as captain, he suffered a devastating knee injury that tore multiple ligaments and required reconstructive surgery and months of physical therapy. 

What initially felt like a major setback ultimately became the experience that shaped his career goals and sparked his interest in kinesiology and athlete recovery. 

“Going through the rehab process, I worked with some amazing physical therapists,” he says. “That really kick-started my interest in kinesiology.” 

More importantly, the injury taught him resilience. 

“No matter what gets thrown your way, you’ve got to overcome it,” he says. “You’ve got to be able to turn a negative into a positive.” 

Discovering Strength and Conditioning at TCU 

Transou originally planned to pursue physical therapy, but after realizing that path wasn’t the right fit, he began searching for another way to stay connected to athletics and performance training. 

That search led him to the world of collegiate strength and conditioning. 

After reaching out to TCU Men’s Basketball, Transou connected with Director of Basketball Operations Thomas Montigel and eventually began working with strength coach Garry Christopher. 

“He and I hit it off,” Transou says. “And it wasn’t until I started working in basketball that I realized that strength and conditioning was an option.” 

What started as an undergraduate internship evolved into a major role within the program. Today, Transou works closely with the team in areas like sports science and performance tracking. 

“We’ll put the players in GPS tracking systems during practice and games,” he explains. “We track workload, movement patterns and even what leg they’re jumping off of. It helps us assess injury risk and program workouts.” 

Although he’s now deeply involved with the program, Transou remembers being intimidated when he first joined the staff. 

 “My first year, I did not say a single word,” he says with a laugh. “I was a silent observer. Then slowly I started asking more questions, gained responsibility and it snowballed into essentially being a student coach.” 

Inside the Division I Experience 

Working behind the scenes with Men’s basketball has given Transou experiences he will remember forever. 

“No single day is the same,” he says. “It changes all throughout the year based on where you are in the season.” 

From practices and lifts to road trips and postseason play, the role has immersed him fully in Division I athletics.  

“My favorite part is the travel and just meeting new people on the road,” he says. “I’ve made incredible connections, and it’s something you probably wouldn’t get to experience anywhere else.” 

 One of the biggest moments came during the Horned Frogs’ postseason run. 

 “My favorite memory was going to March Madness and beating Ohio State,” he recalls. “That was an incredible experience and something I’ll probably remember for the rest of my life.” 

More than anything, the experience confirmed that he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be.  

“Working with athletes at TCU has only reaffirmed the fact that this is exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life,” he says. 

Opportunities Beyond the Classroom 

Transou says many of his most meaningful experiences at TCU happened outside a traditional academic setting.  

Working at the Campus Recreation Center helped him build connections throughout the kinesiology department, while serving as a Frog Camp counselor allowed him to help incoming students feel welcomed. 

 He also credits TCU’s support systems for making his academic journey smoother during moments of uncertainty.  

“The professors really want you to succeed,” he says. “They’re going to do whatever it takes to make sure you’re on the right track.” 

A Community That Lasts 

As both a Fort Worth native and a soon-to-be alum, Transou says his appreciation for TCU has only deepened over time.  

“The community at TCU is something that’s really special. Everyone’s always here to help you. Everyone wants to know what you’re up to.” 

Whether traveling for basketball or simply wearing TCU gear around the country, he says the Horned Frog connection is everywhere. 

“If you’re a Frog, you’re a Frog for life,” he says. 

Now preparing for graduate school and a future career in collegiate athletics, Transou says TCU has given him confidence in what comes next. 

“I’ve never felt more confident about my future.” 

 And if he could give one piece of advice to the version of himself who was anxiously waiting for an admissions decision years ago? 

“Everything might not work out the way that you expect it to, but it’s going to work out for the best.” 

From being waitlisted to traveling with a Division I basketball program during March Madness, Transou’s journey at Texas Christian University has been defined by resilience, growth and unexpected opportunity.  

 What began as a hometown dream evolved into a hands-on college experience that shaped both his career path and his confidence in the future – proving that sometimes the moments that don’t go according to plan lead exactly where you’re meant to be.