TRACK AND FIELD: Neboh returns to athletic roots for summer

Felix Neboh is all about looking ahead to what’s next even if making those decisions isn’t easy.

The 2010 Permian graduate made his mark on the football field and on the track for the Panthers before continuing his football career at UTEP and finishing at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo.

But with his playing days behind him, Neboh needed to figure out what to do after graduation.

And after a conversation with his parents and some research, Neboh figured out his next step was law school.

 “As every college athlete’s career comes to an end, sometimes you’re stuck figuring out what to do next,” Neboh said. “My parents always encouraged me to have a backup plan. I just tried to figure out what else I was interested in and honestly, it was the legal side that really interested me.”

Fast forward to the present and Neboh is back home for the summer after completing his second year of law school at Oklahoma City University.

He’s spending the summer as an intern at the Todd Law Firm in Odessa, working with everything from oil, gas and material law to commercial law among other areas.

But while he manages his work, Neboh makes it a point of emphasis to stay true to his athletic roots.

He does that as an assistant coach of the West Texas Track Club, a role he’s had since he graduated high school.

“Words can’t describe it. It’s an amazing feeling,” he said. “Growing up here in this community and watching these kids running gives me a chance to reminisce back when I was a little kid doing the exact same thing.”

He works as a coach while his mother, Stella, serves as the organization’s director. His brother, Richard, is also an assistant coach working with the Tiny Tots (ages 2-6) program.

They are just a small part of the group of people that put on a number of different track and field events during the summer.

One of those events is the Dr. Daniel Cepero Memorial Track and Field Meet, which is set to start Thursday at Ratliff Stadium.

Every year that he returns to the Permian Basin, Neboh says he’s always blown away with how much the program has grown as the event enters its 15th year.

“It’s something that the family started and it’s something that I’m proud to be a part of,” he said. “Just seeing it grow over the years has been astonishing. When we first got going, we had a very small following and it just continues to get bigger every year.”

Neboh coaches the sprinters and the hurdlers from all age group and he takes a lot of pride of seeing the next generation of runners participating in the same events he did just a few years ago.

“I feel like the greatest asset to a community is the children,” he said. “To be able to help out, give knowledge and coach up the next group of athletes is a great opportunity. I’ve always loved kids and it’s a great part of it.”

Coaching is something that Neboh continues to be passionate about and says that he wants to continue after he finishes law school.

He is currently on track to graduate next May and says he will take the Texas Bar Exam in order to return home to Odessa and continue to practice law.

He credits his time as a student athlete for shaping him into the person he is today and wants to continue to give back to those coming up behind him.

“You’re always focused on achieving a goal and a certain outcome at any time and I try to bring that mentality into everyday life,” he said. “The community got to support myself and my brothers through all of their accomplishments and it’s a great feeling to be able to give that back. It’s something that I want to continue doing.”

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