The sounds of clucking chickens and snorting pigs surrounded a young D’Wayne Bates. The fresh scent of grass and Southern breeze gave no clue that the little boy kicking a ball around would grow up to be a football star. No one could have predicted that in a few decades, Bates would find his purpose in a totally different field: education.

Throughout his life, Bates has played a lot of roles: small-town boy, collegiate football player, professional in the NFL, high school history teacher, and now, athletic director for Stevenson. Though his profession may have changed, Bates’ ideals of dreaming big, believing in himself, and working hard to pursue his goals have remained with him the whole time. 

Although he would eventually live in larger cities as an adult, Bates had humble beginnings. He was raised by his single mother on a farm in Jackson, South Carolina, a town of 1,400 people.

“When you grow up in a small town, there’s not a lot to do, so sports become very important to me,” Bates said. “I began playing very young, when I was five, and the helmet was probably bigger than my body.”

Throughout his childhood, Bates’ love of sports developed. As he got older and entered high school, sports became an even more prominent component of his life, playing baseball, basketball, and football. Aside from sports, he also formed a close community with his classmates and fellow players. 

“My life is about family and community,” Bates said. “When you’re in high school, you will encounter some of your best friends you’re going to meet in life. I still know the entire town. I go home today and it’s like walking back into my high school time.”

Bates’ talents revealed themselves throughout his high school years, and when senior year came, universities began recruiting him for football. He chose Northwestern University not only for its academics, but because he also sought to leave his small hometown in the South, and was intrigued by its location. At Northwestern University, Bates was a part of a diverse community unlike his small town upbringing, which opened his mind to new experiences.

 “I met people from […] pretty much every continent of the world in my dorm hallway,” Bates said. “It was a very culturally awakening experience.” 

Through meeting people from so many backgrounds, Bates’ worldview was changed to be more open and understanding towards those with different backgrounds. But that wasn’t his main takeaway from his college experience—it was where he discovered his passion for working with youth.

“My first real teaching job was actually at a child care center,” Bates said. “I did that through Northwestern, through my student teaching. That’s when I knew this was it.”

Bates’ newfound passion for teaching kept growing throughout college, eventually earning him a degree in Education and Social Policy, but so did his athletic career. As a wide receiver of Northwestern’s football team, Bates set Northwestern’s career records for 210 total receptions, 26 touchdown catches, and 3,370 receiving yards. Eventually, going pro became a future goal for Bates.

 “When I got to college, I kind of had a dream of being in the NFL,” Bates said. “My junior year was when I saw it was realistic.”

Bates maintained his goal throughout his college football career. After years of NFL recruiters watching him play, they decided Bates had potential at holding his own in the NFL. Finally, Bates’ dream of being a professional football player came true.

“I was back at home in South Carolina with my family,” Bates said. “We were watching TV on that Saturday, team by team, just waiting. It finally happened late in the afternoon with a call from the Bears. I was very excited. I felt very blessed at that moment. It was one of those things I worked for; I dreamed of.”

Getting drafted by the NFL was a rare opportunity. Despite the odds, Bates was ultimately selected in the third round by the Bears in the 1999 draft. The experience satisfied Bates’ competitive and hard-working spirit. 

Bates had a long career in the NFL, playing three seasons for the Chicago Bears and two years for the Minnesota Vikings. Though the NFL was ultimately a formative experience for Bates, he was well aware, and accepted, that it was only one phase of his life. After six years, Bates left the NFL and returned to his passion of teaching.

After his retirement, Bates started volunteering at Evanston Township High school which eventually led to him being hired as a history teacher. After a career traveling the world and visiting museums in many countries, history stood out as an intriguing subject for Bates to teach.

Soon enough, Bates was presented with the opportunity of becoming an assistant athletic director at Evanston High School where he accepted the offer. With Bates’ new ability to make a greater impact on the school community, he was offered the chance to become an athletic director at LaSellu-Peru High School from 2012 to 2014. 

Soon afterwards, he took the position of assistant principal of athletics at Glenbard East High School in Lombard, Illinois, before eventually accepting a job at Stevenson for the 2025-2026 school year. Bates took the position of the retired Trish Betthauser who previously worked at Stevenson as its athletic director for over 20 years.

“It’s crazy to think about the enrollment at Stevenson compared to my hometown,” Bates said. 

The number of Stevenson students, compared to the 1,400 people in Bates’s hometown, showed Bates how greatly his job could impact the student community. At Stevenson, Bates wants to continue to impact the students around him by helping athletes and students alike feel inspired. He feels that there are many ways to connect the community and help students achieve their dreams.

“One of my big roles is that I want every kid to grow into a leader,” Bates said. “I know a lot of kids don’t think they can be leaders, [but] there’s so many ways to lead. Every sport has a chance where every kid can be a leader in some way.”

Bates, though he has considered becoming a coach or teaching again later in life, is ultimately satisfied with where he is. He is proud to be able to inspire students with his athletic direction and unique life story, and advises students to work towards a goal.

“It’s not going to be a straight narrow path all the time. Sometimes, it’s going to be up and down like a rollercoaster, but eventually, you’ll know what you’re trying to get to,” Bates said. “And even if you don’t get there, along the journey, you’re going to learn something about yourself.”