Mohen Makes Major League Decisions Following Collegiate Career

Walking off the basketball court for the last time after his final collegiate game, Carnegie Mellon University senior Rob Mohen admits it was one of the hardest things he has ever had to do, but he is ready to incorporate basketball into his life in a different way.

"Walking off the court was hard not only because it marked the end of college basketball, but because it has been such an enormous focus in my life," Mohen said. "Putting in all those hours and then suddenly it is over, it's hard."

Mohen was thinking about taking a break from the game for a little while, but Carnegie Mellon head basketball coach Anthony Wingen passed word to the team about a volunteer coaching opportunity and Mohen began coaching a ninth grade AAU team one week later.  Mohen has now been working with his team for a little over a month.

"Anytime you begin something new, there will be things that surprise you and show you things within yourself that you need to work on," Mohen said. "I think it's important in coaching to be able to present your ideas clearly and make sure people are receptive of the things you are asking them to do."

Mohen believes that playing collegiate basketball and finding ways to keep positive will help him become a successful and effective coach for his younger players.

"I think it is really important to frame things as positively as you can," Mohen said. "Instead of dwelling on past mistakes, what went wrong, or what could have been done differently, I try to focus on what we can do now, what we can do next, and what we can do better."

"Taking that type of attitude with younger developing players is really crucial to forming the players they will become in the future," Mohen added.

Mohen practices with his Pittsburgh Pride ninth grade Gold AAU team once or twice a week and coaches in tournaments on the weekends.  All of the games they play are local to the Pittsburgh area.

"I really just love basketball," Mohen said.

Something always seems to bring Mohen back to the game, so when he isn't physically playing he will watch basketball on TV or play a basketball video game.  Coaching the youth team now gives Mohen another way to incorporate basketball into his life.

"Since my college career is over, it is good for me to move to a different phase where basketball is still part of my life, but in a completely different way," Mohen said.

Mohen will continue to work with the kids until graduation which ends up coinciding with the end of the AAU season.  After graduation, Mohen is hoping to join a recreational basketball league back home in Connecticut.

Although Mohen doesn't currently have a job lined up, he certainly has an idea for what he can do with some free time after graduation: train to attend a Major League Baseball (MLB) tryout.

"I gave up baseball to play basketball in college, but I think that I have more natural ability when it comes to baseball," Mohen said. "It is something that I have always wanted to try and having that free time after I graduate gives me the perfect opportunity."

Mohen is looking to attend an open tryout in late May or early June as an outfielder.

He figures, "Why not train as hard as I can and see what happens even though it may be a long shot."

Mohen has been training for a few weeks and will continue to work hard until open tryouts.

"I am really working hard on the 60-yard dash because if I don't hit a certain time at the tryout I will get cut right then and there," Mohen said.

Mohen is also working on building up his arm strength and timing at the plate by recruiting people to go out and throw, lob him some soft toss and challenge him with live pitches.

 "I am going to start giving out burritos to people for helping me out with my MLB training," Mohen joked.

Mohen may have natural ability as an athlete, but he is also known amongst the Carnegie Mellon athletic community as a world-class competitive eater after he devoured four Chipotle burritos in only 50 minutes.  Completing this feat earned him the Twitter handle of @CMUBurritoKing.

He recently has been challenged to an eating contest with cookies by one of his freshman teammates, Justen Stiles, who claims that cookies are his specialty.

"I am really good at eating cookies too though," Mohen said. "I am not a one-trick pony with burritos."

Mohen usually tries to keep a healthy diet, but since his eating ability has been questioned he is looking forward to a little friendly competition.

Mohen is grateful to his teammates as well as many others in his life for they have played a huge influence on the person he is today and his ambitions.

"I try to recognize that each person in my life is really great at something different and try to look to them as a role model for that specific characteristic," Mohen said. "My dad especially has always set an example for me and knew how to encourage and build me up yet not let me become complacent."

Complacent is certainly something Mohen is not, always looking forward to the "what next," which will keep him moving forward in a positive direction as he parts ways with Carnegie Mellon.