- Damian Vaughn
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Damian Vaughn Date of birth: June 14, 1975 Place of birth: Anchorage, AK Career information Position(s): Tight End College: Miami University Organizations As player: 1998-2000
2001-2002Cincinnati Bengals
Tampa Bay BuccaneersDamian Vaughn (born on June 14, 1975 in Anchorage, AK[1]) is a retired American Football tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals (1998–2000) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers[2] (2001–2002). As the first Brazilian NFL player, Vaughn has made efforts to promote awareness and interest in American football among Brazilians, including a trip to Brazil with Tony Gonzalez in 2003. Following his career in football, Vaughn has remained active in the athletics world by founding The Vaughn Center, whose mission is to help transform the lives of athletes through meditation and leadership training.
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Education
Vaughn attended Orrville High School and went on to study Spanish and International Business at Miami University in Ohio. He also studied Cognitive Neuroscience and Consciousness at the University of Arizona and Interpersonal Neurobiology and the Science of Mindful Awareness at the Mindsight Institute in Los Angeles, CA.
Football career
After playing as a walk-on at Miami University, Vaughn was drafted in 1998 by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 33rd pick in the seventh round of the draft. He played tight end for the Bengals from 1998–2000 and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2001-2002.
Continuing his career on an international level, Vaughn played for the Barcelona Dragons[3] in NFL Europe. In 2000, Vaughn caught 40 passes for 326 yards, which earned him a selection on the All-NFLEL team. His last year in professional football was 2002, when he caught seven passes for 35 yards for the Dragons; his season, and career, were cut short by injury.
Business career
Following his retirement from professional football, Vaughn established himself as a successful entrepreneur. He began by co-founding a countertop manufacturing venture that quickly grew into a multi-million dollar business. He subsequently founded Terra Mar Stone,[4] an importer and wholesaler of rare and exotic stone for commercial application. Damian raised millions of dollars in private equity financing for the company, which went on to achieve seven-figure numbers in gross revenues. He also founded a manufacturing company in Brazil, where he holds dual citizenship.
The Vaughn Center
In 2009, Damian founded the Vaughn Center, a facility in Scottsdale, Arizona that helps athletes focus on their minds and bodies through meditation. The Center aids athletes in finding their true athletic and personal potential, and aspires to help athletes transition from their sports careers to new endeavors. The Vaughn Center is located within the Agave Spa at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa.
The Vaughn Center caters to high-performance athletes, assisting them in eliminating negative and distracting thoughts to help them consistently play at the highest level. The Center also provides leadership training by teaching athletes how to command respect from teammates, coaches, owners, and fans. The overriding goal of the Vaughn Center is to help athletes free themselves from the stress, worry, and anxiety that afflicts so many in professional sports.
Coaching
Damian Vaughn is a professional speaker for athletes, coaches, and corporate audiences. He holds various coaching programs, both in-season and off-season, at The Vaughn Center.
Meditation with the Mind and Body
Damian initially turned to meditation as a means of dealing with the extreme mental and physical challenges of an NFL career. After retirement, Damian became a Certified Teacher of Primordial Sound Mediation through the Chopra Center, and now travels across the country giving lectures on meditation, talking about experiencing the different "zones” in sports and finding our own heightened state of awareness.
Personal
Originally from Orrville, OH, Vaughn currently resides in Phoenix, AZ with his wife Nicole and their two children, daughter Chloe Rose and son Roman Joseph.
Damian credits much of his success to his numerous mentors, including former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy, Dr. Dan Siegel, Dr. Dejanira Rosa, and Dr. Deepak Chopra.
Damian is trilingual, speaking English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
External links
The Vaughn Center:
Damian's Facebook Page:
Damian's Twitter Page:
References
- ^ (2009-10-23)http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/player/splits/2008/12784
- ^ (2009-10-23)http://www.proplayerconnect.com/athlete/profile/151-Damian-Vaughn
- ^ (2009-10-23)http://tam.scout.com/a.z?s=70&p=8&c=1&nid=293149
- ^ (2009-10-30)http://www.terramarstone.com/
Categories:- 1975 births
- Living people
- University of Arizona alumni
- Miami University alumni
- Players of American football from Alaska
- People from Anchorage, Alaska
- Barcelona Dragons players
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