Clocked out for the day, Jamar Howard continues to work by helping two men jump-start their car.

Almost 10 years after his basketball career at Wichita State, Howard is now working security at Southeast High School. His days of being a Shocker basketball star are far behind him, but he’s still all smiles.

“I’m just trying to give back to the world,” Howard said. “I always knew I wanted to do something to help people. I thought about being a coach, fireman or police officer. I knew it was something in this area.”

In his four years at WSU, he and other teammates had strictly basketball-related relationships with former head coach Mark Turgeon. Turgeon and his players would not discuss family or their personal life.

“I wish I could’ve gotten to know him a little bit better,” Howard said.

After his senior season, Howard was arrested for driving under the influence.

“I was just being me,” he said. “That was college. I was Jamar Howard, quote unquote. Everybody loved me. With that, came some irresponsibility.”

Following his DUI, Howard felt alone and fended for himself.

“It was just my own personal feeling – I don’t know if it was really like this – but I felt like nobody had my back,” Howard said. “I didn’t have my parents looking out for me, so I felt like [the coaches] didn’t have my back how I thought they would. It basically seemed like they were saying, ‘Well, the season’s over with. Let him do him and send him off.’”

Because of his rocky relationship with Coach Turgeon throughout college, he said he decided to break ties with the coach and the coaching staff.

 Since leaving Wichita in 2005, Howard has traveled the world and played professional and semi-professional basketball for teams in the U.S. and Germany for two years. He’s visited Great Falls, Mont., San Jose, Cali., Nordlingen and Munich, Germany, Dodge City and Kansas City.

Howard came back to Wichita in 2013. He met with Gretchen Torline, director of athletic academic services, and head coach Gregg Marshall. Torline and Marshall helped Howard get back in school, and he received a criminal justice degree in last December.

“I got back in touch with everybody and started going to games,” Howard said. “I’m happy I came back to Wichita. It was like I never left. They showed me the same kind of love as they did when I was in college. We have the best crowd and family atmosphere. That’s what I loved and still love about Wichita.”

Howard started working security at Southeast High School last February. He wants to help kids go down the right path.

“Being around kids and being able to mentor kids, I love every minute of it,” he said. “I’m trying to influence the kids in the right direction. Get your grades right. Sports will always be there, but grades are always first. I wasn’t like that when I was younger. I thought sports were going to get me through life.”

Being a great father and taking care of his kids are Howard’s main priorities now, he said. He said he might go into the police academy someday down the line.

Howard fought adversity, faced his challenges and learned from his mistakes.

“I don’t drink anymore,” he said. “I don’t do anything like that. I’ve got more important things. I have my family, my job and my kids. My kids are more important than anything else in the world.”

Howard may no longer be the big man on campus at WSU, but there is one thing he still manages to do.

“I’m still smiling,” he said. “I guess, growing up, seeing things growing up, all the bad things I saw growing up. My life is a lot better now than when I grew up. All that I can do is smile now.”