I'm originally from a small town in eastern Montana called Savage. I grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere, where hard work wasn't optional it was simply part of everyday life. My parents were both incredibly hardworking, and they instilled that mindset in me from a young age.

Growing up in a small town meant you did a little bit of everything. I played multiple sports, but football and track & field quickly became my favorites. I also developed an early interest in science, anatomy, and biology, which probably wasn't a coincidence considering my mom was a science teacher.

After high school, I attended Dickinson State University and played football throughout my college career. Unfortunately, that journey started with a full shoulder replacement at just 18 years old.

For the first time in my life, I was told there were things I wouldn't be able to do.

Some healthcare professionals told me I'd never use my arm normally again and that playing football was likely out of the question. Hearing that at 18 years old wasn't exactly encouraging.

Thankfully, I eventually found a physical therapist who believed in the process and helped me believe in it too. Through rehab, patience, and a lot of hard work, I made my way back onto the field. That experience sparked a lifelong fascination with the human body and what people are truly capable of overcoming.

I fell in love with exercise science shortly after that. There were a few failed attempts at becoming an accounting major along the way, but it turned out I was far more passionate about human performance, recovery, and helping people beat the odds than I was about spreadsheets.

Like many former athletes, I eventually had to face a difficult reality: I wasn't going to play sports forever.

The problem was my eating habits didn't get the memo.

After football, my activity level dropped, but my nutrition didn't. Before long, I found myself weighing nearly 280 pounds and struggling with both my physical and mental health.

That became my first comeback story.

I committed to learning nutrition, training intelligently, and building better habits. Over time, I lost roughly 75 pounds and completely changed my health.

Problem solved, right?

Not quite.

A few years later, while building my coaching career, I made some poor business decisions and let stress take over. My mental health suffered, and the weight slowly crept back. Before I knew it, I was back in the 260s.

Honestly, the second time was harder than the first.

But life has a funny way of teaching the same lesson until it sticks.

So I went back to work. I focused on the habits, trusted the process, and reclaimed my health again.

My own journey has been filled with setbacks, injuries, challenges, and more than one fresh start. That's part of what makes me different as a coach.

I've lived this.

I know what it's like to feel stuck. I know what it's like to start over. I know what it's like to be told your best days are behind you.

And I know that's not always true.

If you've ever been told some version of "it's over" or "you're too far gone," and something inside you refuses to believe it, we should talk.

I've been there.