The Final Wink: The Beginning to a Bigger Plan

I write almost daily—as a way to reflect, pray, and capture the moments and dreams that have come to life over time. When I look back at the notes from one year ago, I see how God nudged me into a new chapter that I couldn’t have imagined.

A New Path Unfolds
I’d recently invested in a coaching certification, assuming my focus would be on professionals and businesses where this coaching approach is traditionally used. But something kept whispering that there was a different path. Around this time, I started crossing paths with Dave and Stephanie, and I felt that familiar gut feeling I’d had before—like certain people would have a significant role in my life. And they would.

Divine Connections
I knew Stephanie and her family from volunteer work and had even mentored one of her daughters. Over the span of a few weeks, I kept bumping into them—in a coffee shop at their twins’ birthday, and even at a funeral I attended to support a close friend. Each encounter felt like breadcrumbs God was laying out to guide me to a new realization.

A Lightbulb Moment
One day, as I reviewed the Dream Manager program curriculum, I had a lightbulb moment: this coaching was not only for employees or business leaders—it could help college athletes too. I started reflecting on how these young men and women dedicate their lives to their sport. When they graduate, they may lose a piece of their identity—no longer the "athlete," but now searching for purpose beyond the court or field. The Dream Manager program, with its focus on developing the whole person—emotionally, physically, intellectually, and spiritually—seemed like the perfect way to help these athletes transition to a fulfilling life after sports.

A Surprising Response
I sent Stephanie a long, rambling voice message, explaining this newfound vision and thinking she’d find it interesting, but likely unfamiliar. To my surprise, minutes later she called back. It turned out she and Dave were huge fans of Matthew Kelly, the author of the Dream Manager curriculum, and were very familiar with this coaching. Stephanie had already called Dave, and he was eager to meet.

Taking the Leap
A week later, I sat down with Dave, who genuinely cared for his players and understood the challenges they faced on and off the court. I shared my story and how my own challenges had shaped my desire to help others find meaning beyond what they do. By the end of the conversation, he said, “We need you. I don’t know how we’ll make it happen, but we need you. Will you meet with some of the guys?”

A Transformative Experience
For the next six months, I had the privilege of coaching a few of Dave’s players each month. I watched these young men open up, grow in confidence, deepen their relationships, and find a sense of belonging that went beyond basketball. One player even said, “This has helped me find meaning in other areas of my life. When the ball stops bouncing, I won’t feel like I’ve lost my identity.”

Embracing Challenges
As the season ended, the future of our partnership was uncertain, and I found myself facing another bout of health challenges, with surgeries in February and March and multiple trips to Mayo on the horizon. Yet, even in this season of stillness, God was still at work.

A New Chapter Begins
A few months later, an official partnership was in place. I’m now honored to work with both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, walking alongside these incredible young leaders as they grow, dream, and prepare for life beyond their sport.

Gratitude for the Journey
Thank you doesn’t seem to cover it for the gratitude I have for Dave and Stephanie. For giving me that extra courage to jump in with both feet, for believing in me right from the start, and for helping my family and I pick up the pieces when I got sick again. I’m so grateful for the way God works through people like them, and I’m humbled to be able to serve in a way that feels like a true calling.

In moments of self-doubt, it's often the people God places on our path that light the way.

Learn more about The Dream Project in College Athletics.