The biggest challenge has been that my career in coaching often conflicted with time at home. As our children grew, I realized I needed to pull back from coaching in order to be more present. At one point, my wife and I felt like we were spending most of our lives pouring into other people’s children and not enough time into our own. That realization led us to make a major life change... I’ve always resonated with a quote from college basketball coach Buzz Williams: “Be famo

On a summer night in 1978 my father and I escaped from communist Vietnam. That journey left a permanent mark on my childhood and on the bond we shared. My father was the only parent I had during my formative years. Our relationship was close, but it was no-nonsense and one-directional. When I held my daughter for the first time, I knew I wanted my kids to look up to me the way I looked up to my father. At the same time, I also knew I wanted to be a different kind of dad.

When I became a father, I felt completely unprepared. I knew the kind of father I didn’t want to be, but I had no clear picture of the father God was calling me to become. I decided to go through Dad Academy with my son-in-law because I didn’t want him to struggle the way I did. I wanted him to start fatherhood with clarity and confidence. What I didn’t expect was how much I would grow as a grandfather.

One memory (of my dad) that’s always stuck with me is when we were playing catch. I missed a throw, and he stopped playing. That moment hit me hard, even as a kid. It taught me how much patience, presence, and encouragement matter to a child. Those few seconds told me everything I didn’t want to repeat.

I’ve learned that love has to be both shown and spoken. My kids won’t remember how many hours I worked—they’ll remember how much time I spent truly with them. I’m learning to communicate better, to listen deeper, and to lead with faith instead of fear. The ranch taught me responsibility, but Dad Academy is teaching me relationship—the kind of relationship that builds legacy.

By fifteen, I was in a gang. That became my world. Because of that, I had no idea how to be a father. All I knew was I didn’t want to be like mine—gone and silent. But I was still living the same pattern, choosing the streets over my kids.

My wife and I went through years of infertility, and in that season my heart was filled with doubt of God's love and feelings of unworthiness. Eventually, things changed and we were blessed to have children. Once I became a father, I knew I had to be intentional.

When real-life responsibilities hit, I found myself struggling financially for the first time...I swallowed my pride and went to my dad for help. He had always managed his finances wisely. He rescued me that day. When I started thinking about My Dad Plan, I knew financial stewardship was something I wanted to pass down to my kids.

As a fairly new father, connecting with other dads through Dad Academy was a game-changer for me. Hearing their experiences, sharing struggles, and learning from men who had walked this path before me gave me the tools I needed to become the best father I could be.

Going through the Dad Academy workshop was an incredible experience—not just for me, but for my two sons-in-law, who went through it with me.

I’ve learned the importance of consistency—being the same leader, mentor, and teacher at home that I am at work.

As a father, stepfather, and husband, balancing professional growth while remaining present for my family has been one of my greatest challenges.

When my wife and I married I was instantly gifted with two girls and two boys...together we had one more boy, completing our family. I’ve realized my job is not to teach them to be like me; my job is to help them become more of who they already are. Our family “blends” well because we don’t consider it blended. There are no “steps” or “halfs” in our family. There are only brothers, sisters, and love. 

I constantly ask two questions: 1. How will I measure my life and success? 2. Who will be sitting next to me in my rocking chair when I’m older?

I can still remember the moment I realized my definition of family was shaped more by separation than togetherness. Both of my parents came

I became a father at 24, living in a low-income apartment and relying on public assistance, and I quickly realized how unprepared I felt...