MORE THAN AN ATHLETE

Faith-Based Athlete Mentorship Program

More Than An Athlete is more than a mentorship program—it's a movement. Created by Strong & Courageous Sports, this faith-based athlete development program exists to help athletes become who God created them to be—not just better competitors, but stronger leaders, better teammates, confident young men and women, and people of character.

In today's culture, athletes are constantly told that their value is determined by statistics, championships, scholarships, rankings, and social media. We believe there is something far more important. We believe your identity is found in Christ—not your performance.

Our mission is to develop athletes who compete with excellence while living lives of faith, discipline, leadership, integrity, and purpose. Whether your goal is to play at the college level, become a leader on your team, or simply grow as a person, More Than An Athlete provides the mentorship, accountability, education, and community to help you get there.

What Makes Us Different

Most athletic programs focus almost exclusively on physical performance.

We focus on the entire athlete.

We believe developing the person ultimately develops the athlete. Our mentorship program combines athletic development with life development, giving athletes practical tools that will impact them long after their playing careers end.

Every month our athletes meet virtually with experienced mentors who have succeeded in athletics, business, education, law enforcement, military service, ministry, sports psychology, and leadership.

These aren't motivational speeches.

They're real conversations about real life.

What We Cover

Faith & Identity

Build a strong foundation rooted in biblical truth while learning that your worth is not defined by wins, losses, or statistics.

Leadership & Character

Develop leadership skills, accountability, integrity, discipline, humility, communication, and the habits that great leaders possess.

Mental Toughness & Confidence

Learn practical strategies for resilience, confidence, overcoming adversity, handling pressure, and performing at your best.

College Recruiting Education

Understand the recruiting process, communication with coaches, social media, academic preparation, scholarships, and how to stand out.

Athlete Development Roadmap

Learn how to set meaningful goals, stay accountable, develop healthy habits, and create a long-term plan for success.

Monthly Mentorship Meetings

Every month, athletes participate in a live virtual mentorship meeting featuring practical discussions centered around topics such as:

Faith
Leadership
Character
Identity
Mental Resilience
Confidence
Discipline
Communication
Goal Setting
College Recruiting
Team Culture
Relationships
Life After Sports

Athletes also have opportunities to ask questions and interact directly with guest mentors from around the country.

Past guest mentors and upcoming speakers include professionals from collegiate athletics, sports psychology, coaching, business leadership, law enforcement, military service, education, and ministry—giving athletes access to wisdom and experience that extends far beyond sports.

The More Than An Athlete Philosophy

Everything we teach is built upon five foundational principles:

Faith Over Everything
Character Over Talent
Strength Over Excuses
Purpose Over Popularity
Legacy Over Self

These principles serve as the foundation of everything we teach.

Meet the Team Behind More Than An Athlete

One of the greatest strengths of the More Than An Athlete program is the people who invest in our athletes.

Our mentors aren't influencers or motivational speakers—they're experienced leaders who have spent years competing, coaching, serving, leading, and investing in others.

Every mentor is carefully selected because they share our mission of developing athletes who are strong in faith, character, leadership, discipline, and purpose.

Together, our team provides athletes with mentorship that extends far beyond sports—helping them grow mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and personally.

Meet Our Founder

Michael Puente

Founder • Mentor • Coach • Leadership Developer

More Than An Athlete was founded by Michael Puente, whose vision was to create a mentorship program that develops the whole athlete—not just athletic performance.

For more than 22 years, Michael has dedicated his life to coaching, mentoring, training, and developing athletes and leaders. His experience spans championship athletics, leadership development, law enforcement, and faith-based mentoring.

Michael currently serves as the Head Girls Volleyball Coach at Dream City Christian School, where he continues to mentor student-athletes both on and off the court. Under his leadership, athletes have earned state championships, developed into collegiate athletes, and continued their athletic careers at the next level.

Beyond coaching, Michael has served more than 23 years in law enforcement, becoming one of Arizona's recognized leaders in leadership development, instructor training, and curriculum development. Throughout his career, he has trained thousands of law enforcement professionals while remaining committed to investing in young people through coaching and mentorship.

His philosophy is simple:

Performance may open doors—but character determines how far you'll go.

Michael believes every athlete has been created by God for a purpose, and that true success is measured not only by championships and scholarships, but by the kind of person an athlete becomes.

Featured Mentor

Ysabel Puente

Sports Performance Trainer • Mentor • Collegiate Athlete • Faith Leader

Ysabel Puente serves as one of the featured mentors for Strong & Courageous Sports, bringing a unique perspective as both a collegiate athlete and a passionate Christian leader.

Ysabel currently competes at Arizona Christian University, where she is pursuing a degree in Sports Psychology with a minor in Biblical Studies. Her passion is helping athletes understand that peak performance begins long before game day—through developing the mind, strengthening character, and building an unwavering foundation of faith.

Prior to transferring to Arizona Christian University, Ysabel earned First Team All-Conference honors at Life Pacific University, where she was recognized for her excellence on the court, leadership, and impact within the university community. Her athletic journey also includes winning a State Championship at Dream City Christian School and competing as a National-Level athlete, giving her firsthand experience with the challenges and rewards of high-level competition.

As a Sports Performance Trainer and Mentor, Ysabel helps athletes develop:

Athletic confidence
Leadership and communication
Faith and identity in Christ
Goal setting and accountability
Mental resilience
Healthy habits for long-term success
Confidence on and off the court
Personal growth and character development

Beyond athletics, Ysabel has a heart for serving others through Special Needs Ministry and is passionate about helping every athlete discover that their identity is found in Christ—not in a scoreboard, scholarship, or statistic.

One-on-One Athlete Mentorship

While every athlete receives tremendous value through the monthly More Than An Athlete membership, some athletes desire a more personalized mentorship experience.

That's why Strong & Courageous Sports offers optional one-on-one mentorship with members of our mentor team.

These individualized mentorship opportunities allow athletes to build a deeper relationship with a mentor who can provide personalized encouragement, accountability, guidance, and support based on their unique goals and challenges.

Whether you're preparing for college athletics, strengthening your faith, building confidence, developing leadership skills, improving discipline, or simply looking for someone to help keep you accountable, our mentors are here to invest in you personally.

One-on-one mentorship is available as an optional add-on to your monthly More Than An Athlete membership. Individual mentorship plans begin at $75 per month, with additional premium mentorship options available depending on the mentor you select and the level of support you desire.

Each mentor offers unique experience, areas of expertise, and mentorship packages, allowing athletes and families to choose the option that best fits their goals.

One-on-one mentorship is designed to complement—not replace—your monthly More Than An Athlete membership by providing personalized coaching, accountability, encouragement, and support throughout your athletic and personal development journey.

What One-on-One Mentorship Can Include

Depending on the mentor you choose, personalized mentorship may include:

Faith and spiritual growth
Leadership development
Confidence and mindset coaching
Goal setting and accountability
Mental resilience
Identity beyond athletics
Character development
Healthy habits and discipline
Communication skills
Sports performance mentorship
College recruiting education
College athlete preparation
Life skills and decision-making
Career exploration
Purpose and calling

Each mentor brings unique life experiences and areas of expertise, allowing athletes to choose the mentor who best fits their goals.

Meet with the Mentor Who Fits Your Goals

Every mentor offers something unique.

Whether you're looking to improve your leadership, strengthen your faith, prepare for college athletics, develop mental toughness, or simply have someone to encourage and challenge you, we'll help connect you with the mentor who best fits your journey.

Our mentor team continues to grow and currently includes coaches, collegiate athletes, championship coaches, law enforcement professionals, military veterans, ministry leaders, business owners, sports psychology professionals, educators, and other experienced leaders who are passionate about investing in the next generation.

Athlete Spotlight & Community

One of the unique benefits of becoming part of the More Than An Athlete family is that we celebrate our athletes both on and off the field.

Throughout the year, we highlight our athletes on the Strong & Courageous Sports Instagram page, recognizing achievements such as:

College commitments and signings
Tournament and championship accomplishments
Athletic awards
Academic achievements
Leadership accomplishments
Community service
Personal growth stories
Inspirational moments

We believe every athlete has a story worth sharing.

Follow Strong & Courageous Sports

Stay connected with our growing community by following us on Instagram.

You'll find:

Athlete Spotlights
College Commitments
Championship Celebrations
Leadership Lessons
Faith-Based Encouragement
Recruiting Education
Training Tips
Guest Mentor Highlights
Parent Resources
Behind-the-Scenes Content

📱 Instagram: @strongcourageoussports

Membership

Monthly Membership

$30 per month

Includes:

Monthly Live Virtual Mentorship Meetings
Guest Mentor Presentations
Leadership Development
Faith-Based Athlete Development
Mental Toughness Training
College Recruiting Education
Athlete Development Roadmap
Goal Setting & Accountability
Strong & Courageous Athlete Community
Access to Future Events & Training Opportunities

Ready to Become More Than An Athlete?

If you're ready to grow in your faith, leadership, confidence, discipline, and purpose, we'd love to have you join the Strong & Courageous Sports family.

Whether your goal is to earn a college scholarship, become a better teammate, develop as a leader, or strengthen your relationship with Christ, More Than An Athlete is designed to help you reach your full potential.

This isn't just about becoming a better athlete. It's about becoming the person God created you to be.

How to Join

Step 1

Complete the online athlete registration form.

Apply Here

Step 2

After submitting your application, you'll receive a welcome email with everything you need to get started, including your membership details, first mentorship meeting, and—if desired—the opportunity to select a one-on-one mentor and mentorship package.

Step 3

Join athletes from across the country who are committed to pursuing excellence in faith, leadership, character, confidence, and athletics.

Our Promise

At Strong & Courageous Sports, we don't measure success solely by championships, scholarships, statistics, or social media followers.

We measure success by the kind of person you become.

Long after the final whistle blows, your faith, character, leadership, integrity, and purpose will continue to shape your future.

Our commitment is to help every athlete leave stronger than when they arrived—not only in competition, but in life.

Performance is what you do. Identity is who you are. Never confuse the two.

Be Strong. Be Courageous.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9

Contact Us

Strong & Courageous Sports

📧 sports@strongcourageousgroup.com