MORE THAN AN ATHLETE™

Developing Athletes. Building Leaders. Impacting Lives.

More Than An Athlete™ is a comprehensive, faith-based athlete development and mentorship platform created by Strong & Courageous Sports to help athletes become the strongest version of themselves—mentally, spiritually, emotionally, personally, and as leaders.

We believe athletics are one of the greatest classrooms for life. Sports can teach competition, teamwork, perseverance, responsibility, and sacrifice, but they also provide an incredible opportunity to shape character, strengthen faith, develop resilience, and prepare young men and women for life beyond the game.

Whether you are an individual athlete pursuing your dreams, a parent looking for meaningful support for your child, or a sports organization seeking to provide greater value for your athletes and families, More Than An Athlete™ exists to develop the whole person—not just the player.

Our mission is simple:

To develop athletes who compete with excellence, lead with integrity, and live with purpose.

Because being an athlete is what you do.

Who you become is what matters most.

OUR MISSION

To inspire, mentor, and equip athletes to discover their identity, strengthen their character, develop leadership, and maximize their God-given potential—preparing them for success both in competition and in life.

OUR VISION

To build a nationwide community of athletes, families, coaches, mentors, and sports organizations committed to developing the next generation of leaders through faith, mentorship, character, resilience, and excellence.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

At More Than An Athlete™, we believe true success is not measured solely by championships, scholarships, rankings, statistics, playing time, or social media attention.

It is measured by the kind of person an athlete becomes.

Talent may open doors. Character determines how far those opportunities take you.

That is why everything we do is built around developing athletes in the areas that matter most:

Faith
Character
Leadership
Discipline
Confidence
Mental resilience
Integrity
Purpose
Excellence

Sports eventually end.

Character lasts forever.

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT

Most athletic programs focus primarily on physical performance. We focus on the entire athlete. We believe developing the person ultimately develops the athlete. More Than An Athlete™ combines athletic development with life development, giving athletes practical tools that will serve them long after their playing careers end.

These are not simply motivational speeches. They are real conversations about real life, led by experienced mentors who have competed, coached, served, led, overcome adversity, and succeeded in demanding environments.

WHAT WE COVER

Faith & Identity

Build a strong foundation rooted in biblical truth while learning that your value is not defined by wins, losses, statistics, scholarships, playing time, or outside approval. Athletes learn to compete from a secure identity rather than competing to earn one.

Leadership & Character

Develop accountability, integrity, humility, communication, discipline, responsibility, and the habits that strong leaders demonstrate on and off the field.

Mental Resilience & Confidence

Learn practical strategies for managing pressure, overcoming adversity, building healthy confidence, responding to mistakes, regulating emotions, and performing with composure.

College Recruiting Education

Understand the recruiting process, communication with coaches, relationship building, social media, academic preparation, scholarships, campus visits, and how to stand out for the right reasons.

Goal Setting & Accountability

Learn how to set meaningful goals, build sustainable habits, remain accountable, manage time, and create a long-term development plan.

Life Beyond Sports

Prepare for the realities of transition, purpose, relationships, education, career direction, service, and the person you will become when your playing career eventually ends.

INDIVIDUAL ATHLETE MEMBERSHIP

Two Ways to Grow

Whether an athlete is looking for the encouragement of a community or personalized one-on-one mentorship, More Than An Athlete™ offers multiple ways to grow in faith, leadership, confidence, resilience, discipline, and purpose.

Monthly Membership

Our monthly membership is the foundation of the More Than An Athlete™ program. It is designed for middle school, high school, and college athletes from every sport who want ongoing mentorship, leadership development, and practical tools to help them succeed in competition and in life.

Monthly Membership Includes

Monthly live virtual mentorship meetings
Guest mentor presentations
Faith and identity development
Leadership and character development
Mental resilience and confidence education
Goal setting and accountability
College recruiting education
Human performance education focused on the mental and spiritual dimensions of performance
Access to the Strong & Courageous athlete community
Access to future Strong & Courageous events and training opportunities

$25 per month

JOIN MORE THAN AN ATHLETE

ONE-ON-ONE ATHLETE MENTORSHIP

Personalized Mentorship. Personalized Growth.

Some athletes benefit from a more individualized mentorship experience tailored specifically to their goals, challenges, personality, season of life, and athletic journey.

Our One-on-One Athlete Mentorship Program connects athletes with a mentor who will invest in them personally through scheduled virtual meetings, accountability, encouragement, guidance, and individualized support.

Whether an athlete is preparing for college athletics, strengthening faith, developing confidence, improving leadership, navigating adversity, learning discipline, or simply looking for someone to provide accountability, our mentors are prepared to walk alongside them.

One-on-One 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
College recruiting education and guidance when offered by the selected mentor
College athlete preparation
Life skills and decision-making
Career exploration
Purpose and calling

Meet With the Mentor Who Fits Your Goals

Every mentor brings unique life experience, professional expertise, and areas of focus. Athletes and families can select the mentor and mentorship plan that best fits their goals.

One-on-one mentorship is designed to complement—not replace—the monthly More Than An Athlete™ membership.

Individual mentorship plans begin at $75 per month.

EXPLORE ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP

MONTHLY MENTORSHIP MEETINGS

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

Faith
Identity
Leadership
Character
Discipline
Confidence
Mental resilience
Communication
Goal setting
College recruiting
Team culture
Relationships
Social media
Handling pressure
Life after sports

Athletes have opportunities to ask questions and interact directly with guest mentors. Each meeting is designed to provide practical lessons athletes can apply immediately in their sport, school, home, relationships, and faith.

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 shape every meeting, every mentor, every conversation, and every partnership.

MEET OUR FEATURED MENTORS

Learn From Leaders Who Have Lived It

The strength of More Than An Athlete™ is found in the people who invest in our athletes. Our featured mentors bring experience from championship athletics, collegiate competition, psychology, leadership, law enforcement, ministry, education, and high-performance environments.

Every mentor shares one mission: to help athletes excel in competition while becoming men and women of faith, character, discipline, leadership, and purpose.

Coach Mike Puente

Founder • Mentor • Coach • Leadership Developer

More Than An Athlete™ was founded by Coach Mike Puente with one mission: to develop the whole athlete—not just athletic performance.

For more than 23 years, Mike has dedicated his life to coaching, mentoring, teaching, and developing athletes and leaders. His experience spans championship athletics, leadership development, law enforcement, and faith-based mentoring, giving him a unique perspective on helping young people succeed both on and off the field.

Mike currently serves as the Head Girls Volleyball Coach at Dream City Christian School, where he continues to build a culture centered on faith, character, discipline, leadership, and excellence.

As a basketball coach, Mike was a member of the coaching staff that led Dream City Christian to the 2023 CAA Girls National Prep State Championship. He also previously coached at the national prep basketball level, working with high-level student-athletes competing against elite programs and nationally recognized talent.

One of Mike’s greatest passions is helping senior athletes continue their careers beyond high school. Every senior athlete he has coached has gone on to compete at the collegiate level, giving him a 100% success rate in helping his seniors reach the next level.

Mike helps athletes and families understand the recruiting process, identify appropriate opportunities, communicate professionally, build relationships with coaches, and prepare for the expectations of collegiate athletics.

In addition to coaching, Mike is a nationally recognized leadership instructor, keynote speaker, curriculum developer, and former SWAT operator. For decades, he has trained thousands of professionals in leadership, decision-making, resilience, and performance under pressure—principles he now brings to athletes through More Than An Athlete™.

Mike believes that while talent may create opportunities, character determines how far those opportunities take you.

Areas of Expertise

Athlete leadership development
Character and culture building
Faith-based mentorship
College recruiting education
Team leadership
Championship program development
Mental toughness
Goal setting and accountability
Performance under pressure
Coach and parent leadership

Coaching & Leadership Highlights

Member of the coaching staff for the 2023 CAA Girls National Prep Basketball State Championship team
Former national prep basketball coach
Head Girls Volleyball Coach at Dream City Christian School
100% of senior athletes coached have gone on to compete at the collegiate level
More than 23 years of coaching and leadership development
National keynote speaker and leadership instructor
Former SWAT operator and experienced high-performance trainer

Dr. Genevie “Dr. Sauce” Saucedo

Director of Wellness & Human Performance • Featured Mentor

Dr. Genevie “Dr. Sauce” Saucedo brings a unique combination of psychology, leadership, public service, and real-world experience to More Than An Athlete™.

With a Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology and nearly two decades of law enforcement experience, Dr. Saucedo specializes in helping people understand how the mind responds to stress, pressure, adversity, and demanding performance environments.

Her mentorship helps athletes recognize that elite performance begins in the mind. Through evidence-informed strategies and practical application, she equips athletes with tools that support performance while also strengthening long-term well-being and leadership.

Areas of Expertise

Human performance
Mental resilience
Confidence
Performance under pressure
Emotional regulation
Stress management
Healthy habits
Leadership development
Identity beyond athletics
Psychological preparation and recovery

Dr. Saucedo helps athletes build skills they can use not only during competition, but throughout their education, careers, relationships, and lives.

Ysabel Puente

Collegiate Athlete • Sports Performance Trainer • Mentor • Faith Leader

Ysabel Puente brings the unique perspective of a current collegiate athlete who understands the demands of balancing academics, athletics, leadership, relationships, and faith.

Ysabel currently competes at Arizona Christian University, where she is pursuing a degree in Sports Psychology with a minor in Biblical Studies.

Before transferring to Arizona Christian University, Ysabel earned First Team All-Conference honors at Life Pacific University and was her team’s leading scorer. Her athletic journey also includes winning a state championship at Dream City Christian School and competing at the national prep level.

Having experienced recruiting, college athletics, transitions, pressure, success, and adversity firsthand, Ysabel is able to connect with young athletes in a relatable and authentic way.

She has a passion for helping athletes understand that peak performance begins long before game day—through strengthening the mind, developing character, building disciplined habits, and establishing an unwavering foundation of faith.

Areas of Expertise

Athlete mindset
Faith and identity in Christ
Leadership and communication
Confidence on and off the court
Goal setting and accountability
Mental resilience
Healthy habits
College athlete preparation
Recruiting education
Women’s mentorship
Personal growth and character development

Beyond athletics, Ysabel has a heart for serving others through ministry and is passionate about helping every athlete understand that identity is found in Christ—not in a scoreboard, scholarship, ranking, or statistic.

OUR GUEST MENTOR NETWORK

Learn From Leaders Across the Country

One of the greatest benefits of joining More Than An Athlete™ is direct access to a growing network of guest mentors who have excelled in their professions and are passionate about investing in the next generation.

Each month, our athletes hear from accomplished leaders who share practical lessons from their own journeys—helping athletes grow not only in their sport, but also in life.

Our guest mentor network includes leaders and professionals from areas such as:

Collegiate and professional athletics
College coaching and recruiting
Sports psychology and human performance
Championship coaching
Strength and conditioning
Ministry and faith leadership
Law enforcement
Military service and veteran leadership
Fire service and first response
Business ownership and entrepreneurship
Leadership and personal development
Healthcare and medicine
Education
Public service and community leadership

Every guest mentor is selected because of the experience, wisdom, character, and perspective they can bring to our athletes.

These are not generic motivational speeches. They are authentic conversations with leaders who have faced adversity, achieved meaningful success, learned through failure, and remained committed to helping others grow.

Why We Bring Guest Mentors

We believe no single mentor has every answer. That is why our athletes learn from a diverse network of leaders with different experiences, perspectives, professions, and areas of expertise.

One month, athletes may learn discipline from a military veteran and championship strength coach. The next month, they may learn confidence and mental performance from a psychologist. Future meetings may feature collegiate athletes, coaches, business owners, pastors, educators, first responders, medical professionals, or other accomplished leaders.

Together, these mentors help athletes prepare not only for their next season—but for the rest of their lives.

OFFICIAL CLUB PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

Bring More Than An Athlete™ to Your Organization

The More Than An Athlete™ Official Club Partnership Program allows sports clubs, academies, schools, teams, and athletic organizations to provide mentorship, leadership development, parent education, human performance resources, and access to the Strong & Courageous network for every athlete in their program.

We do not replace coaches.

We come alongside them.

Our goal is to help organizations reinforce the values they are already building while providing an additional layer of mentorship and support for athletes and families.

Club Partners Receive

More Than An Athlete™ membership access for every athlete in the organization
Monthly live virtual mentorship meetings
Guest mentors from athletics, psychology, leadership, law enforcement, military service, ministry, business, education, healthcare, and other professional fields
Monthly parent newsletters that summarize the lesson, key takeaways, Scripture, the athlete challenge, conversation starters, and the next meeting information
Quarterly on-site leadership and mentorship sessions customized for the organization
Human performance education focused on confidence, mental resilience, stress, identity, leadership, and the spiritual dimension of performance
Access to the Strong & Courageous Group Network
Discounted access to Strong & Courageous events and training
Official More Than An Athlete™ Club Partner recognition
A digital Official Club Partner badge for the organization’s website, social media, and marketing materials
Recognition and a partner listing on the More Than An Athlete™ website
Social media promotion and support for the partner organization

WHY PARTNER WITH US?

Differentiate Your Organization

Offer athletes and families a meaningful development resource that extends beyond practices, games, tournaments, and physical training.

Strengthen Your Culture

Reinforce character, discipline, confidence, resilience, leadership, faith, and purpose throughout your organization.

Support Your Coaches

Provide an additional mentorship resource without requiring coaches to create another curriculum or take on additional administrative responsibilities.

Engage Parents

Give parents practical tools and conversation starters that help them reinforce each monthly lesson at home.

Develop Future Leaders

Athletic success is temporary. Leadership, character, and purpose influence an athlete for the rest of life.

Join a Growing Network

Connect your athletes and families to mentors, experts, events, resources, and opportunities throughout the Strong & Courageous Group ecosystem.

CLUB PARTNERSHIP PRICING

Our partnership model is designed to make organization-wide mentorship affordable while also providing the club with a monthly Partnership Administration Credit for helping promote and coordinate the program.

Insert the approved More Than An Athlete™ Club Partnership Pricing Sheet in this section.

Current Pricing Structure

ATHLETE REGISTRATION & PARENT INVOLVEMENT

Every athlete participating through an individual membership or club partnership must complete the official registration process.

Registration collects essential athlete and parent information, club and team affiliation, emergency information, program acknowledgments, electronic signatures, and the More Than An Athlete™ Participant Agreement.

For athletes under 18, a parent or legal guardian must complete all required consent and acknowledgment sections.

Parents are welcome and encouraged to participate in the mentorship process. They may attend mentorship meetings, review program materials, communicate with program leadership, and remain involved throughout their athlete’s experience.

MONTHLY PARENT NEWSLETTER

Following each monthly mentorship meeting, parents receive a More Than An Athlete™ Parent Newsletter within the next several days.

The newsletter is designed to keep families connected and help parents continue the conversation at home.

Each Newsletter May Include

The theme of the month
A summary of what the athletes learned
Information about the featured guest mentor
Key takeaways
Scripture connected to the lesson
The monthly athlete challenge
Conversation starters for parents
The date, time, topic, featured mentor, and Google Meet link for the next monthly meeting

The meeting is designed for the athlete. The newsletter equips the parent to reinforce the lesson.

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT & COMMUNITY

More Than An Athlete™ celebrates athletes both on and off the field of play.

Throughout the year, we may highlight accomplishments such as:

College commitments and signings
Tournament and championship accomplishments
Athletic awards and honors
Academic achievements
Leadership accomplishments
Community service
Personal growth stories
Inspirational moments from an athlete’s journey

For club partnerships, our primary social media commitment is to support and celebrate the partner organization. This may include welcoming the club as a partner, reposting approved club content, recognizing team accomplishments, and promoting the organization through Strong & Courageous platforms.

Individual athlete features may also be shared when appropriate and when permitted under the program agreement and parent authorization.

FOLLOW MORE THAN AN ATHLETE™

Stay connected with our growing community of athletes, parents, coaches, mentors, and partner organizations.

On our social platforms, you will find:

Athlete spotlights
College commitment announcements
Championship celebrations
Leadership lessons
Faith-based encouragement
Recruiting education
Human performance insights
Guest mentor highlights
Program updates
Parent resources
Partner club recognition
Behind-the-scenes content

Instagram: @mta.mentorship

READY TO BECOME MORE THAN AN ATHLETE?

Whether your goal is to earn a college scholarship, become a better teammate, strengthen your faith, develop as a leader, improve confidence, build discipline, or prepare for life beyond sports, More Than An Athlete™ is designed to help you grow.

This is not simply about becoming a better athlete.

It is about becoming the person God created you to be.

For Individual Athletes

Join a community of athletes committed to pursuing excellence in faith, character, leadership, confidence, discipline, and purpose.

BECOME A MEMBER

For One-on-One Mentorship

Choose a mentor and personalized mentorship plan designed around your goals, challenges, and season of life.

APPLY FOR ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP

For Sports Organizations

Become an Official More Than An Athlete™ Club Partner and provide your athletes, coaches, and families with year-round mentorship, leadership development, parent support, and access to the Strong & Courageous network.

SCHEDULE A CLUB PARTNERSHIP MEETING

Email sports@strongcourageousgroup.com

OUR PROMISE

At Strong & Courageous Sports, we do not measure success solely by championships, scholarships, statistics, rankings, or social media followers.

We measure success by the kind of person an athlete becomes.

Long after the final whistle, faith, character, leadership, integrity, discipline, and purpose will continue shaping an athlete’s 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