Today’s topic came from a young coach asking, “If you had to start over, how would you build a successful coaching business from scratch?”
If you’re a coach who wants to train athletes for a living and do it at a high level, listen closely. I’m not here to sugarcoat it. I’m going to give you the exact steps I’d take today, and why most coaches waste years figuring this out on their own.
Step 1: Find a Mentor Who’s Already Doing What You Want
If you want to close the experience gap fast, don’t try to reinvent the wheel.
Find someone operating at the level you aspire to whether that’s online, in your city, or through mutual connections.
- Offer to intern.
- Trade value.
- Or invest in their programs.
Personally, I spent over $100,000 last year on my own education and mentorship both in business and training. That’s because I understand the return on investment. Every dollar I put into learning is a step closer to mastery.
This is exactly why I created Performance Coach U so you can bypass years of trial and error, learn what works with athletes in the private sector, and immediately apply it to grow your coaching business.
Step 2: Apply What You Learn—All the Way Through an Off-Season
Don’t stop at running a couple of flashy sessions. Take 5–10 athletes through a full 3+ month off-season.
That’s how you prove your ability to:
- Transform athletes from point A to point B
- Earn trust from parents, agents, and teams
- Build a reputation as the go-to coach in your area
It’s not just about speed or strength numbers. You have to manage training variables, adapt to challenges, and understand the psychology, physiology, and recovery needs of different athletes from youth to pro.
Step 3: Document Everything
Track it all: performance metrics, training notes, adjustments you make along the way.
This does three things:
- Helps you refine your methods
- Proves your results to future athletes and parents
- Builds your personal coaching “playbook”
The best coaches don’t chase new trends every season. They evolve proven systems and strip away the fluff.
Step 4: Actively Seek Out Higher-Level Athletes
If you want to train better talent, make sure they know you exist.
- Build relationships with key people in your community
- Create content showing your methods and results
- Position yourself as the local authority in athletic performance
When an elite athlete is looking for training, they should already know your name.
Step 5: Repeat and Level Up
My path took me six years of coaching youth and high school athletes before I consistently had professional athletes in my groups. Many of my current pros? I started with them back in high school. That’s proof over time, not overnight hype.
Why Most Coaches Struggle (and How to Avoid It)
Too many coaches waste years guessing, trying random programs, and hoping something sticks. Without a proven framework, they:
- Fail to produce consistent results
- Can’t attract high-caliber athletes
- Struggle to turn coaching into a full-time, profitable career
Performance Coach U was built to solve this.
It’s a complete blueprint for:
- Getting results with athletes at every level
- Running a high-level private sector business
- Maximizing your profits while making a real impact
If you’re serious about becoming a respected, in-demand performance coach, you need systems, mentorship, and a proven plan. That’s what Performance Coach U delivers.
Bottom line:
- Find a mentor
- Apply their methods in a full off-season
- Document your results
- Actively seek better athletes
- Repeat while refining your system
Do this, and you’ll build a coaching business that lasts. Skip it, and you’ll spin your wheels for years.
If you’re ready to shortcut the learning curve and start building the career you want now, check out Performance Coach U. This is the exact path I wish I had when I started and it will change the way you coach forever.
