From the Founder: Remembering the Titans- The Beginning of a Dream
One of the greatest joys in life—and one of the most humbling rewards of coaching—is seeing your players grow into the kind of men who carry forward the lessons they learned long ago. Recently, I heard from one of my former T.C. Williams High School Titans, Ryan Battle, who played for us during the 2000–2001 seasons. He reached out to thank me for making a difference in his life—for changing his perspective, guiding him through challenge, and instilling lessons he still values today.
Ryan told me that the principles he learned—discipline, accountability, and belief—have shaped him as a father and a leader in his community. Hearing that was more than just meaningful—it was a full-circle moment. Because it was young men like Ryan, and those experiences with our Titans team, that became the inspiration for the Youth Impact Program itself.
Back then, we weren’t just building football players. We were building character. We were mentoring students. We were shaping dreamers. That combination of athletic brotherhood and academic empowerment—first tested and proven on that T.C. Williams field—laid the groundwork for what would become YIP.
When we launched the first Youth Impact Program at USC under Coach Pete Carroll, the dream was simple but powerful: to take what we had learned and scale it—connecting universities, coaches, and military mentors to uplift inner-city youth across America. Today, that dream has taken root at 54 programs across the nation, creating real, measurable social change and giving young people the tools, confidence, and belief to chase greatness.
Ryan went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee and now serves as a Data Transformation Manager at Booz Allen Hamilton, supporting the U.S. Navy at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. His journey is living proof of what happens when mentorship meets opportunity—when a dream is nurtured and passed on.
Remember the Titans.
That T.C. Williams roster was filled with dreamers—young men who pushed each other to be better and carried that spirit into every chapter of their lives. Among them were:
- Tony Hunt, a star running back at Penn State and later with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL.
- Dean Muhtadi, known around the world as Mojo Rawley in the WWE.
- Augustin “Gus” Viani, who serves as a Pararescueman (PJ) in the U.S. Air Force.
- CDR Graham Van Hook, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and Executive Officer aboard the USS Milius (DDG 69) in Yokosuka, Japan.
- Ryan Battle, leading innovation and transformation for the U.S. Navy through his work with Booz Allen Hamilton.
These men carried forward not just their talents—but a mindset. A belief that they could make a difference, that they could lead, and that they could win.
That belief—that winners associate with winners to win—became the DNA of the Youth Impact Program.
Now, as YIP celebrates 20 years of transforming lives, we look back to those early days and remember that it all started with a team of dreamers who believed in something bigger than themselves. From the Titans to today’s Youth Impact dreamers, the mission remains the same: to change lives through mentorship, leadership, and the relentless pursuit of possibility.
Because when dreamers believe—and winners unite—we all win.