SHAPING
THE FUTURE
OF ATHLETES

A former collegiate and NFL athlete who has lived the recruiting journey from every angle. Now a high school coach and sports radio host, Damon brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge, powerful connections, and a voice that resonates with athletes, families, and the sports community alike. His perspective on what it truly takes to make it — and thrive — at the next level is invaluable to the GRIT mission. And it doesn't stop at the professional level — both of his children have been through, and are currently navigating, the high school recruiting journey and collegiate sports world themselves. Damon doesn't just advise from experience; he's living it in real time as a parent, which makes his voice on this board deeply authentic.

Board President of EPIC, an Omaha-based nonprofit founded in 2020 that researches, advocates for, and funds sports programs for girls of color in underserved North and South Omaha. Darcie's work sits at the intersection of equity, athletics, and community — ensuring that every girl, regardless of background, has access to the opportunities she deserves. As a mom to two athletes herself, she brings both the organizational vision and the personal understanding of what families truly need to help their athletes succeed at every level.

A current High School Guidance Counselor who brings daily, real-world insight into the challenges students and families face. A true go-getter — always ready and willing to learn, take on more, and show up fully. Jen's dedication to students goes far beyond the job description, and the support she brings to the GRIT board is more than enough to move the needle for every family we serve.

Currently with Hudl's Education Department, Tanya brings a rare combination of classroom experience and cutting-edge athletic technology to the board. As a former educator now working in the growing world of Hudl, her insight into how technology shapes athlete development and recruitment is powerful and uniquely positioned to strengthen the guidance GRIT provides.

A financial manager at Hudl and a genuine lover of sports, Ryan understands what it takes to financially support a program from the ground up. A known supporter of many, he brings financial acumen, a passion for athletics, and the kind of steady, trusted presence that every growing organization needs. Ryan knows how to make the numbers work in service of a mission — and that insight is exactly what GRIT needs at the table.

A football mom to three collegiate athletes and one child still in middle school, Lisa brings something no credential can replicate: she has lived the football recruiting and collegiate athletics process in full — across multiple children, multiple levels, and multiple stages simultaneously. Lisa knows exactly what football parents need to know and, just as importantly, the unfiltered reality of what the world of athletics actually looks like from the family side. Her voice on this board ensures that GRIT's guidance stays grounded in what families truly experience — not what the system assumes they do.