“I didn’t start the Athletic Family Blueprint because I had all the answers. I started it because I’ve seen what happens when families don’t have anyone in their corner — and I know how much that costs them.
If you are a youth sports parent, Scott Thies understands your world — not just professionally, but personally.
Over the past 20+ years, Scott has sat in almost every seat imaginable in youth and high school sports: parent, coach, teacher, athletic director, mentor, and recruiter. He has celebrated championships, navigated injuries and disappointments, managed recruiting conversations, evaluated coaches and programs, and helped hundreds of families make major decisions about their child’s athletic future.”
“I didn’t start the Athletic Family Blueprint because I had all the answers. I started it because I’ve seen what happens when families don’t have anyone in their corner — and I know how much that costs them.
If you are a youth sports parent, Scott Thies understands your world — not just professionally, but personally.
Over the past 20+ years, Scott has sat in almost every seat imaginable in youth and high school sports: parent, coach, teacher, athletic director, mentor, and recruiter. He has celebrated championships, navigated injuries and disappointments, managed recruiting conversations, evaluated coaches and programs, and helped hundreds of families make major decisions about their child’s athletic future.
As a high school Athletic Director, Scott oversaw an athletic department in which over 400 student-athletes went on to compete at the collegiate level. Athletes at schools such as Michigan, Notre Dame, Duke, Northwestern, Army, Navy, Iowa, Miami (Ohio), and many others.
But just as he has seen student-athletes accomplish greatness, he has also seen the downside of youth sports. Overbearing parents filled with stress and anxiety. Athletes that lose their spark and love for the game. Families so focused on the next four years that they forget to enjoy what is happening right now. And quite frankly, this trend is growing and becoming more and more problematic in sports today.
I didn’t start the Athletic Family Blueprint because I had all the answers. I started it because I’ve seen what happens when families don’t have anyone in their corner — and I know how much that costs them. I started it because the youth sports journey should be one filled with joy, life lessons, and development. Families have more and more decisions and choices than ever before. I want to help families navigate their sports journeys with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
Scott has lived this journey as a Dad, as a Coach, and as an Athletic Director. The combination of these roles has provided a very unique perspective on how to best help athletes grow and families flourish.
Scott raised three student-athletes and has personally invested more than $100,000 navigating the youth sports landscape — from club sports and travel teams, to camps, showcases, recruiting visits, private training, and the countless decisions families face along the way. He understands the pressure, confusion, excitement, and uncertainty that comes with trying to help your child pursue opportunities without losing perspective on what matters most.
His oldest son, Tommy, is currently playing Division I football at Miami University (Ohio). His son Jake is committed to the University of Iowa after receiving numerous Division I scholarship opportunities. Combined, his two oldest sons earned more than 40 Division I football scholarship offers throughout their recruiting journeys. His daughter Jenna currently competes in both soccer and volleyball at the high school level.
Through both his professional leadership and personal experience, Scott has developed a proven approach that helps families navigate youth sports with more confidence, clarity, and control. He teaches parents how to become informed advocates for their children, avoid common recruiting mistakes, communicate effectively with coaches, and make decisions based on long-term development rather than short-term pressure.
Scott believes the families who thrive in youth sports are not necessarily the ones with the most talent — they are the ones with the best guidance, perspective, and plan.
His mission is simple: help families navigate youth sports smarter, healthier, and with far less stress so their children can maximize both their athletic opportunities and personal growth.
As a dedicated youth sports family advisor, every recommendation is shaped by real experience with students, parents, coaches and athletic programs — not theory.
It is also shaped by personal experience as the father of three student athletes, including two who earned Division I football scholarships.
That combination of professional leadership and parent perspective allows families to receive guidance that is practical, honest and grounded in real life.
Families gain support with important decisions around athlete development, high school preparation, coachability, recruiting timelines, exposure strategies and communication with coaches.
The passion behind The Athletic Family Blueprint began with the impact of a trusted coach.
As a high school student, the founder had a coach who saw potential in him before he fully saw it in himself. That belief and guidance changed the direction of his life and inspired his career in teaching, coaching and educational leadership.
Today, that same purpose drives The Athletic Family Blueprint.
The goal is simple.
To help families navigate the student athlete journey with clarity, strategy and purpose.
Youth sports can build confidence, discipline, resilience and character. But without the right guidance, the journey can also become stressful and confusing.
The Athletic Family Blueprint helps families slow down, understand their options and make decisions that support their child’s growth on and off the field.
Whether your family is navigating youth sports, preparing for high school athletics or exploring college recruiting opportunities
