From Coaching to Closings: My Journey Into Real Estate Investing (As Heard on BiggerPockets)

I recently had the opportunity to join Ashley Kehr and Tony Robinson on the BiggerPockets Real Estate Rookie Podcast to share my story of pivoting from college football coaching into real estate investing. It was a full-circle moment for me—BiggerPockets was one of the first resources that sparked my interest in real estate when I returned home to Waterloo, Iowa in 2019.

How It All Started

Before real estate, I was living my dream as a college football coach, working with quarterbacks and wide receivers at places like Dakota State and the University of Minnesota–Crookston. When Crookston shut down its football program, I moved back to Waterloo and, like many, faced a lot of uncertainty during 2020.

A cousin introduced me to BiggerPockets, and something clicked. I realized that a lot of my skills from coaching—recruiting, organization, and relentless effort—transferred perfectly into real estate. I had grown up helping my grandpa manage his 15 properties in town, so investing was familiar, even if I didn’t realize it yet.

Hustling for the First Deal

I started with the basics: driving for dollars in areas I knew well. With no job and no W2 income, financing wasn’t easy—but I had savings and found a lender willing to take a chance. That led to my first two duplexes, which I bought back-to-back. One came from cold calling and patience—months later, the seller called me back, ready to sell. I paid the assessed value and made it work.

The lesson? Real estate is a contact sport. It’s about showing up consistently, building trust, and being ready when opportunity knocks.

Building a Real Estate Community in Waterloo

One of the most impactful decisions I’ve made was starting the Cedar Valley Real Estate Meetup. No one else was doing it regularly in our area, and I knew that building local connections could be powerful. We committed to a consistent monthly meetup, and it’s become a catalyst for deals, partnerships, and friendships. Over 30% of my sales now tie back to relationships that started there.

You don’t need to be a TikTok influencer to grow your brand—just show up in your local market and be helpful.

Scaling with the BRRRR Method & Partnerships

After those first few properties, I connected with like-minded partners and started using the BRRRR strategy (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) to scale. We kept things conservative, reused flip profits to buy more rentals, and recently added self-storage and small commercial buildings to the portfolio.

As of today, I’ve grown to over 25 doors, including some storage units. Partnering has been key—it’s like a business marriage, and choosing the right people has made all the difference. We each bring something to the table, whether it’s construction, deal finding, or operations.

Final Thoughts

There’s no one-size-fits-all path in real estate. Whether you’re working a W2 or going full-time, the key is staying consistent, building relationships, and taking action. If you’re thinking about getting started or pivoting in your journey, I’d love to connect and help however I can.

👉 Listen to the full episode on YouTube

📩 Shoot me a message if you want to talk investing, partnerships, or Waterloo real estate.