Shane started out as my high school strength and conditioning coach, but became so much more through the creation of the first Carry the Fire group. I was selected to be a part of this group of young men with similar ideals and a hunger for more in life. As high school athletes, we were all gifted with natural discipline and ambition. Even with these traits, growing up in the modern world has its challenges. There are distractions everywhere, and being a young adult is harder than ever. Shane played a pivotal role in preparing our group for these challenges. He was able to open our eyes to modern issues and frame them in a way that encouraged us to reflect and analyze how they affected our lives. The lessons learned from these discussions have shaped my view of the world and have served me well in my early adulthood. Shane invested so much time and effort into our lives and every second was time well spent. I keep up with all of the guys from our original group, and I can honestly say that every single one of us became better men with promising futures because of the program. My biggest takeaways from Carry the Fire are simple but powerful: do hard things because they are hard, surround yourself with likeminded people, and avoid modern vices that hold you back. The brotherhood created by this program is unlike any other. I highly recommend investing in this program and in the young men around you. The impact Shane had on our group is something that I will carry with me for life.

Coach Trotter is a thoughtful leader whose work reflects deep integrity, critical insight and a genuine commitment to strengthening the next generation. Shane fosters resilience, character and purpose in young people. He communicates with clarity, passion and humility and brings his students together around shared values. He inspires them to raise the standards in their own homes, schools and communities. Shane instills in his students a commitment to personal development and a habit of lifelong learning. I have seen this firsthand as youth that he helped shape have now carried those principles into adulthood.