When I participated in sports as a high school athlete, I constantly saw my less economically advantaged teammates get left behind by “the system” because they required more effort. This included by the coaching staff, who only bothered with them if they had athletic talent, and the teachers who didn’t want to accommodate the situation those kids may be in. As I got older and went to college to continue my academic and athletic aspirations, those things that I had seen during my formative years affected me and my perception of the world profoundly. I came to find that this issue was not exclusive to my school, or my county, but rather a widespread issue in America. Also during the time I was attending college, several of my former teammates from high school would take a turn for the worst, with some getting in legal trouble, and others losing their lives to gun violence, drunk driving, or other nefarious vices. Toward the end of my time in college, after the death of a teammate I was particularly close to, I took the leap forward and made Phoenix Athletics to try and help mend the gap that the school system leaves for the athletes of all kinds. It was not long after that I returned to Clearwater and became a football coach at Countryside High School for two seasons. It was there that my mission was affirmed, as the economically disadvantaged, despite the best attempts at intervention with the resources we had, continued to be marginalized in ways I hadn’t seen or thought of as a player. These players needed guidance, they needed medical access, they needed nutrition, and mental wellness care, all things that a school system with already strained resources struggled to provide whether we tried our best or not.

From there, I made it my mission in life, as well as the mission of Phoenix Athletics, to create something that would not have any barrier for someone whether it be mental, economic, emotional, or physical. If an athlete walks through our doors, it is our mission to provide them with the best care that we can offer with any of our programs. Phoenix does not discriminate between a good and bad athlete, a good or bad student, or a good or bad child - we are here to serve them with our hearts and give them the best chance at making a future for themselves.

We believe that every athlete equally deserves to try and be their best on and off the field, and our purpose is to help make that happen.

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Zachary Brecher
President, Founder