WRESTLING / BUSINESS / PURPOSE
A journey of resilience.
A journey of resilience
- 01Wrestling
Learning through achievement and disappointment
- 02Coaching
From the mat to leadership
- 03Business
Success, setbacks and starting again
- 04Be Larger Than
Sharing the lessons through coaching, speaking and the book
Brett’s path began in wrestling, where his 563–89 record and full scholarship to the University of Wisconsin–Madison laid the foundation for a lifetime of learning through both achievement and disappointment.
From the mat to leadership
He coached at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point before serving as USA Wrestling’s National Coaches Education Program Coordinator and writing the Coaches Guide to Excellence.
Building a vision and legacy
Entrepreneurship brought major success as well as near bankruptcy, repossession and starting again. Today, Brett shares those lessons through Be Larger Than, his speaking, coaching and book.
WRESTLING & COMMUNITY
The lessons carry forward.
Discover the lessons Brett brings from wrestling into leadership, resilience and personal growth.
Brett’s stated mission
IntegrityLoveExcellence
BRETT’S MISSION
Purpose
My primary mission in life is to be a man of total integrity, love and excellence in every area of my life and share freely the universal laws of success that God has granted me the wisdom to learn and use in creating extraordinary success for myself and others.
WORK WITH BRETT
One Conversation Can Change Everything.
Brett works with a limited number of entrepreneurs each month. If you’re ready to close the gap between where you are and where you’re meant to be — this is where it starts.
Free Business Clarity Session
30 minutes. No pitch. Just real strategy.
Biography
More About Brett
Brett Penager is a former elite athlete, coach, and entrepreneur with over 40 years of remarkable success. From earning a full-ride wrestling scholarship to building multi hundred-million-dollar healthcare companies, his journey is defined by perseverance, vision, and impact. As the author of LARGER THAN LIFE, Brett travels worldwide to touch, move, and inspire others to discover their full potential.
A Journey of Resilience
Brett Penager is an entrepreneur, author, and speaker who has dedicated his life to helping others unlock their full potential and achieve success, even in the face of immense adversity. His journey, as chronicled in his book LARGER THAN LIFE – In Pursuit of Discovering Your Full Potential, is a testament to the idea that true success is not about avoiding failure, but learning to overcome it.
From his early days as a top-tier athlete—achieving a 563-89 record, Hall of Fame status, and a full-ride scholarship to the University of Wisconsin-Madison—Penager experienced both triumph and disappointment, never reaching the ultimate pinnacle of his sport despite his accomplishments. That blend of victory and setback would become a recurring theme in his life.
Lessons from Success and Failure
Professionally, Penager’s path has been marked by striking contrasts. While he now ranks among the top 1% of income earners in the United States, he has also faced near bankruptcy, car repossession, and eviction. His leadership journey began with coaching wrestling at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he helped transform a struggling team into a powerhouse.
Later, as USA Wrestling’s National Coaches Education Program Coordinator, he authored the Coaches Guide to Excellence and built the program into a flagship initiative for the U.S. Olympic Committee.
He has also endured painful personal challenges, including two divorces and multiple failed engagements. Today, he is happily married to his wife, Stephanie, and together they have a daughter, Mikayla. These experiences have shaped his conviction that to reach the highest highs, one must be willing to endure the lowest lows.
Building a Vision and Legacy
As the founder and CEO of Be Larger Than, Penager empowers individuals through speaking, teaching, and coaching. His book LARGER THAN LIFE serves as both a guide and an inspiration for those seeking to overcome obstacles and pursue excellence. Dedicated to giving back, he serves on boards including Camp Hope For Kids, Logan’s Heart and Smiles, and Beat the Streets Chicago.
Born and raised in Ohio, Brett now calls Chicago home, where he continues to live out his mission of helping others realize their true potential.