About Beyond The Season
We believe effort—not income—should decide who gets better.
Why We Exist
At Beyond The Season, we believe that passion knows no boundaries, but opportunity often does.
Our mission is to provide driven young athletes with the funding and resources needed for offseason and specialized training in their sport. By bridging the gap between passion and opportunity, we help shape future leaders, instill lifelong values, and create pathways for success on the field, in the classroom, and beyond.
What makes us different:
We fund training, not families.
Every grant goes directly to coaches and facilities—no checks to parents, no hoping the money gets used right.
We're not a handout.
Athletes in our program commit to showing up, working hard, and being accountable.
We invest in people, not programs.
Every grant is customized to the athlete's specific development needs.
The People Behind BTS
Adam Bernstein
Co-Founder, President, Lead Fundraiser
Adam is a jiu jitsu athlete and former high school wrestler. He holds a Master's in Leadership for Creative Enterprises from Northwestern University. Adam leads fundraising and donor relationships for Beyond The Season.
"We grew up with access to everything—best coaches, best facilities, training year-round. And we watched kids who outworked us fall behind because their families couldn't afford what ours could. That's not how it should work."
JT Bernstein
Co-Founder, Vice President
JT was a D3 college wrestler at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. He's currently an assistant wrestling coach for Main East High School Boys Varsity and formerly worked as a Strength and Conditioning coach for youth athletes. JT leads athlete selection and program operations.
"I've coached kids who had all the drive in the world but couldn't afford a gym membership. I've watched families choose between groceries and team fees. Beyond The Season is our way of making sure passion doesn't go to waste."
What We Stand For
Commitment
We believe success starts with relentless drive and unwavering dedication. Our athletes commit to giving their best effort, every time, in pursuit of their goals.
Resilience
Challenges are part of the journey. We teach athletes to push through obstacles, learn from setbacks, and come back stronger than ever.
Leadership
True champions lead by example on and off the field. We value integrity, respect, and teamwork as the foundation for lifelong leadership.
Opportunity
Greatness isn't built overnight. By showing up on time, staying consistent, and seizing opportunities, athletes unlock their path to excellence.
Who Guides Us
Our Board of Directors sets the direction of Beyond The Season and holds us to the promise that every dollar goes where we say it does.
JT Bernstein
Co-Founder, Vice President
JT wrestled at D3 University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and coaches Main East High School Boys Varsity. He leads athlete selection and program operations.
Adam Bernstein
Co-Founder, President
Adam is a jiu jitsu athlete and former high school wrestler with a Master's in Leadership for Creative Enterprises from Northwestern. He leads fundraising and donor relationships.
Scott Hirsch
Board Member
Bio coming soon.
Kyle Sleeper
Board Member, Entrepreneur
Kyle has spent two decades building systems, teams, and companies—most recently Figaro. Time around elite sport through DISC and the US Ski Team showed him how often what we call talent is really access. He brings a systems lens to the board, focused on turning every dollar raised into training hours, not overhead.
Brian Hansen
Board Member, Olympic Medalist
Brian is a long track speed skater who competed in three Olympic Games and won team pursuit silver in 2010. He has served on the USOPC Athletes’ Commission and the US Speedskating board, and now leads growth for TFI Physical Therapy & Sports Performance. He coaches at Northbrook Speedskating Club, where he first skated as a kid, and joined the board to pass on the access that shaped his own career.
Who Chooses Our Athletes
Our Selection Committee reviews every application. We're looking for athletes who demonstrate drive, dedication, and a genuine commitment to growth—not just in their sport, but in life.
Kyle Sleeper
Entrepreneur and board member of various charities
Nikita Katsman
Top 500 in the world, Hyrox Athlete
Kate Hastings
Founder of Faith Fitness Charity, Founder of Phenyx Fit Mental Health Services, Jiu Jitsu Brown Belt
Sara Nieboer
Owner of 10th Planet St. Pete Jiu Jitsu and 10th Planet Royal Oak Jiu Jitsu, CrossFit Coach
Austin Bautista
3x NCAA D3 All-American for University of Wisconsin Whitewater, Head Coach Main East Boys Varsity
JT Bernstein
Co-Founder, Vice President
Adam Bernstein
Co-Founder, President
Where We're Going
We're just getting started.
Our goal is to fund hundreds of athletes across every sport—building a community of driven young people who prove that access was the only thing holding them back.
As we grow, we'll share the stories of athletes who've come through our program. Their success is the proof that this works.