Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Urban
Hi Dan , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m not sure what story Erin Woisnet has started to tell.
My name is Dan Urban, I am 38 years old. I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. I am a son, a father, a fiancé, a brother and I love to coach and work with the youth. My parents divorced when I was only 4 years old. I spent the majority of youth with my mother and stepfather; I would spend every other weekend at my father’s house with my stepmom and they had two kids who are my half-brother and half-sister.
I believe this upbringing really formed my childhood and early life. I had an extremely kind, caring introspective mother and my father was stern, extremely loving and kind as well. Sports was a major part of my life growing up. All of my parents, step included were extremely supportive and attended every game or event in support; my father was my coach growing up in most sports. I coach because my father coached me and taught me about how to look after others and push people towards greatness. My father was able to pull greatness out of every kid he coached, he had a great knack of inspiring kids.
My parents were awesome growing up and I wouldn’t change a thing about my childhood but the one thing I clearly remember not hearing was “you can do anything you want in life”. At the time I was growing up there was a big push on attending college, but I consistently heard “you have to have a job; you have to provide for your family when you get older”. Getting and maintaining a job was very important to my mother and father, going to college wasn’t necessarily made to be a priority to me growing up.
I attended catholic grade school from kindergarten through 8th grade and our faith was important growing up. I chose to attend Holy Name High School primarily because it was the most affordable option. I didn’t love High School, and I wasn’t very involved until later on in high school which was primarily the reason, I didn’t enjoy my time in High School, this will shape my future which is why I’m bringing this us now.
During high school my father became very sick; he was diagnosed with Hepatitis C when I was in the 7th or 8th grade. At the time of his diagnosis, he was told he would have 5-10 years to live unless he started this trial medicine that might really help. While in High School, I realized my father was the person in my life who was very faith filled. He often talked about God, and we would have discussions on religion and life in general. My mother attended church on the weekends and holidays, but my father became that spiritual person in my life.
All througout high school my father was on an experimental medicine that actually made him sicker than the actual Hepatitis diagnosis. Interferon was a medicine that killed the disease but also tore my father’s body apart a lot like chemotherapy. My father was 220lbs and before we knew it was in the 140’s and really sick. One day my father came to a baseball game with dozens of roses and at the end of the game he gave me a card that said, “thank you for always being there for me, the tests came back clear”. My father had a miracle happen, the interferon completely regenerated his liver, and he was on a path to a healthy life, everything seemed great!
I graduate high school, head onto college and while in college we get bad news that the disease has now turned into cancer, and it was spreading throughout his body. I chose to withdrawal from college and move out next door to my father to help take care of him and this was the time I started volunteering as a youth basketball coach. I started coaching at a local youth league that my whole family grew up in.
I met a man who then introduced me to some other great men and before I knew it I was on my journey coaching youth basketball. I was going down a dark path in my early 20’s; smoking, drinking and partying every night just to wake up and go work a construction job. I had a good job but felt something was missing but I couldn’t put my finger on it. (As I said earlier my dad was my spiritual partner and helped me find and nurture my faith). I was asked to go on a trip to Chicago to help coach this group of young men we were coaching.
This trip changed my life forever, I passed up on going out to the bars to go coach a group of 12-year-old kids and I have never looked back. I was asked to join and help this organization as a coach after that weekend and I jumped on that opportunity not knowing what the future would hold. I worked construction every day and would help coach 3 nights a week which then turned into me starting a skill development program for youth kids which has turned into Urban Gr1nd Basketball player development. I changed jobs a few times but continued coaching this youth team which turned into coaching high school and then grew into my training company really expanding, I was well on my way to becoming a player development professional and I was becoming better and better as a young coach. Opportunities started to arise such as working some prestigious basketball camps, taking our youth team from an unsponsored program to becoming an adidas sponsored program to then becoming national champions in 2016.
My father continued to get sicker and sicker due to the cancer and things really began to look bleak for him. My father started questioning why I was spending so much time coaching these inner-city kids who in his words “will never understand how much you’re doing for them and won’t care how much you do for them”. This was really hard for me to hear and understand because growing up he taught me how to look after those who don’t have the things we have in life or to always look out for the less fortunate. Our relationship started to fracture, and I felt that I was torn between my newfound passion that felt UNDENIABLE to me and my father’s help. I then changed jobs again that would allow me to coach, spend more time with my dad and create some new great opportunities in my life.
In 2018 my father passed away from his battle with liver cancer that spread throughout his body, before my father passed away, he said to me “go do what you love and be a great coach and take care of that little girl”, see all my father wanted was to see grandkids before he passed away. In 2016 I rekindled a relationship with my now fiancé, Josephine. Josephines’ grandfather and my uncle were best friends growing up and things just fit together between us like they were meant to be. Josephine has a daughter, Isabella. The moment I met Isabella something changed, and my family and heart was full. During the years of 2016-2018 Josephine helped me take care of my father and was there while he was at his worst when not many others were around to help. My dad loved Bella with his whole being, so in 2018 when my father was towards the end, and he said to me “go coach and take care of that little girl” that is exactly what I did.
In 2018 I became the head coach at Trinity High School, exactly 2 months after my dad passed away. Within those same 2 months Josephine became pregnant with our first son, Danny, named after my father. These were big signs that I ignored from God, I was angry, I was sad that God took my father away from me and I’ve held onto that resentment for a long time. Today, in 2024 my faith is at its strongest and that is where my story changes. I thought I was put on this planet to coach and help kids through coaching.
Senior retreat at Trinity High School in May of 2024, my life changed again for the best possible reasons. I won’t go into great detail, but sign upon sign showed me God was here all along and was preparing me for something greater. I know now my purpose in God’s design is to help the youth find their faith and to help younger generations who may be struggling with their faith. In 2020 I was co-teaching an internship class with Erin Woisnet and she gave me a platform to share my story and that is when it hit me. God put me here at Trinity High School to work with inner city youth, coach and follow my dreams of being a coach but most importantly I know my purpose is to help younger generations find their passion and find their faith.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road to get where I am at today. I have had a lot of trials and tribulations that have helped mold me into the man I am today. Some of the struggles were friends no longer reaching out, not being invited or missing events or opportunities because I was coaching a tournament or running a camp out of town. I lost a lot of people in my life when I found my passion in coaching. I lost a lot of time with family and friends, I missed out on a lot of family events due to coaching and working with the youth.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a teacher’s aide, I am the assistant athletic director, both at Trinity High School. I am a permanent building sub filling in at whatever role they may need. I have been in the transportation department at Trinity, I worked in the maintenance department, and I have been the Boys Basketball coach for 5 years. I own Urban Gr1nd Basketball, a player development company specializing in skill development for basketball players. I think my specialty is working with the youth, being able to relate to many of the kids I work with. I am known for helping kids reach new heights and opening doors for youth basketball players. I am most proud of sticking with my plan and continuing to pursue my passion that has now led me to finding my faith again.
I truly believe what sets me apart from others is my ability to relate to today’s youth but I genuinely believe I care more than others. There is a saying that says “you can’t save everyone” well, I believe you sure can try!
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Helping others reach their goals. The look in their eyes, the sound in their voice when they finally understand something or helping a young person obtain an opportunity they thought would never happen.
It makes me feel good, it leads me to know I am right where I am supposed to be.
Pricing:
- $2o per hour for group training prices
- $50 per hour for one-on-one training sessions
Contact Info:
- Twitter: @URBANGR1NDBASKETBALL
