Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Melgarejo.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story with The Athletic Collegiate started with my own family. As a mother of two daughters, I began exploring how we could give our children a strong education while making room for sports, their interests, and the way they learn.
As we explored more flexible educational options, I realized how much work parents do behind the scenes. They’re researching schools, finding coaches, comparing programs, and trying to make everything fit into a week that works for their child. I wanted to help make that process easier.
That led me to start The Athletic Collegiate. We began building relationships with academic providers and training facilities, including Life Time Frisco, to help families connect education and athletics. My husband, has supported the partnerships and business development, while I lead the programs and work with families.
Today, TAC helps families build personalized student-athlete pathways across North Texas. We connect academic options, sports training, and support around each student’s goals, working with both private-pay families and families using eligible education funding.
Building TAC has involved a lot of learning, listening, and adjusting. The conversations with parents continue to shape what we do. I want every family we work with to feel heard, understand their options, and leave with a practical next step for their child.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a completely smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been turning an idea that makes sense for families into something that works day to day.
We coordinate with schools, training facilities, coaches, and parents, and each has different schedules, requirements, and ways of operating. A program can look great on paper, but the timing, cost, facility access, and support all have to work together for a family to participate.
Affordability has also been an ongoing challenge. I want families to have access to quality opportunities, while making sure the programs are sustainable and our partners are supported. Education funding can help, but understanding eligibility, approvals, and payment timing adds another layer of coordination.
There have been times when we’ve needed to adjust an offering, revisit an agreement, or have a difficult conversation. Those experiences have taught me to ask more questions early, put expectations in writing, and communicate clearly with families about what is confirmed and what is still being developed.
I’m still learning. Being a parent myself makes the responsibility feel personal. When a family trusts us with part of their child’s development, I want us to follow through thoughtfully and consistently.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Athletic Collegiate?
The Athletic Collegiate is a student-athlete development company that helps families build personalized sports and education pathways around their child’s goals. We serve families across North Texas, including homeschoolers, students attending traditional schools, and athletes who need more flexibility for training and competition.
We connect families with specialized training in sports such as tennis, basketball, soccer, archery, and athletic development. Our network includes Life Time Frisco, Sports Academy, Atlético Dallas, and Arjun Archery Academy. For families exploring flexible academics, we also help them understand options through academic partners such as Laurel Springs School and Texas Sports Academy. Families can keep their current school and participate in sports independently.
What sets TAC apart is the coordination around the student. We look at their interests, academic needs, training goals, family budget, and weekly schedule together. Then we help the family understand their options, select compatible programs, and navigate enrollment. The coaches deliver the training, the schools provide their academic programs, and TAC helps connect those pieces.
We’re developing on-site learning opportunities as well, with details shared as those programs are confirmed.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the personal attention behind what we’re building. I want parents to feel comfortable asking questions and explaining what their child needs. Those conversations shape our programs and partnerships.
I want readers to know that they can start wherever they are. Some families come to us for one sport. Others need help thinking through a much broader educational and athletic plan. We work with private-pay families and families using eligible education funding, with the same goal: helping each student build a practical path forward.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think about risk through two perspectives: as a business owner and as a mother. I want to be open to new possibilities, while being thoughtful about how my decisions affect my family and the families who trust us.
Starting The Athletic Collegiate was a significant risk for me. I was taking something that began with our own family’s needs and building a business around it. There was no guarantee that other families would see the same value or that we could bring the right partners, schedules, and programs together. It meant putting my time, energy, and reputation behind an idea before everything was figured out.
I’ve learned to approach that uncertainty in manageable steps. I ask questions, understand the costs and responsibilities, and look for ways to test an idea before making a larger commitment. With TAC, that has meant building partnerships gradually, listening to parents, and being willing to adjust programs when the original plan needs work.
I also think there’s a risk in waiting for perfect certainty. If I had waited until I had every answer, I might never have started. My approach is to prepare carefully, take responsibility for the decision, and stay open to learning. I want to be willing to move forward and equally willing to change course when the experience tells me something needs to improve.
Pricing:
- Group sports training: From $200 per student, per month.
- Expanded sports training packages: $400 per student, per month, depending on the program.
- Co-Study: $349 per student/month for two days per week
- 2-Day Student-Athlete Academy Two days per week – $499/month
- 3-Day Student-Athlete Academy Three days per week – $699/month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theathleticcollegiate.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theathleticcollegiate/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theathleticcollegiate
- Twitter: https://x.com/theathleticco
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@theathleticcollegiate
