Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Hawkins.
Hi Brandon, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Brandon Hawkins, but most people know me as Coach Hawk. My journey started with a passion for sports, mentorship, and wanting to create something bigger than myself for the youth in my community. Growing up, sports taught me discipline, accountability, toughness, and how important it is to have people in your corner who truly believe in you. As I got older, I realized a lot of kids have talent, but not all of them have the structure, guidance, or opportunities needed to truly grow.
That mindset is what led me to start Next Level Sports Organization and build the Next Level Predators brand. What started as simply wanting to help kids develop athletically quickly became much bigger. We built a culture focused on hard work, family, discipline, confidence, and pushing kids to become better on and off the field. Over the years, we’ve expanded into football, track, camps, mentorship, and community events while continuing to impact families across the DFW area.
The journey definitely hasn’t been easy. Building an organization from the ground up takes sacrifice, long nights, financial commitment, and consistency. There were plenty of moments where I had to figure things out as I went, balance work, coaching, family life, and still show up every day for the kids depending on me. But seeing the growth in the athletes, the relationships we’ve built, and the respect the organization has earned makes it all worth it.
Today, I’m proud of what Next Level represents. It’s bigger than wins and losses for us. We’re building confidence, leadership, brotherhood, and opportunities for the next generation. My goal has always been to create an environment where kids feel supported, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential and we’re just getting started.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Building something from the ground up always comes with challenges, and there were a lot of moments that tested me mentally, financially, and emotionally. One of the biggest struggles was trying to build credibility and trust early on while competing with organizations that had already been established for years. You have to work twice as hard to prove your vision is real and that you truly care about the kids and families involved.
Another challenge has been balancing everything. I’ve had to juggle work, family, coaching, organizing events, practices, travel, fundraising, and the day-to-day responsibilities that come with running a youth sports organization. There are long nights, stressful decisions, and times where you carry the weight of making sure everything stays together.
Financially, there were also obstacles. A lot of people don’t realize how expensive youth sports can be behind the scenes — equipment, field rentals, uniforms, league fees, travel, and making sure kids have opportunities even when families may be struggling. Sometimes I had to find creative ways to make things happen because I never wanted finances to stop a kid from being part of something positive.
There have also been challenges with people doubting the vision, dealing with criticism, and learning tough leadership lessons along the way. But every obstacle helped shape me into a better coach, leader, and mentor. The struggles taught me patience, consistency, and how important it is to stay focused on the bigger purpose.
At the end of the day, seeing kids grow in confidence, discipline, and character makes every difficult moment worth it. Those struggles are part of what built the culture and mindset behind Next Level today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Currently, I work in commercial and residential pest control, where I’ve spent years learning the importance of consistency, professionalism, problem-solving, and building trust with people. Pest control may not always get the spotlight, but it’s a career that requires discipline, attention to detail, communication skills, and a strong work ethic. I take pride in being dependable and making sure customers feel taken care of while solving problems that impact their homes and businesses.
What I’m most proud of is the impact we’ve been able to make in the community. Seeing kids gain confidence, improve academically, stay out of trouble, and believe in themselves means more to me than trophies or wins. I’m proud that we’ve built something families trust and believe in.
What sets me apart is my vision and willingness to outwork obstacles. I didn’t come from a large organization with unlimited resources — I’ve had to build everything through sacrifice, consistency, and passion. I’m hands-on in everything I do, whether that’s coaching, mentoring, organizing events, creating opportunities, or finding ways to push the organization.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that consistency and genuine passion will take you further than talent alone. A lot of people have good ideas or big dreams, but building something meaningful requires showing up every day — even when you’re tired, doubted, stressed, or not seeing immediate results.
I’ve also learned that leadership is really about service and sacrifice. Whether it’s in pest control, coaching, or running an organization, people look to you for guidance, stability, and energy. That means sometimes putting others before yourself, staying composed during difficult moments, and continuing to push forward even when things get hard behind the scenes.
Another major lesson has been understanding that impact matters more than recognition. Early on, it’s easy to focus on wins, success, or proving people wrong, but over time I realized the real reward is seeing lives change. Watching kids gain confidence, families trust your vision, and athletes grow into better young men and women means more than any title or trophy.
Most importantly, I’ve learned that every struggle has a purpose. The setbacks, criticism, financial challenges, and obstacles all helped shape me into a stronger leader, coach, and man. Without those difficult moments, I wouldn’t have developed the mindset or resilience needed to keep growing and chasing bigger goals.
Pricing:
- * Next Level Sports Organization offers youth football, track & field, camps, and development programs for athletes ages 5–18. * Football registration pricing typically varies by season and program, with tackle football team fees generally starting around $250. * 7on7 football team fees typically start around $100 per athlete. * Track & field registration is currently $110, which includes league registration and uniform top/bottom. * Additional optional gear and merchandise may include backpacks, sweatsuits, arm sleeves, headbands, and other training apparel. * We also host camps, combines, and special training events throughout the year with pricing depending on the event. * Sponsorship and partnership opportunities are available for businesses and community supporters interested in helping youth development initiatives. * More information and registration details can be found at www.Nxtlevelsports.org
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.Nxtlevelsports.org
- Instagram: Next_level_Predators
- Facebook: Next level sports organization
