Source: SPORT Magazine – Volume 2, Issue 9 – Fall 2010, The Greater Lansing Sports Magazine
Watch out, Dallas. Lansing has its own Cowboys—and while they may be smaller in stature and younger in age than their professional namesake, their hearts, determination, and sense of community are immeasurable.
On any given practice day at Kendon Park in Lansing, the scene is unmistakable. More than 100 young athletes, helmets bobbing atop undersized frames, swarm the field with energy, laughter, and purpose. Parents line the sidelines, coaches move with intention, and the air buzzes with encouragement. This is not just youth football. This is the Lansing Cowboys—a program that has become a pillar of hope, mentorship, and opportunity for families across Mid-Michigan.
From Dolphins to Cowboys: A Program Reimagined
Formerly known as the Lansing Dolphins, the organization underwent a complete transformation in the fall of 2010. The rebrand was more than a new name or logo—it marked the beginning of a new vision. That vision was sparked by local entrepreneur Matthew Brown, CEO of Healthcare Solutions, whose involvement began unexpectedly during a youth football game the previous season.
Brown first encountered the Dolphins when his son played against them. What caught his attention wasn’t the score or the outcome, but the sight of a single coach managing an entire team—offense, defense, and sideline—alone.
“I saw this coach out there by himself doing offense and defense with his kids with no assistance,” Brown recalled. “He just didn’t have enough help. One coach can’t coach any team.”
Moved by what he saw, Brown offered to help with the defense, not realizing how quickly his role would grow.
“I asked him if I could help him out with his defense. He said ‘Sure.’ I didn’t expect him to say, ‘Show up Monday.’ But he did.”
That Monday changed everything.
Removing Financial Barriers, Creating Opportunity
One year later, Brown’s impact on the newly named Lansing Cowboys was undeniable. Through relationships with companies he worked with—and through his own personal generosity—Brown secured multiple sponsorships to support the program. Those contributions allowed the Cowboys to waive the participation fees that often make organized youth football inaccessible.
Brown estimates that the average cost for a child to play organized football can reach $500 per season, a financial burden that many families simply cannot afford. The Cowboys removed that obstacle.
In addition to sponsorships, Brown personally invested a significant portion of his income to ensure the players had top-tier equipment—helmets, pads, and uniforms that rivaled those of some high school programs.
“It’s about the kids,” he said. “The one thing we fail to think about when we have our own agendas or priorities about what we get is the little kids.”
Small Players, Big Personalities
When Brown says “little kids,” he means it literally. The smallest Cowboys—members of the 7- and 8-year-old Mighty Mites—stand just under four feet tall. With oversized helmets and shoulder pads bouncing atop their compact frames, they’ve earned the affectionate nickname “The Bobbleheads.”
Yet beneath the humor lies something powerful. These young athletes are learning discipline, teamwork, and confidence at an early age, supported by a program that believes in them completely.
The Cowboys Field Four Teams:
- Mighty Mites (7–8 years old)
- Novice (9–10 years old)
- Junior Varsity (11–12 years old)
- Varsity (13–14 years old)
They compete in a Mid-Michigan league of 11 teams, facing six opponents each season. With a defense ominously nicknamed “The House of Pain,” some rival teams may feel fortunate not to cross paths with the Cowboys.
A Coaching Staff Built on Commitment and Mentorship
One of the most remarkable transformations within the organization has been the growth of its coaching staff. What began with a single coach expanded to 12 dedicated coaches in just one year—excluding parents and volunteers who regularly step in to help.
Brown actively encourages parental involvement.
“I always encourage parents to come,” he said. “And if you come enough, I’ll throw a whistle on you. I don’t think a parent can be too supportive of their child.”
That support goes far beyond the sidelines. For Brown, every coach is also a mentor and role model.
“I think what it does is show them through good mentors that life can bring you a whole lot of different opportunities if you make the right choices,” Brown explained. “If they can see someone who made the right choices and still had a successful life, they don’t turn to drugs and other things.”
Filling a Critical Role for Families
For many families, especially single-parent households, the Cowboys provide something invaluable: positive male mentorship.
Natasha Williams, whose 11-year-old son plays on the JV team, sees that impact firsthand.
“It’s a big positive, especially for little guys whose dad’s not around,” Williams said. “This is something I can’t do for him. It’s that ‘man’ thing. I can’t give him that.”
The coaches willingly step into that role, offering guidance, structure, and consistency both on and off the field.
Coaching Beyond the Playbook
Ryan Carrier, head JV coach and a Healthcare Solutions employee, was recruited by Brown to join the coaching staff. For Carrier, the most rewarding part of coaching isn’t wins or statistics—it’s relationships.
“You definitely have to be patient,” Carrier said. “You learn how to read kids, how to motivate each one differently. It takes patience not just with them, but with yourself.”
With more than 100 players, keeping track of every personality could be overwhelming. For Brown, it’s a dream realized.
“When I was 8 years old, my mom asked me how many kids I wanted,” Brown said with a smile. “I told her I wanted a hundred. Now I do. I have 100 kids.”
Lessons That Last a Lifetime
Those lessons are already taking root. Fourteen-year-old Jakary “Mississippi” McClain, a halfback who recently moved from Mississippi to Lansing, credits the Cowboys with giving him a sense of brotherhood, respect, and trust.
“Put in the hard work, go hard as you can, and good things will come,” McClain said.
Brown sees football as a metaphor for life.
“You can get held in football and a flag won’t be thrown,” he said. “You can’t quit. Football teaches you that not every situation is fair, but if you stay focused and determined, you can still succeed.”
Leadership by Example
Brown’s own life mirrors the lessons he teaches. An Eastern High School alum, he knew early on that he wanted to run his own business. After discovering a niche in employee benefits, he built Healthcare Solutions from a one-person operation into a company with 12 brokers and 20 support staff.
Despite juggling business and football, Brown says coaching has brought balance to his life and strengthened his relationships with his own four children.
More Than a Game
The compassion shown by the Cowboys extends beyond practice. Brown often takes his Novice team out to eat as a reward for their commitment. But the players know that effort is expected.
“We run hard and play hard,” said 9-year-old Ahmad Whitby.
And that’s exactly what Brown loves to see—confidence growing, passion emerging, and children realizing their potential.
“Seeing a child realize he can achieve something—even when others doubted him—that’s incredible,” Brown said.
A Family of Cowboys
So the next time you pass Kendon Park and see the helmets, the parents, the cars lining the road, and the coaches pouring into every drill—take a moment to watch.
Watch the Bobbleheads sneak through push-ups. Watch the parents cheer. Watch the coaches teach.
You’ll see that it’s more than football.
It’s a community.
It’s a learning environment.
It’s a family.
A family of Cowboys.