Some guests walk into a conversation and you can feel the steadiness of their foundation right away. That was my first impression of Mike Rohrbach, co-founder of Run to Win Outreach, longtime sports chaplain, and former captain of the 1977–78 Rose Bowl Champion Washington Huskies. Before he ever founded a ministry or mentored young athletes, Mike was a linebacker with a dream. When he told me about that 1977 season, it sounded like something out of a movie — a team that started 1–3, written off by everyone, only to come together under a coach who believed in something bigger.
Their coach, Don James, stood in front of that team and said, “Our goal is to win the Rose Bowl. This year.” They weren’t ready to hear it, but he said it anyway. Three years later, they did just that. That moment of leadership shaped how Mike has led ever since. Coach James used to say, “Surround yourself with great people and empower them to do great things.” It wasn’t just about football. It was a blueprint for life, one that Mike carried forward in his marriage, his family, his faith, and his calling.
When Mike and his wife Karen started Run to Win Outreach, they didn’t do it because it was strategic or secure. They did it because they felt called. Both of them had spent years in ministry, and they saw a gap — an opportunity to reach kids early through the thing that connects so many of us: sports. It wasn’t an easy decision. They left the comfort of steady work and took a leap that most people would have called risky. But they believed this wasn’t their idea — it was God’s. They stepped out in faith, and over time, Run to Win became a thriving local ministry serving thousands of kids across the Puget Sound.
Mike still talks about it with awe, not pride. He doesn’t focus on what he’s built, but on what he’s witnessed. He’s seen kids encounter real hope for the first time. He’s seen coaches step into leadership as mentors. He’s seen families find community through a camp that costs far less than most sports programs but delivers something infinitely more valuable — purpose.
One story in particular stuck with me. Mike’s daughter Caitlin, who now leads the organization, decided early on that Run to Win needed a mascot. Every sports team has one, she said, so why shouldn’t we? She found a donor, had a lion costume made, and introduced “Rory the Courageous Lion.” When Rory walks onto the field, the kids come running. They don’t want an autograph or a prize — they just want a hug or a high five. Mike told me that moment reminded him of what this whole thing is about. “Kids want to be hugged,” he said. “They want to be loved. They want to be heard. They want to be seen.”
That line has been echoing in my head ever since. It’s simple, but it’s true for all of us. In a world full of noise and distraction, what people really want is connection. They want to know that someone sees them, believes in them, and cares enough to show up. That’s the heartbeat of Run to Win, and honestly, it’s the heartbeat of good leadership.
Mike calls it “walking the talk.” It’s a phrase that shows up often in his story — how he led his football team, how he raised his kids, and how he serves today as a chaplain and mentor. Walking the talk means leading by example, staying consistent when no one’s watching, and serving with humility. He quoted Matthew 20:28 during our conversation: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” For Mike, that’s the model. That’s leadership.
Today, decades after that first camp, Run to Win Outreach is still thriving under Caitlin’s leadership. Mike still helps behind the scenes, but he’s handed the reins to the next generation — his daughter, his team, and his faith community. When I asked him what message he’d put on a billboard for the world to see, he didn’t hesitate. He smiled and said, “Walk the talk and run to win.”
That phrase feels like a perfect summary of his life — steady, faithful, and always moving forward with purpose.
🎧 You can hear my full conversation with Mike Rohrbach on The Entrepreneurial Journey Podcast.
It’s a story about faith, family, leadership, and legacy — and what it means to run your race with purpose until the very end.
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