There’s Always Another Level: Belmont Alumnus Drew Hanlen Pushes Students to Think Bigger

Belmont alumnus turned NBA trainer gives an inspiring peek behind the curtain at his path to success

Heralded NBA trainer and Belmont alumnus Drew Hanlen delivered a rousing talk to a packed theater of students last week. Known for training some of the best athletes in the world (helping his clients secure more than $4 billion in NBA contracts), he is also an author, husband, keynote speaker and entrepreneur. 

From waking up at 4:59 a.m. every day to train as a high school student to building a successful business, Hanlen’s energy and discipline are palpable. To hear him address a crowd is to be inspired, to believe that he means what he says. 

Hanlen opened his talk by explaining that he wanted to offer students more than just WELL Core credit. His goal was to provide actionable inspiration, and, with an athlete's sense of efficiency, pack as much insight as possible into the allotted time. 

A Mindset of More

His message occupied the space between experience and advice, drawing from his years of training elite athletes. The title, “There’s Always Another Level,” reflects Hanlen’s mindset geared toward growth: celebrate success when it comes but never stop pushing forward. Progress, he said, is fueled by what he calls “unbreakable faith” –– the belief that you can achieve what you’re aiming for. 

Hanlen shared that the first thing he focuses on changing in a client is their mindset, and his methods are less than conventional. When approached by NBA star Tyrese Haliburton, Hanlen began the training with a simple challenge. “If you want to work with me,” he said, “you’ve got to shoot at least 14 shots in tomorrow's game.”  

By the time Haliburton stepped off the court that night, he had scored 39 points –– 27 more than his average for the season.  

“We didn’t even need to get on the court,” Hanlen said. “All it took was a mindset change.”

Multidisciplinary Wisdom

While many students in attendance were athletes, Hanlen’s message resonated with everyone. Students from across campus –– liberal arts, nursing, business students and beyond –– filled the theater eager to hear his wisdom. During the Q&A, questions about goal setting, self-confidence and resilience revealed how widely applicable his advice was. 

Hanlen sees college as an opportunity, a time of building a foundation for success. It was during his years at Belmont that he honed many of the skills that earned him his eventual success.

Road to the Summit

While he is most lauded for his athletic training know-how, the concepts Hanlen delivered are relevant to every area of life. For him, grit and determination beat natural talent every time. Prizing “consistency over intensity” has allowed him to build businesses, develop an app, write books and adopt a lifestyle that’s conducive to achieving his personal and athletic goals. 

He closed with a challenge. "I want you guys to leave here and ask yourself, ‘What is the next level, and do I actually believe I can get there?’”

Hanlen’s debut book from last year is currently available wherever books are sold.