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our story
Out of loss,
we found purpose.
The Big Man Foundation began with one coach, a cancer diagnosis, and the players he shaped. Today, it's a safety net for the people who spend their lives taking care of everyone else.
the film
five years of serving coaches.
coach Jamal Powell
the coach behind
Our name.
Jamal Powell coached offensive linemen at Centre College, JMU, Lamar, and SMU. He called his unit the Big Man Fraternity, and for the men in his room, it was more than a nickname.
In spring 2018, he was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive cancer. He passed away in April 2021, four days before his 40th birthday. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Before he passed, he gave his blessing to the charity that stewards his legacy.
Why coaches matter
coaches show up for everyone.
Behind every team is a coach, and most of what they give happens where no one sees it.
Shape people
Coaches teach discipline, resilience, and how to lose well. Those lessons last long after the final whistle.
Create belonging
For a lot of young athletes, a team is the first place they feel they belong. A coach builds that.
Strengthen communities
Game days bring whole towns together, and coaches are at the center of it.
Carry more than we see
Long hours, constant moves, and little job security. Their families carry that weight too.
If coaches are going to keep showing up for everyone else, someone needs to show up for them.
The Founding
Built brick by brick.
In early 2020, Casey Kroll left coaching and moved home to Virginia. Before he started anything, he asked Coach Powell for his blessing.
His college roommate, Lou Chiccehitto, pushed him past the idea of a one-time fundraiser. With Dr. Jennifer Taylor, they founded The Big Man Foundation in December 2020, and former JMU teammates Aaron Stinnie and Bryan Schor joined soon after.
There was no staff and no playbook. It was a passion project, and it's still built the same way: brick by brick, one coach and one family at a time.
Coach Powell with Aaron Stinnie and Casey Kroll, JMU 2015
A note from our founder
Coach Powell changed my life.
I met Coach Jamal Powell in 2015, when he became my offensive line coach at James Madison University. I had no idea he'd become my mentor and one of the most important people in my life.
He was unlike any coach I'd played for. He built real relationships with his players and pushed us to be better in every part of our lives. After my senior season, he gave me the chance to coach under him, and together we went on to Lamar and SMU.
When he was diagnosed with cancer in 2018, his optimism never wavered. His courage still reminds me what resilience looks like.
He shaped me as an athlete, a professional, a person, and now as a husband and father. The Big Man Foundation is how we honor him: by taking care of coaches and their families the way he took care of us.
Here to serve,
Casey Kroll
Founder & CEO
What we do now
His legacy, at work today.
One program for when crisis hits. One for every season in between.
Respond
Jamal Powell Legacy Grant
When a coaching family faces a crisis, we step in fast with direct support and case management. No need is too small.
strengthen & connect
The Coaches Collective
Community, resources, and support to help coaches and their families stay healthy and connected. Coming April 2027.
Go further
more than one way to help.
If this story moved you, there's a place for you on the team.
Partner
Bring your company or athletic department alongside BMF as a sponsor or partner.
Host
Hold a fundraiser, golf outing, or game-day event that benefits coaches and their families.
Champion
Introduce us to someone who should know about BMF, or share our story with your network.
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