What’s holding you back from building a personal brand you’re proud of? Maybe you’re waiting for the perfect moment, or maybe you’re worried you don’t have the right skills.
In this episode of Coach Yu Show, i interviewed Dylan Haugen, a 17-year-old professional dunker, podcast host, and personal branding expert who started from scratch and turned his passion into a growing personal brand.
Dylan shares how he overcame fears, built his reputation, and connected with top athletes in his field, proving that with the right mindset, anyone can do the same.
Dylan and I met up in Las Vegas at dunk camp, alongside some of the world’s best dunkers. It wasn’t just Dylan’s dunking skill that impressed me. It was his approach to branding, networking, and content creation.
Professional dunking isn’t lucrative for most athletes. Dylan explained that he does it primarily out of passion, dunking hoops has been his obsession since childhood. He’d lower the hoop, practice tricks endlessly, and study professional dunkers online.
Over time, Dylan connected with top dunkers like Jordan Kilganon and found his way into the competitive dunking scene. Passion led naturally to content creation, connections, and eventually building his own brand.
From Dunking to Podcasting
After winning dunk contests, including a recent first-place finish in Minnesota, Dylan created the Dunk Talk Podcast to share dunkers’ journeys. Most athletes in his sport only post quick highlights, missing the deeper storytelling aspect. Dylan saw the opportunity to provide that depth.
He started by recording simple conversations with friends who shared his love for dunking. Before long, he was interviewing elite dunkers and capturing their stories. Instead of trying to be perfect from the start, he learned by trial and error, improving each episode through active listening and genuine curiosity.
One critical lesson Dylan shared is the importance of active listening. When he first started podcasting, conversations often stalled with awkward pauses. Dylan soon realized this happened because he wasn’t fully engaged, just waiting to ask the next question. He learned to genuinely listen, mentally process the guest’s words, and ask follow-up questions naturally.
That simple shift made his conversations feel authentic instead of robotic. Great podcasting (and great conversation) isn’t about rigidly sticking to a script. It’s about being flexible and responding naturally to what the other person says.
Dealing with Doubt and Comparison
Most young creators hesitate to start podcasting or branding because they’re afraid they’ll fail publicly. Dylan admitted that public speaking and content creation once made him anxious too. But rather than waiting to feel ready, he pushed through fear by simply starting. Every mistake became feedback. Each new episode became easier.
Now, Dylan is even set to speak publicly at the Junior Volleyball Association event about using AI to grow personal brands. Although he’s naturally nervous, his confidence comes from talking about something he knows deeply and loves completely.
Even with his accomplishments, Dylan still faces self-doubt. Comparing himself to legendary dunkers like Jordan Kilganon and Isaiah Rivera sometimes feels daunting. Dylan noted that at age 16, he was already performing advanced dunks earlier than these legends did,but still questioned whether he could reach their level long-term.
He tackles these thoughts by focusing on his journey rather than comparing himself to others. The more he stays focused on personal improvement, the more joy he gets from the sport.
Turning Passion into a Sustainable Brand
Dunking alone isn’t enough to make a living yet, so Dylan intentionally developed his brand to attract sponsorships and opportunities.
He started by claiming his Google Knowledge Panel, built Haugan Media to create marketing-related content, launched websites, and leveraged YouTube and AI-driven search visibility. Dylan emphasized that having searchable, structured information across multiple platforms is key to attracting sponsors and growing a career.
Dylan credits much of his success to mentorship from dunking icon Jordan Kilganon, who coached him since age 12. Kilganon helped him land his first dunk and achieve subsequent milestones. Inspired by this support, Dylan aims to share everything he learns with upcoming athletes.
Rather than gatekeeping knowledge, he openly documents and distributes valuable training insights. By giving away knowledge freely, he believes more athletes can enter dunking, helping the sport grow.
How Free Knowledge Creates More Opportunities
Many coaches and creators fear giving away knowledge will reduce paid opportunities. Dylan pointed out that the opposite is true. Sharing free, valuable content widely attracts more serious clients willing to invest in individual coaching.
Providing content openly helps establish credibility, makes you more discoverable online, and ultimately draws paying clients looking for personal guidance.
People today aren’t just using Google, they ask AI tools like ChatGPT for guidance. Dylan understands clearly that to be relevant, his content must be discoverable through these AI platforms.
This means regularly publishing structured articles, creating searchable content, and building a strong online presence that both human audiences and AI search engines recognize.
He’s actively teaching his own trainers to do this as well, ensuring that the best dunking knowledge is easily accessible online. Dylan noted that structured digital marketing benefits everyone: athletes, coaches, sponsors, and fans alike.
Many people make excuses about why they can’t pursue their goals: exams, birthdays, or everyday distractions. Dylan doesn’t. Even when he’s short on time, he finds small windows to make progress, recording quick videos or posting short-form content.
He understands small, consistent actions compound over time. Dylan doesn’t wait for perfect conditions; he simply acts whenever possible.
Create long-form content, repurpose it into smaller pieces, ensure you’re searchable online, and openly share your knowledge. Dylan followed this formula at age 17, and it’s already creating huge opportunities. If he can do it, what’s stopping you?
Dylan’s journey shows that success isn’t about hitting one big goal. It’s about continuous growth. He started as a passionate dunker, then became a content creator, and now he’s speaking publicly about branding and digital marketing. Each step builds on the last, creating a solid foundation for his personal brand.
His message is simple: find what you love, share it consistently, and don’t be afraid to start before you feel ready. Success doesn’t come from perfection, it comes from taking action, learning along the way, and always moving forward.
Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is a former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on Google and Facebook ads for Nike, Quiznos, Ashley Furniture, Red Bull, State Farm, and other organizations that have many locations.
He has achieved 25% of his goal of creating a million digital marketing jobs because of his partnership with universities, professional organizations, and agencies. Companies like GoDaddy, Fiverr, onlinejobs.ph, 7 Figure Agency, and Vendasta partner with him to create training and certifications.
Dennis created the Dollar a Day Strategy for local service businesses to enhance their existing local reputation and make the phone ring. He's coaching young adult agency owners who serve plumbers, AC technicians, landscapers, roofers, electricians in conjunction with leaders in these industries.
Mr. Yu believes that there should be a standard in measuring local marketing efforts, much like doctors and plumbers need to be certified and licensed. His Content Factory training and dashboards are used by thousands of practitioners.