Northern Colorado basketball alumnus, best friend start motivational clothing brand

The University of Northern Colorado has record of 18 student-athletes with some sort of name, image and likeness deal. Men’s basketball alumnus Matt Johnson is one of them.

Johnson, known to many around Greeley for his positive attitude and big smile, started a small business with his childhood friend McKale Williams called “Find Your Path.”

Find Your Path – not to be confused with Carrie Underwood’s book – was created to be a motivational clothing brand for everyone, regardless of who they are or what their background is. The online shop features T-shirts, sweatshirts, bags and accessories.

“We want to inspire not only people our age and college athletes, but people from every age range,” Johnson said. “I mean, there’s older people that are out there trying to search for their meaning to life and, obviously, the youth trying to figure out what they want to do in their lives, as well.”

GREELEY, CO – FEBRUARY 26:Northern Colorado guard Matt Johnson II (2) drives down the court as Idaho guard Mikey Dixon (3) defends during the second half of the Northern Colorado Bears men’s basketball game against the Idaho Vandals in Bank of Colorado at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley Feb. 26, 2022. The Bears defeated the Vandals 98-94. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)
GREELEY, CO – MAY 25: University of Northern Colorado men’s basketball alumnus Matt Johnson, left, poses for a photo with his childhood best friend and Stevenson basketball graduate McKale Williams. The duo started a small business with motivational clothing in December. (Courtesy/Matt Johnson)
GREELEY, CO – MAY 25: Stevenson basketball alumnus McKale Williams plays during a game. Williams started a motivational clothing business with University of Northern Colorado alumnus and best friend Matt Johnson. (Sabrina Moran/Courtesy)

NIL and the external impacts have received plenty of attention since the rules changed two years ago. Johnson and Williams, however, didn’t do this to get rich.

They believe in their message and simply see earning some cash as a cherry on top. NIL provided that opportunity.

“We’re like, ‘If all else fails, at least we got some cool stuff that we can wear,’” Williams said.

The duo creates its own designs and uses a print-on-demand service for the manufacturing, Johnson said. This reduces overhead, takes guesswork out of stock, and they don’t have to worry about shipping.

Johnson named UNC head coach Steve Smiley as one of the brand’s top customers, buying items for the whole family.

“All the coaches have just been highly encouraging about us using our platform,” Johnson said. “We created it to be inspiring and the coaches are all in for that, especially coach Smiley. They’ve just been really supportive over the whole thing.”

Smiley said it’s cool to see student-athletes embrace new opportunities, “creative ventures” and learn how to run businesses, especially when promoting positive messages.

“I know that back when I was in their shoes as a college athlete it wasn’t allowable (due to NIL rules), but as soon as I graduated, I began running my own camps in the summer,” Smiley said. “I learned more from jumping in the fire and trying to figure it out than anything previously — how to produce a product that people wanted to buy, how to market that product, and how to deliver on the product that has your name on it, and so much more.

“For student-athletes to be allowed to do this at a younger age is a great learning experience and opportunity.”

As of this week, they’ve received 51 orders. It’s not a lot, but they hope to grow. They’re both seeking professional basketball opportunities overseas and would like to see people in Colorado and around the world wearing their merchandise. They might even start a podcast.

With their personal platforms and degrees – Johnson studied psychology and business, while Williams focused on communications – they believe they can turn Find Your Path into a bigger movement. One that promotes breaking molds and embracing your truest self.

“We understand that everybody’s path is completely different. It doesn’t have to revolve around sports whatsoever,” Williams said. “It can be anything that anybody’s into, interested in or dedicated to.”

‘Embrace who you are’

Some might say Find Your Path is a brand more than 10 years in the making. In fact, the two founders formed their friendship over basketball.

Johnson and Williams went to separate middle schools but played against each other in games. Then, they developed a close relationship as high school freshmen after making the Rangeview basketball team in Aurora.

Like many young student-athletes, the duo hoped to one day play college basketball. They did eventually, but their paths to the hardwood didn’t look like they expected.

Johnson started at UNC as a walk-on under coach Jeff Linder after Smiley recruited him. The Bears were one of few programs to recruit him at all. As many fans know, Johnson redshirted his first season and got playing time in his second when Linder could go deep on the bench.

There were times when he thought about transferring. Instead, he put in a lot of work and earned a scholarship.

The recent program graduate received his first start in 2019 against Texas. He started nearly every single game since then. “Matty Ice,” as he’s known, became one of the most consistent players on the team and leaves Greeley as one of the best in UNC Division I history.

Smiley said Johnson’s journey to being an elite college player is much different than those of his peers.

“When he promotes his product, it really speaks to his experience. He really had to create and carve out a unique path to big success in college, starting as a walk-on, and not playing meaningful minutes for his first two years in college,” Smiley said. “It took a lot of perseverance for him to stay the course. His message can really speak to all people in any line of work, because our situations are all different and unique.”

Williams’ story is somewhat similar. He fractured his vertebrae as a senior year in high school, missing the season and college recruitment. The injury sidelined him for roughly eight months. Doctors cleared him for activities that summer, but Williams described his practice performances as “complete garbage.”

The game was too fast and he was too slow.

Williams attended Metro State in Denver as a full-time student for one year, before his family moved to Delaware. That change led him to a two-year junior college career at Cecil College in Maryland. Some people might make assumptions about his education, but Williams said it wasn’t about his grades. He mostly received As. This opportunity was about getting back into the sport he loved.

Then, he played three seasons at Division III Stevenson University — Williams basically promoted himself due to COVID recruiting shutdowns — where he earned academic and athletic recognition.

They started the brand in December, based on their own college basketball journeys, and now use their experiences to inspire others. They’re creating a blueprint.

“‘Find your path’ for Matt and I can mean something completely different for you, somebody from a different culture or whatever the case may be. But, at the end of the day, the true purpose behind it is the same: everybody’s path is different,” Williams said.

“Everyone looks different. Everybody is just different. That’s what makes everybody so unique. Find that thing, embrace what you are, or find something that you are interested in and just stick with it.”

Fans can find their store online at fypapparel.myshopify.com.