From California to Cougar Nation—The Bachmeier Brothers’ Journey to BYU

On this episode of the Guiding You Forward podcast, our host Krystalina Brown is joined by Bear and Tiger Bachmeier, two brothers who share a love of football and have the amazing opportunity to play together on the Brigham Young University (BYU) football team.

Inside you’ll discover:

• Family bonds and the transition to a new state.
• The two brothers’ BYU experience.
• How the brothers balance academics and athletics.

Family connection no matter the distance
Tiger and Bear Bachmeier grew up in California, but Provo, Utah is where they’re making their name. Tiger plays as a wide receiver and Bear joins his brother as a quarterback for the BYU Cougars. Being away from home hasn't been easy, but these two have found ways to keep family close and build their own close-knit community. Tiger shared, "My mom comes up when she can…you have to make the time count." Between family group chats, sharing memes and visiting when schedules allow, the Bachmeier family stays connected—a foundation their parents built by establishing strong relationships and routines.

New school and new culture
The transition from Stanford to Provo was more than just a change of scenery for Tiger and Bear—they noticed a shift in culture. While the faith-based environment is different from their prior college experience, the commitment to service and community has resonated with the brothers, grounding them in something other than football. But nothing captures the BYU spirit more than being in LaVell Edwards Stadium. Bear and Tiger share the feelings they had as they stepped onto the field for the first time. They emphasize the energy of Cougar Nation and the deep commitment fans bring to every game. Tiger said of the sight of the filled stadium, “I really can’t explain it, you really just have to be there, especially being down on the field…It’s really cool.”

The Bachmeier brothers credit the culture of BYU's program for shaping how they approach the game. Coach Kalani is a big part of that. Watch the full episode to find out the three pillars he teaches and why Tiger and Bear think of him as more than just a coach.

Raised to excel
Off the field and in the classroom, the Bachmeier brothers are just as driven. Tiger's time at Stanford is a testament to that, playing football and graduating in just two and a half years. “Football season only happens in the fall,” he explains, “so I had two-thirds of my time for classes." Bear credits the standard set at their home, where schoolwork, playing outside and just being a kid were woven together naturally. His advice for success to fellow student athletes is straightforward: "Put your phone down and go to class." With parents who focused highly on both academics and athletics—whether through homework or a pickup basketball game in the backyard—it was simply how they were raised.