Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Lipton.
Hi Molly, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I knew from the time I was a teenager that I wanted to be an educator, coach, and really just have a positive impact on young people. I was fortunate enough to have an incredible high school basketball coach and English teacher who both had a tremendous impact on teenage Molly. Truthfully, they helped change my life at a period when things weren’t super awesome for me. I remember being cognizant of how they both made me feel, how I felt empowered in ways because they believed in me and taught me skills that benefited me outside of the classroom. Somehow at that age I was fortunate enough to have the skill of introspection, and I absolutely knew I wanted to have that same effect on young people one day.
I’ve always been engaging, a leader, energetic, confident, and probably what some people would say, a lil crazy haha, and I believe these qualities were/have been of great benefit in what lies at the heart of working with young people–building relationships. I started teaching PE/Health (yepppp, the greatest subjects right there) and coaching right out of college–fun fact, I’ve taught every level from Kindergarten-undergrad classes, and it’s been an awesome ride ever since.
As a former college basketball player, sports have always played a large role in my life. So 12 years ago when my school district asked me to be the NCAA coordinator for our entire district, it felt like a natural fit, even though I had zero clue what that role entailed. Over the next year or so I taught myself the compliance side of things and then organically had a complete game changing moment. As educators, it’s pretty much a given that you’re going to impact students’ lives in at least one way or another. However, what is way less talked about, is how young people imprint on, and impact you. Fatouma Conde and Cookie Baugh came into my life as students and athletes, but over the past 12 years, they’ve become family and changed my life in ways I never could have imagined. They literally are my “why”.
I taught and coached both Fatouma and Cookie in middle school, and in addition to being super cool kids, they were wildly talented runners—although neither fully knew it at the time, I did. We had established a strong relationship and I was excited for both of them to go be great in whatever form or fashion in high school.
Fatouma ran track for one of the high schools and told me her goal of running track in college. It was this instant that I had the thought, well I can absolutely help with that! I knew Fatouma’s story, knew that she was talented athletically and hadn’t even yet tapped into her full potential academically. I also knew that accomplishing that goal–running in college–was something I could help with. So that’s what I did. We met regularly, even over zoom during Covid, and navigated the recruiting process together. All the while we became closer and I became more than a former teacher in her life, I became a mentor.
Not long after I began helping Fatouma, I did the same with Cookie—helping her and her family understand and navigate the intense collegiate athletic recruiting process. But along the way, I also became an important person in Cookie’s life.
Pretty quickly I began assisting more and more high school athletes and their families/support systems on the path to collegiate athletics. Over the years an idea began to blossom in my mind–this could be a business one day. So finally, almost a year ago now, I decided to bet on myself and start my own business, Level Up Athlete Recruiting, and it has been amazing. I can honestly say I would not be where I’m at today without those two remarkable humans–Fatouma and Cookie.
Fatouma became an All-American track athlete at the Ohio State University, graduated in May, and is currently in her graduate year running for Howard University. Cookie ran track and cross country at Michigan State University. She earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and recently graduated. I attended both of their college graduations this past spring and I could not have been more proud. It’s difficult to fully articulate what these two women mean to me. I’ve had the incredible privilege of watching them grow, pursue their dreams, and embark on new journeys. And in many ways, we’ve all grown and changed because of one another. That’s what makes our relationships so special to me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Mannn, life can feel like smooth sailing—like you’re in complete alignment with your purpose, everything is clicking on all cylinders—and then, seemingly out of nowhere, life be lifin’ and throwing curveballs at you!
From the end of January 2024 through April 2025, I went through what was by far the most difficult 15-month period of my life. But that time period led to immeasurable self-growth. My perspective expanded, and, without even realizing it, I found myself in a place where I was able to fully embrace my strength, my abilities, and my impact—and ultimately bet on and choose myself.
On January 27, 2024, I ruptured my Achilles tendon while playing basketball, and instantly lost my ability to walk and along with that, my independence. Life as I knew it was completely shattered. I had surgery a little over a week later and started down the longggg road to recovery–55 weeks! For months I needed help with almost everything–laundry, walking my dog, grocery shopping, cleaning my house, carrying items to/from work, legit so many things! I even had to sleep in my living room on an air mattress for like 6 weeks because in an emergency situation the likelihood of me getting downstairs and out the door was slim.
I mentioned that I couldn’t walk once I tore my Achilles and had surgery to repair it, but it’s not like—boom—that instantly fixed everything and I could just walk again and do all the things I used to do. I went to physical therapy, often twice a week, for just over a year. There were so many movements I couldn’t do, so much muscle atrophy, and just a ton of difficult moments throughout my recovery journey. But my physical therapist was the TRUTH! I swear she’s gotta be the best PT in the world—shoutout to Ashley Teets! She was my coach, trainer, friend, teammate, and just a huge constant for me on that incredibly difficult road back to normalcy. And that’s life, right? You can be in the middle of some incredibly hard situation, and somehow, there’s always a way to find the positive in it.
In June, some weeks after I learned to walk again, life happened for the second time in just 4ish months. When I was 13, I was sexually assaulted. In my sleep. By a 29-yr old man, a complete stranger. That night changed my life forever, and I can still feel its lasting impact. I received communication that an expungement hearing was scheduled for late June, and I had the option of giving a victim impact statement. I had zero hesitancy, I’d for sure be there and prepare the most bomb statement!
Trauma is in a class of its own though, and its effects are often unpredictable, sometimes debilitating, and very much impedes day-to-day life. Even if that trauma is from 28 years ago. So even though I entered court that day feeling strong, ready, loved and supported (had a squad of my closest humans there to support me), I still knew this would be one of the toughest days of my life–stepping into a courtroom to face the man who took so much from me–my innocence, sense of safety, my self-worth, and forever altered the way I trust.
The court proceeding took place, I addressed the court and crushed it, and the judge ruled that he would keep his conviction. It was a huge sigh of relief, but it was also the first time my voice had actually been heard in court—and a powerful affirmation that my words carry weight.
For the next four months, I continued to make progress in PT, and that once-dull, tucked-away idea of starting my own athlete recruiting business started to come back to life. It was getting brighter and brighter, and I found myself thinking about it more and more. I also began to daydream about speaking and sharing my story on a larger scale (I’ve been sharing my experience with SA for over a decade).
But in November, once again, life was lifin’ for me. I received news that there would be an appeals hearing regarding the June court ruling. So, once again, into court I went, listening to arguments around a case that ultimately revolved around what happened to ME, but I wasn’t able to speak. And let me tell you, that was lightweight infuriating and really difficult. The appeals judge would have several months to make her ruling.
The thoughts and ideas around starting a business quickly faded, and I felt I was in this state of limbo, uncertain of what lied ahead with this court case.
I finally received word, there would be one more, this time final, court hearing in March, almost one week to the day after my final PT session for my Achilles. I immediately hyper focused on crafting the strongest impact statement yet and gearing up for the third court hearing in the last eight months. Once again, when I received the opportunity to address the court I smashed it! The judge stated she would give her ruling in the next few weeks.
At the end of March, she made her ruling—he would keep his conviction. The prosecutor and victim advocate later told me that the judge had referenced me and used some of my words in her analysis. I was blown away. In the weeks that followed, as I processed everything, I began to really embrace my strength and the impact I could have. And within weeks, those thoughts of launching my own business and sharing my story on a more grandiose scale came rushing back—this time, stronger than ever.
On September 27, 2025, I launched Level Up Athlete Recruiting, providing a personalized approach to college athlete recruiting and also representing collegiate and professional athletes in the NIL and promotional space. I haven’t even hit the one-year mark yet, but it has been an INCREDIBLE ride so far. I’ve also started taking steps down the path toward speaking on a broader scale, and have already been fortunate enough to take part in several notable events this year. Life is so, so good, and I know with every cell in my body that I wouldn’t be where I am today without those supremely difficult 15 months of my life.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Level Up Athlete Recruiting offers expert advice, guidance, and support to athletes at every level. Level Up plays an essential role in connecting high school athletes with colleges, serving as a crucial link between aspiring student-athletes and collegiate athletic programs. Level Up also works directly with current collegiate and professional athletes, equipping them with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to effectively promote themselves and build their personal brands, while helping them find and secure individual partnerships and opportunities across a wide range of professions.
What makes Level Up stand apart from other college athlete recruiting organizations and businesses is its personalized approach to recruiting. Athletes aren’t given generic templates or videos and expected to navigate the process on their own. Level Up provides real-time conversation, guidance, and support, with the sole focus on the individual student-athlete and what is best for them and their support system.
Honestly, what I’m most proud of about the Level Up brand is that it’s authentically me. It’s not a brand I sat down and created because I thought, “This sounds like a good business.” Level Up grew out of my own experiences, relationships, and a genuine desire to help athletes and their families navigate what can be an incredibly overwhelming process. I want people to interact with Level Up and feel, “Man, this person genuinely cares about me.” I want athletes and families to feel seen, supported, and confident that they have someone in their corner. If I can create that feeling, then I know I’m doing something right. I’m incredibly proud of what Level Up has become, but more than anything, I’m proud that it represents who I am and what I stand for.
Level Up is for any student-athlete, regardless of gender, sport, city, or state. From one-on-one coaching sessions and personalized recruiting packages to workshops and brand-building support, Level Up is fully equipped to meet each athlete where they are and help them navigate the recruiting journey, develop their personal brand, and take advantage of opportunities within the NIL space!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I really like that Ann Arbor is a university town, and allows for a wealth of diversity in people, thought, experiences, cultures, and vibe. Ann Arbor is open-minded and I believe most people feel safe here.
Ann Arbor has become a really expensive place to live, and unfortunately, that is impacting the overall makeup of the city. As a teacher and a newer small business owner, I cannot comfortably live in the city of Ann Arbor.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://levelupathleterecruiting.com/
- Instagram: @levelup_athlete_recruiting
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-lipton-6252a7426/
