He is married to Katherine Ritsche and has two small children (Jillian and Nolan). He grew up in Superior, WI and attended the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN where he earned two degrees in Exercise Physiology. Currently, he is completing his Ph.D. requirements in Exercise Physiology at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. His research focuses on the exercise-induced human growth hormone response and sleep deprivation. His other areas of research interests include diabetes prevention and heart disease education. He is also the head coach of Winston-Salem State University's baseball team and was named the CIAA Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2013 after winning the CIAA Championship three straight years (2011, 2012, 2013).