The D1 Story

A Change in Plans

Then, shortly before the season began, the unthinkable: the SEC standout went down in practice with a career-ending injury, essentially tearing every ligament holding his knee together. He came home to recover and map out the rest of his life, and it wasn’t too long before he was missing the turf and training of a Division 1 school. At the same time, people were fascinated by his story.

“I was getting asked by a lot of people how I had made it to Denver,” Will says. “I began to feel like there needed to be a place for athletes to go, to experience the intensity of training and the coaches, breathing life in you and encouraging you to get to that next level. That was the start of D1 Training.”

Will found a small place for rent in a Nashville community, just 2,500 sq. ft. of open space. He set about doing the work himself, installing patio cover for a turf surface, laying out the weight room, painting, and whatever else was needed to get the first D1 Training location open. Will kept his ultimate goal in mind.

“What I really wanted to do was provide the general community, everyday people, the same experience I had as a Division 1 athlete — unbelievable coaching, someone to ask about nutrition, a therapist — all in the same environment where they could come and have that Division 1-styled experience that so many athletes around the country get to experience, and to bring this experience to their communities and everyday lives,” says Will, who now serves as the company’s CEO.

The D1 Training Franchise Begins

By 2016, just a few years in, Will had grown to 32 locations across the southeastern U.S., and he was getting inquiries from people interested in bringing D1 Training to their communities. The response was amazing to Will and his team.

“We just had so many inquiries from people in different cities wanting to be in this business,” Will says. “Franchising made a lot of sense. For us, it was a no-brainer to bring people in.”

In early 2016, D1 Training Franchise began operations. Since that time, fitness franchise locations have opened in cities and towns across the country, and hundreds of entrepreneurs are considering bringing the D1 mindset to their markets.

What's Different About D1?

Where other fitness brands may focus on one aspect of fitness or a sport, D1 Training has been designed for every athlete, any age, and in any condition. Defined as anyone dedicated to their sport or fitness, every athlete needs to be stronger, faster, and quicker.

Because our skilled coaches recognize the limitations and individual needs of an athlete, they’re able to prescribe programs to improve the athlete’s performance, while the one-on-one or small-group setting provides encouragement and accountability.

The result is an established loyalty and trust between the members and their D1 facility staff that leads to long-term relationships, increased revenue, and a powerful word-of-mouth reputation. In fact, that’s one of D1’s key differentiators in the crowded fitness franchise market.