Austin Hatch

On Labor Day of 2003, Austin and his family were flying from northern Michigan to Ft. Wayne, Indiana. As they were preparing to land, the aircraft crashed and burst into flames. Austin’s dad threw him out of the plane to save his life. Afterwards he went back into the flames to get his mom, sister and brother, but tragically, was unable to. His mom, sister and brother did not survive. Austin and his dad grieved the loss of the family members but still found ways to keep living in the midst of the incomprehensible pain. They pushed each other to overcome, as they knew their mom, sister and brother would’ve wanted. 

Eventually, Austin’s dad met a new woman named Kimberly, who had three kids of her own. They got married and together, formed a wonderful blended family. Meanwhile, Austin worked hard on his basketball skills and began to have success on the court. His dream was to play for The University of Michigan. On June 15, 2011, Coach Beilein offered Austin a full scholarship to play basketball for The University of Michigan, which he accepted. It was a dream come true. 

Nine days later, on June 24th, 2011, Austin’s father and “second mother” were flying to Northern Michigan to have a weekend of celebration. As they were preparing to land, the aircraft crashed, and Austin’s dad and second mom were killed on impact. Austin suffered severe injuries and was nearly killed. After being in a coma for over two months, he had to relearn how to walk, talk and basically how to live his life. With the help of many incredible doctors, nurses, therapists, his family and friends, Austin  made a great comeback to take the place at The University of Michigan that coach Beilein held open for him. 

Eleven years later, Austin is a graduate of The University of Michigan and is a full time motivational speaker with a message about Grit & Thriving in the midst of adversity. Austin consider himself blessed to be in a position to add value to organizations across the country.

Organizations that choose Austin Hatch as their keynote speaker witness firsthand the transformational impact of his message. From his personal journey, audiences glean not just motivation, but practical wisdom on developing grit and perseverance. Elevate your event, inspire your team, and foster resilience by inviting Austin Hatch to share his extraordinary narrative.