Hi. I’m Brian Houp.
Founder & Executive Coach, ReZone Coaching
More Than a Coach
You already know me as a coach, but I’m also a husband, dad, uncle, proud grandfather (a.k.a. “Poppy B”), and someone who finds joy in the outdoors.
When I’m not coaching senior leaders, you might find me snow skiing in the winter, mountain biking in the summer, or embracing any activity that involves more time with my family. I’m also an avid sports fan, cheering on the Cincinnati Bengals and both Kentucky Wildcats football and basketball every chance I get. I love the energy of competition and the way sports bring people together.
At home, I keep busy with hands-on projects. Over the years, I’ve built a deck and basement bar, remodeled our kitchen and bathroom, and I’m always thinking about how to make things better than they were. Finding hobbies and interests beyond my career has been a meaningful shift in my own personal growth over time.
Real Life, Real Lessons
I've been married to my incredible wife, Carma, for over 20 years, and together we've raised four amazing boys, each with their own unique path. I could not be more proud of the men they’ve become.
Becoming a grandfather has added a whole new layer of joy and gratitude to my life. My three incredible grandchildren remind me consistently what it’s like to see the world through fresh eyes, not tainted by the harsh realities that years of real-world experience can place on us as adults.
As a young adult, I never anticipated how so many unexpected and unforeseen challenges would shape my life and shift my perspective on people and the world around me. My wife’s ongoing battle with cancer has been a constant part of our journey—three decades of treatments, side effects, and uncertainty that continue to shape our daily life. I’ve also seen the painful ripple effects of addiction in my extended family, including stepping in to help raise children whose parents struggled deeply. And in 2021, a mountain biking accident left me with broken vertebrae in my neck and back, leading to surgery, a long hospital stay, and months of physical setbacks that taught me just how fragile and how precious life really is.
Through all of this, my personal health journey has taken on greater meaning. After being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and witnessing how autoimmune conditions have affected others in my family, I’ve had to adapt and build new habits. That has meant changing how I eat and drink, leaning into therapies like sauna, cold plunge, and red light therapy, and working with trainers, physical therapists, and nutrition coaches to take better care of my body.
My Journey to Coaching
After graduating from Morehead State University, I began my career in cable TV advertising. I was fortunate to have early mentors who pushed me out of my comfort zone and handed me big responsibilities before I thought I was ready. By the time I was 23, I was managing chaos, navigating leadership challenges, and learning how to influence people twice my age.
I spent the next chapter of my career in sales and leadership roles, growing teams and adapting through constant industry shifts, mergers, and uncertainty. I learned how to lead through disruption, sometimes with confidence and sometimes by trial and error. By my late 30s, I realized I wanted to do work that aligned more deeply with who I was and how I wanted to make an impact. That is when I discovered coaching and, eventually, the path that led me to launch ReZone.
My personal life shapes how I coach. I understand the weight of performance and responsibility, and I know what it feels like to hold steady for everyone else while quietly wondering if you can keep it up. Coaching is not just what I do. It reflects how I live.
Why It Matters
At the end of the day, my life and work are both about people. How we show up for them, how we lead them, and how we grow alongside them. Coaching reflects everything I have learned from decades of leadership, deep personal challenges, and the everyday moments that shape us.
If this glimpse into my story has helped you get a better sense of who I am and how I coach, I would love the chance to connect with you.