Jake Brodbeck has spent six seasons as St. Xavier's defensive coordinator, but this fall he's been building something off the field too. In February, he and his wife, Krista, launched the L.I.O.N. Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at giving children with neurological and physical disabilities the kind of sports experiences most families take for granted.
The foundation's name stands for Lasting Impact On Neuroscience, and according to WCPO 9 Cincinnati, its mission is to provide life-changing sports experiences for children with neurological and physical disabilities. The idea traces back to the Brodbecks' own son, Leo, who was born with spina bifida in March 2025. On its website, the L.I.O.N. Foundation says it was inspired by Leo and shaped by the family's journey, with a goal of accelerating medical progress while building confidence, community, and opportunity for kids with disabilities.
A Five-Year-Old Becomes an Honorary Captain
The foundation's work already has a face attached to it. Five-year-old Will Warnimont, who has spina bifida, joined St. Xavier's football practice on Oct. 15, taking part as a member of the defensive line, per the station's report. The next day, he served as honorary captain for the Bombers' win over Cleveland St. Ignatius.
Brodbeck said the community, team moms, head coach Steve Specht, and the rest of the staff rallied around Will during his visit, the outlet reported. Specht, St. Xavier's head coach, said he's watched the foundation's early impact firsthand. “I've watched some of the things that foundation has already done to make a difference. It's been impressive,” Specht said. He added that Brodbeck throws himself fully into his day job, his coaching duties, and the foundation all at once.
Brodbeck also said he felt the presence of St. Xavier offensive line coach Jeff Woltz, who died unexpectedly, during Will's experience with the team, the same account notes. Specht said Brodbeck wants to help children born with spina bifida and believes the foundation has already made a real impact.
A Father's Perspective Shapes the Mission
Brodbeck, a 2011 St. Xavier graduate, has said Leo has made him a better father, husband, and coach, and that he and Krista want to create opportunities for Leo and other individuals like him. The school community has supported the Brodbecks and the foundation throughout the school year, reflecting what the outlet describes as St. Xavier players and coaches embracing the school's motto, “Men for Others.”
Looking ahead, Brodbeck wants to form partnerships with large organizations and professional sports teams, and he would like to eventually build a sports facility designed around family-like sports experiences. Donations to the L.I.O.N. Foundation can be made through its website, WCPO reported.
Why Access to Sports Matters for Kids With Spina Bifida
The push behind efforts like the L.I.O.N. Foundation reflects a documented gap in physical activity among young people with spina bifida. A qualitative study published by bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com, which drew on interviews with parents of children ages 4 to 7 and focus groups with youth ages 8 to 18 and their parents, found that bowel and bladder care, competence in skills, sufficient fitness, medical events, and self-efficacy were all important personal factors shaping whether kids stayed active. The same research cited a separate study finding that 39% of adolescents and young adults with spina bifida were classified as inactive, with 37% considered extremely inactive.
Cincinnati already has a handful of programs working to close that gap. Cincinnati Children's lists leisure and athletic resources for children with specific medical conditions, including adapted swim lessons through the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati. The Bridge Adaptive also runs be.well, a community wellness program for children with chronic or complex medical needs, and supports the Cincinnati Dragons, a youth wheelchair basketball team with 14U and high school squads competing in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association's Junior Division. The organization welcomed the inaugural season of its amputee soccer program in the summer of 2024.
Against that backdrop, the L.I.O.N. Foundation's arrival adds one more local option built specifically around giving kids with neurological and physical disabilities a chance to be part of a team. For Brodbeck, that mission still runs through St. Xavier's locker room, where the Bombers, now 6-5 on the season, were set to face 9-1 Lakota West Friday night in a Division I regional quarterfinal.
