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When Trilogy Innovations Co-Founders Brandon Downey and Randy Cottle were invited to speak to a group of West Virginia University football players participating in a business program designed to enhance their skills and expand their life experiences, they jumped at the opportunity.
The group, known as Chambers Elite Climbers, is part of Mountaineer Football’s 5th Quarter Program. Launched in 2020 by WVU Head Coach Neal Brown, the 5th Quarter Program aims to serve and develop the student-athletes for success on the playing field as well as for life after football.
“We simply told them our story, from when Randy and I were both students here at WVU to where we are now,” said Downey, Trilogy’s CEO. “That story gave them a peek at our journey — our successes, our failures, major learning events along the way, and, when they asked for it, our opinions and advice. It was a great opportunity for us to give back, which is a very important part of our mission.”
Trilogy has been named the fastest-growing IT Services company in West Virginia for three consecutive years by Inc. Magazine (2022-24) and was recognized by the international publication as the fastest-growing overall company in the state in 2022 and 2023. Downey and Cottle met when they were students at WVU, and the tech-driven entrepreneurs created Trilogy in 2010.
Xavier Bausley, a 6’4”, 308-pound offensive lineman from Dunbar, West Virginia, said the Trilogy story inspired him.
“I had a great time listening to the presentation Randy and Brandon gave. It was inspiring to hear a West Virginia success story, especially in the tech world,” Bausley said. “As a computer science major, I always assumed I’d have to move to bigger markets like San Francisco or Atlanta to be successful. Hearing that there’s a growing tech company right here in the state is incredibly refreshing.”
Established in 2020 to create unique educational opportunities for participating student-athletes, the two-year, tiered program’s whole-person approach focuses on five specific pillars: character development, leadership development, real life, career development and social responsibility. Funding for the program came from John and Elaine Chambers. John Chambers, a WVU alum and benefactor of the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at the school, is the former CEO of internationally recognized Cisco Systems.
Chambers Elite Climbers provides select WVU Football student-athletes a more enhanced opportunity for development within the 5th Quarter Program. Student-athletes must apply for the opportunity and meet standards established for the program.
“We had a fantastic conversation,” said Cottle, Trilogy’s President. “We talked about how we had evolved as people and also how the company had evolved. I recounted for the group some of the more important occurrences in the life of our company. We were very impressed by their interest, attention, and questions. There was genuine interest in entrepreneurship and innovation, and it was an outstanding group.”
Both of Trilogy’s principals emphasized that they had come from humble beginnings, and that the correlation between hard work and success is what drives them.
“I explained that Trilogy invests in its people through providing opportunities to gain experience, training, and education. That really interested them. I also emphasized that they each needed to expand their networks and find their inspiration,” Downey said, which Cottle echoed.
“Find that passion,” Cottle said to the group. “You are collegiate football players, so you are familiar with passion. Set yourself apart by doing the little things and never be afraid to fail. Your failures will pave the way for your successes.”
For Bausley, a sophomore, Trilogy represented encouragement and opportunity.
“As someone who grew up in West Virginia, the idea of landing a great tech job without leaving the state I love is something I never thought possible,” said Bausley. “Their vision for the future of West Virginia was also encouraging. You can tell they have a deep passion for the state's success, and it's clear they are committed to making it thrive.”
In 2023, a 2023 group in the program traveled to NYC for professional networking opportunities with WVU alumni in business in the Big Apple, as well as to Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, Athens, Rome, and several other stops in Germany.
“The Chambers Elite Climbers program is the premier, enhanced, off-the-field development program in all of college football,” said Coleman Barnes, senior associate athletics director and chief of staff for WVU Football. “The career preparation, cultural field trips, humanitarian efforts, and networking opportunities are shaping the future of our student-athletes. In addition, being able to study abroad is an amazing lifetime experience that very few college football players ever get to experience.”
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