The crowd quiets for just a moment before the first flip. Then, in an instant, the arena erupts as a BYU Dunk Team member launches off a trampoline and slams the ball through the rim. The crowd goes wild.
To most fans, it’s a halftime show.
But behind the dunks, the stunts, and crowd reactions, the BYU Dunk Team has become a much deeper place where students find belonging, mentorship and purpose.
BYU Dunk Team coach David Eberhard has seen that transformation firsthand.
Eberhard began working with the well-known Cosmo the Cougar in 2008 and experimented with some stunts using what they had. At the time, he said, there was talent, but no real structure.
“There wasn’t organization … it was just, ‘It is what it is,’” Eberhard said.
He believed that was something he could improve.
“With some organization, and the amount of talent that comes through BYU, we could be a worldwide force,” he said.
Over time and through hard work, that vision became a reality. The dunk team grew not only in skill and creativity, but also in purpose. While skills evolved with new tricks and stunts each year, Eberhard said the heart of the program remained focused on the people.
“It’s not just about performance,” he said. “It’s really about taking care of kids and loving them and letting them love each other.”
That focus is what sets the program apart from all others.
Each year, countless students from a wide range of backgrounds try out for the team. Some arrive with elite athletic ability. Others come in unsure of their place, whether that be on the team or in life.
Eberhard said many athletes face challenges beyond the court.
“They don’t know what they want to do… they’re struggling with life,” he said. “And then they find this team.”
For many, that experience becomes transformative.
Kaden Dengin, a five-year member of the dunk team, said Eberhard’s influence extends far beyond athletics. When he first tried out, he said he didn’t fully understand what the program could offer him. Over time, that changed to what he could offer to the team.
“He was very supportive of the talents and skills I could bring, even when I wasn’t the most skilled,” Dengin said when talking about his coach.
As Dengin developed as a performer, he also grew personally. He eventually worked as an assistant and learned directly from Eberhard’s leadership.
“He’s become one of the most influential mentors in my life,” Dengin said. “The support he gives me is unmatched … whether it’s my personal life, schooling, or career.”
That mentorship is intentional. Eberhard said he has never wanted the team to feel exclusive; instead, he has sought ways to involve and uplift as many students as possible, even those who don’t make the roster.
“I’m always trying to find ways for those kids … to get involved,” he said.
That sense of inclusion carries into the team’s service efforts as well. In addition to performing at athletic events, the dunk team does a lot of charity work and regularly visits schools, hospitals and community events.
For team member Tommy Fekete, those moments are just as meaningful as performing in front of thousands in the Marriott Center.
“I love getting to go do those things,” Fekete said. “It’s fun to see the kids comprehend new ideas and know that we’re instilling principles that will help them grow to be kind and loving.”
Even when performances aren’t perfect, he said, the impact remains.
“We might mess up a ton … but they still love it,” Fekete said. “That childlike joy is something that helps me. Sometimes I feel like it’s more for me than it is for the kids.”
That impact often extends long after students leave BYU.
In one recent example, alumni have rallied together to support a former teammate battling cancer, offering financial help and personal support for his family.
For Eberhard, moments like that reflect what the program is truly about.
“It’s a wonderful thing,” he said.
While the team continues to grow, so does its creativity. Each year brings new stunts, new talents and new ways to engage audiences. But even as the performances evolve, the mission stays the same.
On the court, the BYU Dunk Team delivers energy, excitement, and unforgettable moments.
Off the court, it builds something that lasts a lot longer.
And as the crowd rises and shouts for the next dunk, what the fans don’t see is the impact happening beyond the rim. One that is built on mentorship, service, and brotherhood that lasts long after the final dunk.