The Bachmeier brothers came to BYU this past spring with one goal in mind: to play football together for a winning program.
Flash forward to now — Bear Bachmeier is one of the top freshman quarterbacks in the country, preparing to try and lead BYU to its first 12-win season since 2001.
Alongside him is his younger brother Tiger, and together they are inspiring Asian Americans in a sport where there has traditionally been little representation, especially at BYU.
The Daily Universe sat down with Bear, Tiger, and their older brother Hank, who played quarterback at Boise State and Wake Forest, to discuss what their heritage means to them and the impact they hope to leave for young Asian Americans as role models in the sport of football.
Before the college accolades and national attention, the Bachmeier story starts at home.
All of the brothers have stayed deeply connected to their Thai roots, a connection that begins with their mother, April, who immigrated to the United States from Bangkok, Thailand, at a young age.
Even growing up in Southern California, surrounded by football, that culture never faded from their household.
Some of the strongest memories come from the smallest moments. For Bear and Tiger, it was the Thai egg dish their mom would make for them as kids — a stuffed egg served with rice on the side. It was simple, but it became a staple in their home and a reminder of where they came from.
Along with those cultural ties came a strong emphasis on academics. School always came first in the Bachmeier household, a value their parents enforced with consistency and seriousness.
Bear said, “If we didn’t get all A’s, she (April) would get the notification and she’d have the wooden spoon out.”
Tiger echoed Bear’s words as he said, “Mom is really gritty. She can yell and make us get stuff done.”
At the same time, their father Michael helped them develop their athletic skills and a love for competition.
“I’d be sitting down, reading a book, and my dad would come in to say, ‘It’s time for football. What are you doing reading a book?" Tiger said. "It’s time to put that book down and go play.’”
He expressed appreciation for the balance Michael provided, making sure they excelled both on the field and in life.
That structure and balance helped shape all of the brothers, especially Hank, who paved the way for the Bachmeiers at the college level.
He came out of high school rated as a four-star recruit and began his journey at Boise State in 2019. After four seasons there, he transferred to Louisiana Tech and later Wake Forest. Over the course of his career, Hank threw for 67 touchdowns and 34 interceptions and led a 20–9 record while at Boise State.
Now, that same foundation has carried Bear through what has quickly become one of the most historic freshman seasons by a BYU quarterback. With national attention comes responsibility, and Bear understands that his role extends beyond wins and losses.
As an Asian American quarterback succeeding on a major stage, he knows young kids are watching. Bear spoke candidly about the weight that carries and how seriously he takes being a mentor and an example for others who may not have always seen themselves represented in football.
When asked about his recognition of what he is culturally representing, he said, “It’s always in the back of our minds. We always talk about playing for something bigger.”
“We know that we’re representing something way bigger than us,” he said.
For Bear, though, success has never been about himself alone. Family remains the top priority for the Bachmeiers. Football may be what brought them to BYU together, but their bond was formed long before college stadiums and national recognition.
“The four boys grew up in one room," Bear said. "We’d wrestle, sleep in the same bed, and watch movies. The first call is always to my brothers and it’s awesome.”
Tiger, who has spent much of the season watching his brother lead the offense, spoke about that bond in a more personal way. When asked about his relationship with his brothers, his voice softened as he reflected on memories of playing basketball in the yard, competing endlessly, and having the time of their lives.
“It was an old beat up basketball hoop that we would play on," Tiger said. 'It’s funny to see how those three on three games turned into two on two, and now it’s just Buck.”
Buck is the youngest of the Bachmeier brothers.
Those moments, Tiger explained, are what have made this season special. Being at BYU together is not just about chasing wins or personal goals, but about sharing something they dreamed about long before it became reality.
Hank echoed that sentiment, noting that watching his younger brothers live out a version of the dream he once chased has been just as fulfilling as any personal accomplishment.
“It means so much to me," Hank said. "I didn’t really have that perspective until I started playing and to see them playing for something bigger than themselves is awesome.”
As BYU pushes toward a historic season, the Bachmeiers remain grounded in the values that shaped them long before Saturdays under the lights of LaVell Edwards Stadium: family, discipline, and pride in their roots.
No matter how the season ends, their impact extends far beyond the field, reflected in the example they set for those watching and believing they belong here, too.