Meet Coach Tony Cuva

When I was in 8th grade, I lost my father.
It was one of those moments that leaves a mark you don’t fully understand until years later. What I remember most wasn’t just the pain — it was the confusion. The lack of guidance. The feeling of having to figure out manhood alone.

That experience planted a seed in me.

For the last 17 years, I’ve stood behind the barber chair, cutting hair and listening — to young men, fathers, athletes, and friends. I learned that every man, no matter his age, is searching for direction, purpose, and someone to believe in him.

Barbering became more than a job — it became my classroom. But over time, I realized I could only help one young man at a time in that chair. And I knew my mission was bigger than that.

That’s why I created Catalyst Direction — a 5-week program designed to reach the younger version of me.
The kid who’s trying to figure out life. The one who might not have a strong male voice in his ear. The one who needs guidance, structure, and belief.

Now, I get to work with schools, teams, and organizations to give young men the tools I wish I had: confidence, discipline, emotional control, and direction.

My purpose is simple —
to help build the kind of men the world needs more of: grounded, strong, kind, and capable of leading themselves and others well.