Madison Louth refined and presented Maddie's Money Lab at The Hatch in Spring 2026. (BGSU photo/Craig Bell)
Supported by the BGSU Hatch program, Madison Louth is teaching student-athletes how to win on and off the field
As a former athlete and current high school softball coach, Madison Louth knows firsthand the unique challenges of the student-athlete lifestyle. As a business administration major with specializations in accounting, business analytics and finance, she realized that, like many people, athletes don’t always fully understand finances, despite the uptick in name, image and likeness (NIL) endorsements.
Key Highlights
Student: Madison Louth
Hatch project: Maddie's Money Lab
Goal: Educate student-athletes about financial literacy
Lightbulb moment
Louth was doing personal financial planning homework when her roommate, a BGSU softball player, came into the room. After asking her some personal finance questions, Louth discovered that her roommate didn't have a strong sense of financial literacy.
Business idea to entrepreneurial journey
With the guidance and support of her mentor, Robert Thompson '91, '93, Louth took her business from BGSU to a Cleveland softball tournament, where she spoke with parents and student athletes about Maddie's Money Lab.
A growing business
MaddiesMoneyLab.com currently offers three different courses, but Louth plans to continue to expand the business and add additional financial literacy courses.
“As a former student-athlete and a current softball coach at the recreational and high school level, I felt I could relate to student-athletes and their lifestyle, and I wanted that to be reflected in the labs I created. Each section helps athletes learn about ‘real-life’ activities that they can apply and see the impact in real time.”
MADISON LOUTH
BGSU SENIOR, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
As a former athlete and current high school softball coach, Bowling Green State University senior Madison Louth knows firsthand the unique challenges of the student-athlete lifestyle. As a business administration major with specializations in accounting, business analytics and finance, she realized that, like many people, athletes don’t always fully understand finances, despite the introduction of name, image and likeness (NIL) endorsements.
After talking with her roommate, Louth joined a unique program at Bowling Green that supports students' entrepreneurial ventures and launched Maddie’s Money Lab, a financial literacy program for student-athletes.
“I was doing my personal financial planning homework and talking through some of the problems out loud when my roommate, a BGSU softball player, came into the room,” said Louth. “I asked her some personal finance questions, and she had no idea about half of the things I was talking about. That set off a lightbulb moment for me, and I knew that I could make a difference.”
Louth joined The Hatch through the Paul J. Hooker Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and began developing a plan to provide financial education in a way student-athletes could better understand. Open to all students and majors, The Hatch helped Louth and other Hatchlings turn early-stage business ideas into viable ventures through hands-on problem-solving and guidance from outside professionals.
“As a former student-athlete and a current softball coach at the recreational and high school level, I felt I could relate to student-athletes and their lifestyle, and I wanted that to be reflected in the labs I created,” Louth said. “Each section helps athletes learn about ‘real-life’ activities that they can apply and see the impact in real time.”
Paired with her mentor, Robert Thompson '91, '93, BGSU adjunct professor and senior vice president and branch director of RBC Wealth Management, Louth refined her business plan, pitched it during the Hatch event, and is already taking her business on the road with Thompson by her side.
“I cannot say enough about Professor Thompson, as he helped me with my idea and helped bring it to life,” Louth said. “He believed in my idea and was by my side when I attended my first exposure event in Cleveland, Ohio.
“I received a lot of positive feedback from players and parents. It was something that many of them had never thought about, and the parents loved it – especially when we talked about helping their kids realize how much they are spending on coffee each year.”
MaddiesMoneyLab.com currently offers three sessions:
- “Mastering money: A financial roadmap for athletes” helps student-athletes gain clarity about their first income, create simple savings systems and develop good financial habits.
- “Unlocking financial freedom: A comprehensive guide to income types and strategies” addresses credit-building, beginner investments and includes plug-and-play templates and worksheets.
- “Savings for athletes building financial strength on and off the field” educates athletes on emergency funds, compound interest and the importance of paying themselves first.
After earning a large amount of college credits through Ohio's CCP program, Louth was looking for a school that would accept her college credits. At Bowling Green, she found a strong academic program through the Schmidthorst College of Business and opportunities like The Hatch that helped her grow professionally and personally.
Set to earn her bachelor's degree in just two years and graduate this summer, Louth credits BGSU and the Hatch for her success.
“The financial planning concentration at BGSU has helped me solidify my decision to help people through financial education,” she said. “The Hatch took things one step further and allowed me to stretch my entrepreneurial legs and make my dream a reality.”
Louth’s career goal is to maximize her service to others and become a certified public accountant and certified financial planner. While she plans to work full-time to help people find and manage their financial journey, she also plans to grow Maddie’s Money Lab to empower student-athletes with the financial education needed to confidently navigate their next chapter.
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Updated: 07/24/2026 12:19PM