Yann Passet was a member of the executive committee representing Kansas City’s successful FIFA World Cup 2026 bid, sharing the city’s vision with FIFA officials.
When French native Yann Passet (’17, MSM ’19) first arrived at MidAmerica Nazarene University, soccer was his ticket—but faith, friendship, and opportunity turned it into something more. “A friend in my soccer academy told me about playing and studying in the U.S.,” he recalled. “Meeting Coach Kevin Wardlaw sealed the deal. And having three other French players on the team made me feel at home.”
“Yann came to MNU from a highly professional soccer background in France, and it was immediately clear that he possessed the discipline, drive, and motivation required to succeed as a student-athlete at a high level,” Wardlaw says. “While his accomplishments on the field speak for themselves, what truly stood out was his mature and intentional approach to pursuing excellence in every area of his life.”
The decision to attend MNU would make all the difference to Yann. “MNU was life-changing,” he says. “I met my wife, Brooke (Rinehart ’14), through MNU, and now we have our son, Mateo. It’s shaped every part of my life.”
Finding Direction and Drive
Yann excelled on the field both as a player and on the coaching staff as a graduate assistant for Pioneer Men’s Soccer, but his sense of purpose grew deeper during his master’s program. “That’s when I started to understand what I wanted to do with my career,” he says.
Now the Head of Product Development and Marketing at Allied National, Yann designs insurance products for small and mid-size companies, helping them provide coverage to their employees—whether it’s four staff members or 400.
Prior to that, he was part of the executive committee representing Kansas City’s successful FIFA World Cup 2026 bid, sharing the city’s vision before FIFA officials. “I only spoke for 60 seconds—but my heart was racing,” he said, noting that he sat between Clark Hunt, owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Cliff Illig, one of the owners of Sporting KC, during the presentation. “That moment showed me what teamwork and community can accomplish.”
Yann says his chief contribution to the executive committee was rallying local youth soccer clubs to declare their support for Kansas City as a World Cup site. In his 60 seconds in the spotlight, he told an endearing story of one of the youth soccer players telling her brother he needed to make the national team soon because she wanted to see him play in the World Cup in Kansas City. The story resonated with the FIFA representative, who mentioned Yann by name during their post-event press conference.
Living Boldly with Purpose
Still living in Olathe and staying close to the MNU soccer family, Yann keeps his Pioneer spirit alive. His advice to students: “Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions. Be bold! All the no’s will eventually lead to a yes.”
Wardlaw adds, “I never doubted that Yann would excel in whatever he committed himself to. That same mindset continues to define who he is today, in his profession, as a husband, and as a father.”
Yann says his company keeps growing, and he is always on the lookout for great team members. He loves hiring MNU alums—whether they are seasoned pros or recent grads. He invites people to connect with him on LinkedIn for more information.
Explore your purpose with a graduate business degree at mnu.edu/pgs/master-of-business-administration-mba.
