It was the year 1995 that Superman was paralyzed, the Grateful Dead played their last concert, the final Calvin and Hobbes strip was published, and Pixar’s Toy Story opened in theaters. In that same year, fifteen-year-old Lee Wilson sat down in front of his family’s first computer to connect to the Internet, a feat Pew Research Center found only 14% of U.S. adults had in their homes and only 42% had even heard of at that time.
Coach Lee Wilson, a well-known relationship coach reflects, “I remember that a key advertising point for most of the new computers then was that they could connect to the Internet. I still remember the screeching sound and how inconvenient it was if we were online when someone tried to call but got a busy signal.”
Wilson, like many teens in his day, had been told he needed a computer for school. The entertainment and business potential of computers, beyond accounting, was yet to be much of a discussion.
According to Coach Lee, “A teacher told my mom that my brother and I needed a computer to help us with school. When she asked him how it would help us, he seemed unsure of an answer but said it had to do with research and writing papers. My parents wanted to help us all they could with our education, so they bought a desktop computer. All I wanted to do was get online to chat because I’d heard my friends talk about it. I saw it as a social activity and wasn’t really interested in much else at first.”
Lee’s learning curve straightened quickly as his interest moved beyond chatrooms and messaging.
“I saw websites as huge promotional opportunities. It was like having your own book or TV show.”
Though he later earned a Master Diploma in Marriage and Family Counseling, Wilson initially did not return to college following his sophomore year after accepting a job with a nonprofit company named Family Dynamics Institute that is now defunct. Seeing investing in the Internet as a gamble, the company had Wilson doing a host of jobs that needed to be filled when employees left or when help was needed by different departments. It was the only way to justify the gamble of hiring a young man with no college degree and no business experience who worked in a new, unproven industry. But betting on Wilson resulted in a big payoff.
“I remember one of the officers of that company called me in his office and was talking to me about what jobs I should focus on. He put the website in last place on the list and even referred to it as a ‘luxury item.’ I could tell he felt it was a waste to hire me, like I wasn’t going to really help the business. In fact, the president of that company was the only one there at that time who saw the potential for the internet and my work helping them much. He was ahead of the times and in less than a year, the website became their top lead generator by far and had taken their last-place product to first place in revenue.”
Even that wasn’t enough to win over all of Lee’s doubters.
“I remember coining the phrase, ‘Voodoo marketing’ out of frustration because some of the people I worked for had the idea that the visitors coming to the company website were just happening out of nowhere. As though people just had a premonition to type the company website address into a browser. As if they just knew to go there. This was the early 2000s and several people there just took what I did for granted. It was difficult not to take it personally.”
Wilson’s frustration at this memory was impossible to misinterpret, but his eyes flashed with an uncommon excitement when I turned my questions to the rise of Coach Lee, as he is now known on YouTube.
“I traveled with the president of that company and my job was to learn as much as I could about relationships so that I could ghost write for him. I got to where I knew his material well and had learned a tremendous amount.”
They say that “luck” is when preparation meets opportunity and that seems to be the case with the fateful events that followed. One of the “marriage consultants,” as they were called was forced to resign due to his failing health and Lee was asked to fill in for him until they found a permanent replacement. Since Lee knew the organization’s material well, his ability to quote relationship experts allowed him to assist people in troubled marriages who were interested in getting help for their marriage.
“My job was to help them where I could but to encourage them to go to a workshop that the company provided for marriages in crisis who were separated or in danger of divorce.” Lee, himself, ended up being the replacement that the company decided on and the rest is history.
The company split and Lee went with the former president, now his father-in-law, to the new company. Today, Lee runs his own relationship-enrichment organization whose main source of exposure and promotion is Lee’s YouTube channel.
In a world oversaturated with self-proclaimed relationship coaches whose start-up YouTube channels often go belly up, Coach Lee stands out as a notable exception. His methodology, which blends academic research with real-world applications and an unusual ability to simply complex ideas, provides a rare anchor of reliability in an otherwise volatile industry.
What distinguishes Lee is not only his rock-star status in a field characterized by fleeting success but also his unique delivery style which has garnered a dedicated, cult-like following while also contributing to the broader conversation about the standards of advice given in the digital age.
With a stunning tally of 73 million views of his videos in only his channel’s 6th year, Coach Lee is in the top .01% of YouTubers. His audience includes both individuals seeking solace and guidance after a breakup or marriage separation, along with empathetic viewers whose comments offer support, drawing from their own experiences and knowledge of Lee’s instruction. This blend creates a unique community where relationship advice is sought not only for personal healing but also for the shared purpose of aiding others on their journey to recovery. Comments on his channel often reflect deep appreciation for the support provided, frequently expressing affection for the popular relationship coach who is there for them in their hour of need.
Andrew says, “Your videos are helping me in the gym more than music man thank you! I’ve struggled with giving her time and honestly that’s ALL she’s asked for from me, but I keep failing and reaching out, at exactly 2 months since our breakup I sent her flowers, she still has pictures of me up after 2 months, I’m going to listen to you brother, pray for me.”
One woman commented, “Coach Lee, you held my hand through the breakup. I refused to fall apart, and you helped me go through it. I felt so much stronger and better than I thought was possible. And on top of that – it worked on my ex! Now we are living together and creating a strong relationship. Thank you for all the help! You are the best!”
One man commented from the hospital where his wife was about to deliver their child: “Coach Lee you are the man! In the hospital about to have a baby with a lady who I had lost but your videos and knowledge helped me fix things and now we have a family.”
These comments are not unusual, with viewers often expressing not just success from Lee’s content but love for him as a person. One commenter with the handle, ktietsort, said: “This man touches people on different levels. He has a way of saying things that others do not possess.”
The comments go on (and on) like that with the occasional female commenter stating that she is over her ex and now has a crush on Coach Lee. This new and rare breed of “Celebrity Relationship Coach” was not a status that Lee acquired using cutaways to stock video clips or other flashy presentations that seem generic on YouTube today. The style of his videos is quite simplistic with Lee seated in front of the camera having a one-to-one conversation with the viewer. Ironically, such simplicity has helped Lee stand out in a crowded catalogue of YouTubers who often come across as used car salesmen presenting over-the-top infomercials after being convinced that they should come across as “high energy.” As a commenter named Sasquasher10879 remarked, “Coach Lee seems so genuine and real while the other coaches seem cheesy and fake.”
Recently, Coach Lee has started providing more content specifically on marriage relationships, speaking to wives who hate their husband and for viewers asking how to save a marriage while separated.
Wilson states, “One of the issues having a profoundly negative impact on society is the high divorce rate of today. Though it’s not something we want to think about, divorce is not at all good for children, and we have significant data showing us that children are much better off in a family with both their parents – even when those marriages have some issues. So, I want to do whatever I can to help people have supportive, loving, and peaceful marriages and families. I can’t imagine an area where the world needs more help.”
Lee’s organization, Love Dynamics, provides online courses, workshops, and private coaching sessions for individuals hoping to reunite with a lost love or to save a marriage from divorce. With five coaches on his staff, it seems that Lee and his team have their hands full in a genre desperate for answers.
I asked Lee, “What is the top challenge for you and your organization?”
Lee responded, “It’s difficult to provide advice to millions of people at once. Much of the content in my videos is generic and intended to help people find direction or to prevent them from making key mistakes. My other programs including personal coaching, online courses, and my Relationship Reignite workshop are where advice can be customized to the specific situation of the individual or couple.”
Lee’s influence in the realm of relationship advice is only growing. His journey from a curious teenager exploring the internet to a seasoned coach helping millions navigate their most personal challenges is a testament to his dedication and innovative approach. Lee remains committed to his mission of helping the world build enduring, loving relationships, saying, “The real success for me is hearing that someone didn’t just get through a rough patch but actually found a way to thrive because of what they learned from us.”
Looking ahead, Lee plans to expand his reach through more personalized services and community-driven initiatives, aiming to touch more lives and heal more relationships. His story is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the simplest approach can be the most effective. In a world where everyone looks for complicated solutions, Coach Lee proves that genuine care and straightforward advice can indeed turn lives around. As the digital landscape evolves, so will his strategies, but his core message remains the same: love, seek peace, and never stop trying to make it work.
In an age fraught with fleeting connections and superficial advice, Coach Lee stands as a beacon of hope and guidance, demonstrating that with the right support and knowledge, anyone can navigate the complexities of relationships. His enduring impact is not measured just by views or subscribers, but by the real-world stories of relationships saved, families reunited, and lives positively changed.