Who Are Colorado Safety Ben Finneseth’s Parents? All About Robert and Karyn Finneseth

When you hear about Colorado’s rising safety Ben Finneseth, you probably think about his clutch plays on defense and his growing role in college football with the CU Buffs.

But behind every highlight reel is a story, and for Ben, it starts with two people who shaped his grit from day one. That’s none other than his parents, Robert and Karyn.

From farming roots in North Dakota to chasing dreams in Colorado, their journey reveals just how much family fuels football greatness.

Who Are Robert and Karyn Finneseth?

One interesting fact is that growing up, Ben Finneseth’s parents, Robert and Karyn, engaged in farming. “We both come from farming backgrounds,” said Robert in a podcast with BiggDoggChico live. This hints at their similar ancestry, “Our ancestors uh, all moved there and started farming from different areas, different countries.” According to Robert, they were originally from North Dakota.

So, ending up in Colorado was sort of a long journey. It began with a trip in Colorado after having resided in Minnesota for 13 years, which ended with them growing fond of the place. “We did a homeschool trip down through this area and kind of fell in love with Southern Colorado,” shared Robert.

The mom said to have the same story. “I grew up in Western North Dakota and always had the desire to live in the mountains,” said Karyn. Even though it’s what they always desired, moving to Colorado was a tough decision.

“Ben was a freshman in high, he was a freshman in high school when we moved him,” Karyn added. “His other brother was just one year old, and then the girls were younger. So, tough tough stages to move them.” But their love to support Ben’s dream surpassed the hardships, so they moved regardless of the challenge.

Professionally? “I’m a contractor,” said Robert. “I’m a nurse and anesthetist,” chimed in the CU starter’s mom, clarifying that she administers anesthesia.

How They Supported Ben’s Football Journey

Supporting Ben’s dreams began way before moving to Colorado. As his father puts it, “The boys were involved with baseball, football, and wrestling. So I coached wrestling, and so that was where I spent my time, and they followed me to the practice room, and, and, to every meet.” 

Following his dad’s support and presence, Ben was more attached to wrestling than football. “Ben in high school when we lived in Minnesota, he was actually a stronger wrestler than a football player. Um, and that was his favorite,” recounts Ben’s mom.

Beyond that, Robert actively homeschooled Ben. “We spent a lot of time in the garage building things, and Ben was always just enjoyed time in the garage, and he started building things at a pretty young age.”

However, it was always smooth sailing for Ben. In fact, he was a COVID kid, as his father puts it. As such, following the sudden change of norm during the pandemic, Ben experienced the challenges firsthand before his recruitment.

“Ben’s games got moved to Saturday. So, you kind of take that aspect of Friday Night Lights out of your senior year of high school.” As if that wasn’t enough, “He actually got quarantined for the one Friday night game we would have had, which was for the league championship.”

Lucky for Ben, he got a warm reception in Colorado, thanks to his exceptional football talent. “The coaches could see a talent that we didn’t really realize was even there,” said Karyn. “The coaches really kind of took it upon themselves to start working with him, and that’s kind of where he took off with football.”

That warm reception in Colorado was only the beginning. With coaches recognizing the raw talent his parents had quietly nurtured, Ben’s game took off in ways even Robert and Karyn hadn’t imagined.

But the real story isn’t just about football, but rather about family. Robert and Karyn didn’t just support a dream; they built the foundation for it. And today, every play Ben makes for the Buffs carries the heart of the Finneseth family.

Also Read: Why Deion Sanders Doesn’t Allow Music At the Colorado Football Gym?

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