Relentless Persistence:
How CBU Grad Peter Schaale Built Relentless Theory
When Peter Schaale stepped off the plane in Sydney, Cape Breton, this summer, he wasn’t arriving as a wide-eyed recruit from Germany as he did nearly 10 years ago. He was coming back to train the Cape Breton University men’s soccer team, invited to help instill in them a dedication to wellness.
“You can have all the talent in the world, but if you don’t wake up every day with urgency, you’re going to watch opportunities pass you by,” Schaale said, standing on the sidelines at CBU’s turf field. “That’s the message I want these guys to feel—not just hear.”
Schaale’s journey from Germany to Canada in 2016 wasn’t the first big leap of his life. At just 16, he had already been living away from home, chasing soccer dreams in academies and semi-pro clubs. That early independence made his move across the Atlantic less daunting than it was for many of his CBU teammates. His accent became a curiosity, more English than German, thanks to countless hours playing alongside British players and under the direction of head coach Deano Morley. “Sometimes people ask me where I’m from and they expect me to say UK, not Germany,” he laughed.
At CBU, Schaale quickly became a defensive anchor and a leader, but the real test came after his third year. A professional opportunity was on the table and his long-time dream was within reach. Walking away from the classroom seemed like the obvious choice. “I was ready to pack up. I thought, school will always be there. Pro ball won’t,” Schaale recalled. “But a mentor told me, ‘Peter, your career can be over in an instant. Get the degree. Your future self will thank you.’ And that really stuck with me.”
He took the advice, trusted his gut, as he often does, and finished his Bachelor of Business Administration in 2020. The degree wasn’t just a backup plan; it became the foundation for his next chapter. After a few seasons in the professional ranks, Schaale began to feel something shift. “Peter the soccer player, that was my whole identity,” he said. “But I started asking myself, ‘Who am I without football?’ That was scary. And exciting.”“I knew I could get a top-notch education without ever leaving home,” says Jacob. “CBU allowed me to build strong relationships, give back to my community, and develop professionally in ways I never expected.”
He began documenting his personal fitness journey online, at first just to hold himself accountable. The habit stuck. The audience grew. Before long, it evolved into Relentless Theory, a fitness business officially launched in 2025 from his home base in Vancouver, B.C.
“The name comes from the idea that relentlessness isn’t a mood, it’s a strategy. It’s about showing up every day, whether you feel like it or not,” Schaale explained. “That’s what I learned in soccer, and that’s what I apply in business.”
Through Relentless Theory, Schaale has expanded his focus. He works with people from all walks of life; students, professionals, and fellow athletes, to build healthy, sustainable habits that keep them on a path of self-improvement and self-discovery. For him, performance coaching isn’t just about physical fitness, but about giving people the tools to show up consistently and pursue growth in every area of their lives. Now, working with clients, Schaale uses his business degree daily, from branding and marketing to financial planning. He’s also drawn on the resilience he developed in his playing career.
Returning to CBU to train the next generation isn’t just about fitness drills, it’s about perspective. “I tell the players: You’re building more than a career here. You’re building a toolkit for life. And one day, like me, you might be grateful you didn’t quit when it was tempting.”
Coach Deano Morley was excited to welcome Peter back, not just because of his skillset, but his innate leadership. “Welcoming Peter home amplifies that our approach in building Complete Champions is about more than soccer, it’s about empowerment, and inspiring our players to be quality people with drive and purpose,” Morley shared. “To see how our philosophy, our community, and our university have helped shaped Peter’s journey, and now to have him return to inspire the next generation, is an incredibly rewarding full circle moment. We are incredibly proud of Peter.”