Eden Prairie native Adam Steele excelled on the track during his career as a Golden Gopher. He won the 2003 NCAA outdoor title in the 400-meter dash as a junior. After his junior season, Steele and teammate Mitch Potter competed for gold and silver medal 4x400-meter relay teams at the World Championships and the Pan American Games, respectively. Over his Gopher career, Steele was a nine-time All-American and eight-time Big Ten champion.

Steele continued to run after his college eligibility was exhausted, training professionally in the 400 meters, and later the 800 meters. Hampered by Achilles tendon injuries, he retired from competition in 2008. By then, Steele had moved to Eugene, Oregon. He had also decided on the next career he wanted to pursue.