Birmingham, AL. Rising Coaches has long been known for hosting first class events for the coaching community. Beginning in 2021, they will host their first event for student-athletes. The “Intro to Coaching” program will provide the knowledge, resources and path-way for student-athletes to successfully transition into a career in coaching. “I think a lot of athletes would love to make a career out of teaching the game that they love, but they don’t know where to start,” said Rising Coaches CEO Adam Gordon. “There is no roadmap to this profession. There’s no training, or resources and a lot of times you have to know someone just to know what jobs are even open.” Intro to Coaching will look to fill that void. The two-day conference will cover topics including earning trust and responsibilities, building relationships with your players and staff, navigating the profession, leveraging your experiences, financial planning and more. Rising Coaches will bring in some of the top coaches from the HS, AAU, College and Professional levels to speak to their group. The conference will conclude with a speed-interview session. Head and Assistant coaches will be invited to meet and interview the participants of the Intro to Coaching program. “Our goal is for our participants to leave with an understanding of the realities of the coaching profession, an understanding of what it takes to be successful in the coaching profession, and an expanded network and relationships that may help them personally or professionally.”
Intro to Coaching was created for student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility or athletes who have recently finished a professional playing career. Those interested in attending will need to fill out an application at www.risingcoaches.com and submit 2 references. This year’s event will be virtual and take place April 16-17th of 2021.
Part of the inspiration for this event is due to the under-representation of African-American head coaches in basketball. According to The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport almost 80% of men’s high-major basketball players are black and yet only 29.2% of Division I basketball programs are led by a black head coach. “Intro to Coaching certainly doesn’t solve the problem of under-representation in athletics” Gordon explained. “But it is a small step that our organization can take right now to provide more opportunities and exposure for former athletes.” Darryl Jacobs, the Executive Director of Rising Coaches DEI-Alliance explained the benefits of the program. “This will provide young men and women coaches of color the opportunity to learn, develop and prepare along with the access to mentors and decision makers. I am excited and very optimistic about the impact it will have."
Rising Coaches is a membership-based organization that provides relationships, resources and opportunities for the coaching industry. For more information visit www.risingcoaches.com
