How Leadership Development and Positive Mentorship of an African American Female Head Basketball Coach Have Had an Impact in the Lives of Her Players, Assistant Coaches, and Peers

Abstract

The notion of whether athletics builds character among its student-athletes continues to be a strong debate among researchers, legislatures, and most particularly, coaches, athletics directors, student-athletes, and parents. Coaches at all levels and in all sports can, and many do, play a vital role in the character development of their players. This is done by setting high expectations, not only in how to play the game, but how to become good citizens (Cohen, 1993). This study examined how one African American female exemplary head coach has had an impact on the lives of her players, assistant coaches, and peers by means of leadership development and positive mentorship. Using a case study approach, this qualitative study focused on the character development and positive mentorship an African American female head basketball coach and the impact that she has had on her players, assistant coaches, and peers. This research centered on the leadership behaviors developed by Kouzes and Posner (1995), extracting common themes, and, on identifying factors that are aligned with the leadership behaviors and mentoring traits of an exemplary coach who has influenced the lives of her players, assistant coaches, and peers who are used as the secondary participants in the study.