Description

Thee Center for Leadership in Athletics believes in the power of sport. We seek to provide sports leaders with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to maximize the positive educational impact of athletics. Our interdisciplinary team of educators consists of seasoned coaches, researchers, and sport industry professionals with a wealth of experience across a wide range of athletics spaces.

Key initiatives include:
• Academic programming in sport leadership, including our flagship graduate degree program in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership and undergraduate courses in sports and education.
• Coach education and training, bringing research-based curriculum to sport organizations, schools, and state associations.
• Research to practice initiatives, like the Ambitious Coaching™ Research Project and the CLA Research Briefs.

The center offers in-person and online coaching courses suitable for coaches of all levels and sports. The curriculum draws from the Ambitious Coaching™ Project, the nationally recognized graduate program, and years of training youth sport organizations nationwide. In 2024 alone, we trained 6,000 coaches across the country.

Within the center, the Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership (IAL) graduate program prepares students to excel in sports administration. This hybrid program integrates hands-on athletic experience with courses focused on leadership development, the societal impact of sports, and essential administrative skills. Graduates receive a master’s degree in just one year, benefiting from a supportive alumni network and tailored internship opportunities.

Research initiatives include:
• Ambitious Coaching Project: Launched in 2016 to identify effective coaching practices that promote holistic athlete wellness and social-emotional development.
• CoachUp! Washington: A partnership with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, exploring the impact of youth coach training funded by the Susan Crown Exchange.
• College Sports and Institutional Values in Competition: Explores how college athletics reflect institutional values and challenges in meeting their missions.
• Intercollegiate Athletics Research Briefs: Addresses current topics in college athletics, including academics, coaching, athlete experiences, equity, and leadership.
• Youth Sports Research: In 2019, the University of Washington Center for Leadership in Athletics landscaped youth sports in Seattle and King County. The project was in partnership with the Aspen Institute, and King County Parks, along with the YMCA of Greater Seattle, Seattle Mariners, Kaiser Permanente, the Bezos Family Foundation, evo and Seattle Children’s Hospital in an effort to prioritize equal access to youth sports.

Partners

University of Washington Athletic Department;

AGE UP – Seattle, Boys & Girls Clubs of King County, Center for healing and Justice, Emerald Sound Conference, Global Sport Lab, King County Play Equity Coalition, NFHS Learning Center, Renton School District, Susan Crown Exchange, University of Washington Athletic Department