Richard A. Baddour Carolina Leadership Academy

Carolina CREED Program

CREED Mentors

Rising Stars Program

Leadership Lab

Veteran Leaders Program

Leadership for Coaches

Leadership Liaisons

Leadership Academy Brochure (pdf)

Leadership Academy Overview (pdf)

As the nation's premier leadership development program in collegiate athletics, the Richard A. Baddour Leadership Academy develops, challenges and supports student-athletes, coaches and staff in their continual quest to become world class leaders in athletics, academics and life. The Leadership Academy provides comprehensive and cutting edge leadership development programming through interactive workshops, 360-degree feedback, one-on-one coaching, peer mentoring and educational resources. In 2004, the Carolina Leadership Academy was established as the first leadership development program in the collegiate athletics. In 2012, it was renamed the Richard A. Baddour Carolina Leadership Academy in honor of the vision which Director of Athletics Emeritus, Richard A. Baddour provided.

CAROLINA CREED PROGRAM

Leadership training begins in student-athletes' first year. All leadership begins with personal leadership, therefore first-year student-athletes are taught skills to effectively lead themselves. Training consists of monthly meetings featuring keynote speakers and small group discussion. Upperclass student-athletes serve as peer mentors and discussion leaders. Special focus is on responsibility, accountability, making good choices, ethics and character building.

Program Objectives for Carolina CREED:

• Teach freshmen how to lead themselves effectively

• Ease the transition of first-year student-athletes

• Create social connections between first-year student-athletes

• Provide freshmen with upperclass peer mentors

• Teach freshmen the importance of respecting leadership

• Develop upperclass student-athlete leaders to mentor the first-year student-athletes

CREED Mentors

The CREED Mentors Program provides participants in the Carolina CREED Program with upperclass student-athletes who promote, advocate, and share experiences. Mentors act as resources for first years in addition to shepherding them towards additional, available on-campus resources. Mentors receive facilitation training and ongoing support in their roles. They learn how to use the educational model of experiential learning, the behavioral model of DiSC, the relational model of mentorship, and the leadership model of servant leadership.

Program Objectives for CREED Mentors:

• Foster greater sense of self awareness and more impactful communication skills

• Equip mentors with ability to be reflective practitioners but also to facilitate post-activity debriefs

• Ingrain the importance of investing in the development of others

• Support mentors as they face the challenges and frustrations of their role and responsibilities

• Commit to building collaborative learning relationships that add balance and perspective

RISING STARS PROGRAM

Designed for a select group of "high potential" sophomores and juniors, the program provides future leaders with insights, strategies and skills necessary to become effective leaders. The program includes monthly meetings, interactive exercises and action learning experiences.

Program Objectives for Rising Stars:

• Identify and develop high potential leaders in their sophomore or junior years

• Create solid leaders by example and set the stage for developing vocal leaders

• Build a strong peer support network for aspiring leaders

• Develop leaders who support and learn from current team captains/leaders

• Succession planning

LEADERSHIP LAB

This level of involvement is slotted between Rising Star and possible Veteran Leader participation. It is an opportunity for continued leadership reflection, mentorship, and application. Leadership reflection entails authentically sourced curriculum for leadership workshops. Leadership mentorship is offered by coaches, department staff members, and current team leadership. Leadership application involves a leadership project.

Program Objectives for the Leadership Lab:

• Provide continued leadership development through an authentic project, mentorship and instruction to those teams with an expressed need for such

• Identify and address an authentic need as demonstrated by one's team, the department, campus or local community

• Establish a solid, cooperative and ongoing partnership with coaches, team leaders and staff members

• Build a strong peer support network for aspiring leaders

VETERAN LEADERS PROGRAM

This program is designed for team captains and veteran student-athletes. It provides advanced leadership training and support, teaches the critical skills and insights necessary to be effective vocal leaders and provides a strong peer network. Student-athletes meet regularly to learn and reinforce leadership principles and share successes, frustrations and lessons.

Program Objectives for Veteran Leaders:

• Encourage experienced leaders to step up and be vocal leaders

• Establish a solid, cooperative, and ongoing partnership with the coaching staff

• Review and extend the insights and skills necessary to be a responsible and respected leader

• Provide veteran leaders with ongoing coaching as they tackle the tough issues of team leadership

• Provide leaders with a solid peer network for guidance and support

LEADERSHIP FOR COACHES

UNC coaches engage in continuous learning via monthly professional development workshops covering a wide range of leadership, motivation and team building topics. The interactive workshops allow coaches to reflect on their coaching philosophies as they refine and adapt new leadership skills. The workshops provide coaches with a chance to interact with and learn from their experienced and highly respected colleagues on a regular basis. Separate workshops are conducted for head coaches and assistant coaches to target each group's specific needs. Select head coaches occasionally assist in facilitating the workshops with assistant coaches to take advantage of their experiences.

LEADERSHIP LIAISONS

Each team designates a Leadership Liaison from their coaching ranks. Leadership Liaisons serves three vital and primary functions. One, as the designated singular contact person, each liaison expedites and increases efficiency in communication between a given team and the Leadership Academy. Two, liaisons serve as the resident the Leadership Academy experts for their teams with regard to the Leadership Academy policies, protocols and practices. Three, they facilitate coach involvement in the student-athlete leadership development process.

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