About Us
The Coaches of Excellence Institute™ is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded by Coach Rod Olson in 2005.
About Us
In a just a few short years we have
trained over 100,000 Coaches, Parents and Leaders! Our
clients are as diverse as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America to the U.S.A.
Olympic Coaching Schools, in addition to many NCAA Universities. The principles and concepts we teach resonate with people, they make sense and
they work.
As we grow and expand globally our
goal continues to be the
same as it was years ago. We exist to train, equip and empower Coaches at
all levels to use sport as the vehicle to positively impact
our youth, their families, and ultimately our world.
The organization is based on three simple goals:
- To make a difference in children's lives through coaches.
- To equip and empower coaches to capture the hearts of their athletes.
- To help each school or organization become the model of how sport can and should be used to build positive character traits.
Their principles resonate with people and have changed lives.
Current facts about sports today:
- 57 million kids play youth sports from ages 6-14. That number drops to 7 million by age 15. The number one deterrent is overly competitive coaching and burnout.
- On average one coach can reach anywhere between 30 to 50 families per season.
- The United States is the only country in the major sporting world that does not have a national coaching education program.
- There are no federal laws requiring coaching education at any level of competition.
- Less than 1% of the three million volunteer coaches and less than 1/3 of the interscholastic coaches in the U.S. have any type of coaching education.
- Young women who participate in sports are three times more likely to graduate from high school.
- 75% of all children have witnessed an out of control parent at their games.
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Our Board of Directors consists of high-quality people who are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others.
Executive Committee on the Board
Advisory Board Members
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Rod Olson - Chief Catalyst
Innovative, Insightful, High Energy Storyteller
Few people have impacted the world of Coaching and Sport like Rod Olson, a gregarious, sought-after, speaker and prominent author, coach, and consultant. He is universally characterized by friends, colleagues, and clients as one of the most insightful, powerful, and compelling speakers today. Rod, or “Coach O” as he is usually called, is an author, speaker and coach of coaches. Rod is not your typical coach. He has spent close to 20 years as a collegiate football coach, including holding the head coach position at three different universities. Rod has coached professionally at every level of collegiate sports, including stints at Oklahoma State University and three time NCAA National Champion Appalachian State University. He is also a guest lecturer at the University of Central Florida. Rod is married and the father of three children ages 16, 13, and 10, and resides in Colorado.
Few people have impacted the world of Coaching and Sport like Rod Olson, a gregarious, sought-after, speaker and prominent author, coach, and consultant. He is universally characterized by friends, colleagues, and clients as one of the most insightful, powerful, and compelling speakers today. Rod, or “Coach O” as he is usually called, is an author, speaker and coach of coaches. Rod is not your typical coach. He has spent close to 20 years as a collegiate football coach, including holding the head coach position at three different universities. Rod has coached professionally at every level of collegiate sports, including stints at Oklahoma State University and three time NCAA National Champion Appalachian State University. He is also a guest lecturer at the University of Central Florida. Rod is married and the father of three children ages 16, 13, and 10, and resides in Colorado.
Jeff Thomason - Director of Operations
A sought after business developer and public speaker, Jeff Thomason brings a wealth of experience as the Director of Operations for the Coaches of Excellence Institute. After a successful 10 year career in the National Football League and playing in 3 Super Bowls for legendary coaches like, Andy Reid of the Philadelphia Eagles, Brad Childress of the Minnesota Vikings and also current President of the Cleveland Browns, Mike Holmgren, Jeff has spent the last few years as a project manager for a fortune 500 company and was also the chief architect in the building and developing of two separate successful companies. Jeff is a graduate of the University of Oregon and received his MBA from the University of Denver and now spends the majority of his time coaching his own children ages 14, 8 and 6, in youth sports while being married to his wonderful wife, Blake.
Jeff Duke or “Doctor Duke”
Cutting Edge, Engaging, Global Influencer
Applying his great depth of knowledge and practical experience, Dr. Jeff Duke makes complicated topics come to life. He entertains people and provides the substance that helps them as coaches in sport as well as in their personal lives. Jeff is a Professor at the University of Central Florida and has extensive success in coaching, education, marketing, and capital projects. He is a highly sought after keynote speaker/clinician on motivational theory and the integrity of sport and coaching, and has trained coaches internationally and nationally. Jeff also plays a critical role in writing portions of the Coaches of Excellence material that is used in workshops across the country. Jeff is married, has four boys, and resides in Florida.
Applying his great depth of knowledge and practical experience, Dr. Jeff Duke makes complicated topics come to life. He entertains people and provides the substance that helps them as coaches in sport as well as in their personal lives. Jeff is a Professor at the University of Central Florida and has extensive success in coaching, education, marketing, and capital projects. He is a highly sought after keynote speaker/clinician on motivational theory and the integrity of sport and coaching, and has trained coaches internationally and nationally. Jeff also plays a critical role in writing portions of the Coaches of Excellence material that is used in workshops across the country. Jeff is married, has four boys, and resides in Florida.
Clint Hurdle - Spokesman
With over two decades of professional coaching experience and spending seven years as the Manager of Colorado Rockies and guiding the club to the 2007 World Series, Clint has joined the Texas Rangers coaching staff. As a former major league player, lifelong coach and parent, Clint understands and lives out the Coaches of Excellence mission. His hands on experience and knowledge offer superior insight to today’s coaching at the higher levels and is invaluable as the spokesman for COE. Clint is married to his lovely wife, Karla, and has three beautiful children.
Randy R. Chambers or “Coach Chambers”
Partnership Development Coordinator Northeast Region
Coach Chambers serves as the Character Coach for Delaware State University Football, Wesley College Football, Wesley College Baseball and Wesley College Lacrosse. Chambers graduated from Delaware State University in 1996 and served nine years with MBNA, leaving a senior level management position to follow his passion of developing leaders. Randy coached Dover High School Basketball for ten years before starting a career in Corporate America. Coach Chambers passion for others, exuberance for life and his positive attitude are fueled by three near death car accidents and the tragic deaths of his father, his brother and his best friend. Chambers is passionate about sharing his brokenness with leaders which includes victory over alcohol, drugs, tobacco, pornography and profanity. Chambers credits his success professionally to the inward development of his character after attending a leadership development conference as an executive in 2004. Coach Chambers surrendered his prideful pursuit of promotions and prosperity in exchange for servant leadership of his people. Leadership development became a daily intentional lifestyle growing from the inside out and ignited record setting results for the people whose efforts he managed. Chambers received the Outstanding Young Man of America Award in 1997 while at DSU. While at MBNA, he received Colin Powell’s America’s Promise Award in 2002. Chambers shares his coaching and business experience to develop Coaches, athletes and business leaders. Randy, his wife Melissa and their sons (William 6, Edward 3 and Patrick 10 months) reside in Camden Delaware.
Coach Chambers serves as the Character Coach for Delaware State University Football, Wesley College Football, Wesley College Baseball and Wesley College Lacrosse. Chambers graduated from Delaware State University in 1996 and served nine years with MBNA, leaving a senior level management position to follow his passion of developing leaders. Randy coached Dover High School Basketball for ten years before starting a career in Corporate America. Coach Chambers passion for others, exuberance for life and his positive attitude are fueled by three near death car accidents and the tragic deaths of his father, his brother and his best friend. Chambers is passionate about sharing his brokenness with leaders which includes victory over alcohol, drugs, tobacco, pornography and profanity. Chambers credits his success professionally to the inward development of his character after attending a leadership development conference as an executive in 2004. Coach Chambers surrendered his prideful pursuit of promotions and prosperity in exchange for servant leadership of his people. Leadership development became a daily intentional lifestyle growing from the inside out and ignited record setting results for the people whose efforts he managed. Chambers received the Outstanding Young Man of America Award in 1997 while at DSU. While at MBNA, he received Colin Powell’s America’s Promise Award in 2002. Chambers shares his coaching and business experience to develop Coaches, athletes and business leaders. Randy, his wife Melissa and their sons (William 6, Edward 3 and Patrick 10 months) reside in Camden Delaware.
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