Texas Tech University Athletics
Leadership Academy Completes Successful First Year
January 23, 2015 | General
Jan. 23, 2015
The Fearless Champions Leadership Academy, the first comprehensive program of its kind in a collegiate athletics department, has completed its first year with rave reviews from Texas Tech student-athletes.
The academy is yet another successful milestone in the success of The Campaign For Fearless Champions, which was publicly announced in August.
Led by Hall of Fame Coach Marsha Sharp, the academy is designed to prepare student-athletes for success after graduation. The six components of the academy focus on character and leadership, wellness and life skills, career education, community service, professional development and a lecture series. With a priority of achieving athletics success for all teams at Texas Tech, this academy will strengthen their core leadership and prepare them to compete at the highest levels.
"Leadership education and training are critical components of student-athlete success," Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt said. "Along with the athletic and educational instruction they receive on our campus, this academy is providing opportunities for them to grow and mature as young adults and preparing them for a successful life when they leave Texas Tech."
The academy and its curriculum is lead through the athletics department by leadership that understands the needs of Texas Tech student-athletes. With the assistance of Mark Tribus, an expert on building authentic communities, cohorts and winning teams, the programming and team building exercises are tailored exclusively to fit the needs of Texas Tech student-athletes, coaches and teams.
-- Mickey Long
"We are proud to be educating our young athletes to be leaders not only on the field but also in their lives after collegiate athletics," Texas Tech University System Board of Regent Chairman Mickey Long said. "Upon graduation, our student-athletes are prepared to be effective leaders in their career, community and family which will inspire future generations to build on these critical life skills."
Underscoring Texas Tech's long-term vision for the program, the academy is listed among the priorities for The Campaign for Fearless Champions, an on-going fundraising initiative to enhance athletic facilities, invest in scholarship endowments and grow the leadership academy. The campaign goal for the leadership academy is to establish a $5 million endowment to provide operations support and ensure that current and future Red Raiders can be exposed to this life-altering curriculum.
The academy received a lead gift of $2.5 million from the J.T. and Margaret Talkington Charitable Foundation.
"The Texas Tech Leadership Academy provides unparalleled leadership opportunities for young men and women and we are proud to support such an important initiative," Talkington Charitable Foundation Board Chairman Norton Baker said. "The Leadership Academy creates a culture of ethical behavior, civility, and servant leadership for Texas Tech University and the Lubbock community."
Since that lead gift, additional funds have been raised from donors that believe in the mission of the academy and its potential to positively impact the careers of Texas Tech student-athletes.
Most recently, Texas Tech Head Golf Coach Greg Sands credited Matias Dominguez' success at the Latin America Amateur Championship. Dominguez will be the first Red Raider to play at the Masters while on the current roster.
"He has worked so hard at becoming a leader and has really taken on the role of being our team captain," Sands noted. "He thrived in the Leadership class that he took last semester as part of the Fearless Champions Leadership Academy and that has made a huge difference for him. Whether it's the leadership class or all the things he's learned through Mark Tribus, it has really helped mature him into our team leader."
From Texas Tech Student-Athletes
I have learned who I am as a leader from this program as well as learning new ways to become an even better and more efficient leader. Knowing who I was as a leader initially, allowed me to be a better and more successful leader to my teammates. Understanding my beliefs, values, and my vision for the team and myself helped me use each lesson more in depth and think outside of the box. - Davis Webb, Football
This class changed the way I approach life and people. I come from a country (Chile) that lacks of leadership and I'm proud to say that I'm one of the few people who has a solid knowledge of how to practice leadership and I will expand it once I go home. - Matias Dominguez, Men's Golf
Before this course, I had no idea that there were so many leadership styles out there. It meant so much to me to be able to learn about all of them and discover which one fit into the leadership qualities that I already possess. I believe that your investment has and will continue to improve the quality of Texas Tech Athletics and the athletes that they produce and fine tune. - Hannah Devine, Soccer
About Mark Tribus
A graduate of West Point and Harvard Business School, Mark Tribus' passions are leadership development, team-building, and designing inspirational experiences that create lasting change. Mark served a twenty year career in the US Army, to include a combat tour in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. He is now President of his own firm, Mark Tribus, Inc., where he is committed to building winning teams - one leader at a time.
Mark developed and taught leadership courses at West Point and Duke University. He regularly facilitates retreats for Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) and companies interested in developing authentic, high-functioning, and effective teams.
He has conducted over one hundred unique team-building experiences for elite athletic teams, including the 2010 National Champion Duke Men's Basketball and Lacrosse teams. Mark has designed and executed numerous leader development experiences for business executives, doctors, MBA programs and college merit scholar programs.
Mark is a founding team member of a non-profit company (companycommand.com) that was featured in Fast Company magazine, CNN, and Harvard Business Review for its excellence in peer to peer leader development. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and two sons.
