Athletes & Coaches (C - Sports)

Drew Brees shares insights from his illustrious career and inspires with remarks on family, faith and philanthropy.

A two-time Heisman finalist, Brees led the Purdue Boilermakers to a Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl appearance during the 2000 season. In that same year, he won the Maxwell Award as the nation's top collegiate player as well as being named Academic All-American Player of the Year. In 2022, Brees returned to Purdue as an interim assistant coach.

<p>James “The Iron Cowboy” Lawrence’s combination of energy, humor, determination, and achievements captivates his audience and creates an inspirational and awakening phenomenon for all. </p><p>James earned his “Iron Cowboy” nickname because of the hat he wore during the marathon portion of his Ironman races so that his children could identify him quickly. In his book, <em>Iron Cowboy: Redefine Impossible</em>, James shares how, with two Guinness World Records under his belt, he wondered if he had truly found his mental and physical limits.

<p>Sentenced to 65 years in a Texas maximum security prison, Damon West once had it all.</p><p>At 20 years old, he was a Division 1 starting quarterback at the University of North Texas. After a career-ending injury, drugs helped him manage the pain and the disappointment. After graduation, he worked in the U.S. Congress, was a national fundraiser on a U.S. presidential campaign and eventually trained to be a stockbroker for United Bank of Switzerland (UBS).

<p>Don Yaeger is a nationally acclaimed inspirational speaker, longtime Associate Editor of <i>Sports Illustrated</i>, author of over 30 books, eleven of which have become <i>New York Times</i> Best-sellers, and host of <i>Corporate Competitor Podcast</i>. He began his career at the <i>San Antonio Light</i> in Texas, and also worked at the <i>Dallas Morning News</i> and the <i>Florida Times-Union</i> in Jacksonville before going to work for <i>Sports Illustrated</i>.

<p>With infectious humor and riveting anecdotes from her extraordinary journeys, Shailee Basnet shares inspiring lessons in courage, leadership, teamwork, and the importance of diversity for success.</p><p>In spite of their proximity to Mt. Everest, not many women in Nepal climb mountains. Shailee Basnet is an exception. After she completed her first summit of the world’s highest mountain, she led the Seven Summits Women Team.

<p>Three-time Super Bowl champion and five-time Pro Bowl selection, Darren Woodson is one of the greatest players to ever wear a Dallas Cowboys uniform—and now inspires organizations to build strong leaders and teams, embrace change and competition, and create a culture of excellence.  </p><p>Throughout Darren Woodson’s NFL career, his dependability, athleticism and aggressiveness helped lead the Cowboys to three Super Bowl Championships (Super Bowl XXVII, XXVIII and XXX)—securing him an elite position in the club’s history.

<p>Orlando Bowen was a linebacker in the CFL from 2000-04. He began his career with the Toronto Argonauts and ended it while playing for the Hamilton Tigercats. His career was sadly cut short after a severe concussion suffered at the hands of two corrupt police officers. </p><p>In 2004, while waiting to meet friends while in a parking lot, Orlando was approached by two undercover officers who accused him of dealing drugs. The officers then physically beat Bowen who suffered significant injuries to the head.

<p>Two-time World Cup Champion and co-captain of the US Women’s National Soccer Team, Megan Rapinoe is a fan favorite and one of the team’s most technical players.</p><p>A vocal leader on and off the pitch, Megan helped lead the USWNT to the 2019 Women’s World Cup Championship scoring some of the biggest goals of the tournament. Megan took home the tournament’s two top honors – the Golden Boot for top scorer, and the Golden Ball for the best player in the tournament.

<p>In 1992, when Manon Rhéaume stepped on the ice as goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning, she became The First Woman of Hockey—the first and only female to play in an NHL game.</p><p>Manon was also the first female to sign a contract as a professional hockey player, leading to a successful six-year career in the minor leagues. To this day, no other woman has played in any of the four major sports—the NHL, NFL, NBA, or MLB.

<p>Aly Raisman, team captain of the gold medal winning U.S. Olympic Women’s Gymnastics teams in 2012 and 2016, is the second most decorated American gymnast of all-time with six total Olympic medals. </p><p>The most decorated U.S. gymnast at the 2012 Games, Raisman captured the hearts of millions as she became the first American gymnast to win gold in the floor exercise. One of only two U.S.