This story is a part of Peak, The Athletic’s desk protecting the psychological facet of sports. Sign up for Peak’s publication here.
Our objective with this listing was easy: We asked a bunch of people in North American sports to rank the 5 leaders they most admired in 2025.
We picked the phrase “most admired” as a result of it’s deliberately imprecise. You don’t should know somebody to admire them. You can even admire leaders for various causes: The method they talk, the method they deal with adversity or the highlight, and, in fact, their success.
That’s the wonderful thing about management: It’s subjective. What works for one particular person may not work for another person.
We left it to every participant to find out what they admired. We additionally didn’t have any guidelines in opposition to voting for people you labored with or performed for. The leaders simply needed to be energetic as a coach, participant or government in 2025 (no Nick Saban, for instance).
We surveyed most of the 116 members in October and November — it takes a very long time to place collectively a venture like this — and we suspect that may have one thing to do with the decrease positions of coaches like Mike Vrabel with the New England Patriots and Curt Cignetti with the Indiana Hoosiers (and certain why Pete Carroll, who was fired by the Las Vegas Raiders not too long ago, acquired votes. Believe it or not, Carroll wasn’t the solely coach from our listing who was fired).
Then once more, this listing was by no means supposed to replicate the people experiencing the greatest outcomes in 2025. That issues, in fact, however we didn’t need it to imply every thing.
In the finish, our panel was deliberately numerous — although nearly solely from North America — made up of Hall of Fame coaches from the collegiate and professional ranks and assistant coaches from all ranges of faculty {and professional} sports; present and former skilled gamers, management consultants and executives.
To provide you with a style: We surveyed Hall of Famers (Bill Cowher, Tara VanDerveer, Rebecca Lobo), a Heisman Trophy winner (Andre Ware), an MLB MVP (Dale Murphy) and an NFL MVP (Matt Ryan); present basic managers (J.J. Picollo, Monica Wright Rogers, Nick U’Ren), head coaches (Kalani Sitake, Lindsay Gottlieb, Laura Harper, Adia Barnes) and a head coach who was additionally a Heisman Trophy winner (Eddie George); a group president (Raven Jemison), nationwide champions (Muffet McGraw, Carolyn Peck, Margueritte Aozasa), World Series champions (Joe Maddon, Travis Ishikawa), Super Bowl champions (Richard Sherman, Ok.J. Wright, Cliff Avril), NBA champions (Shaun Livingston, Jason Terry, Bruce Bowen), WNBA and NBA champions (Michael Cooper), World Cup winners (Joy Fawcett), a USWNT group captain (Christie Pearce Rampone) and Olympic gold medalists (Jordan Chiles and Cat Osterman).
Our hope is for this to grow to be an annual listing. But for now, right here are the 40 most admired leaders in sports from 2025:
1. Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors coach
Kerr, 60, had an illustrious profession in basketball earlier than teaching, successful three championships as a reserve guard for the Chicago Bulls alongside Michael Jordan and one other two whereas enjoying for Gregg Popovich in San Antonio. However, relating to management, it’s his tenure guiding the Warriors’ dynasty that has made him considered one of the most revered coaches in skilled sports.
Kerr has cited a litany of influential management figures in his life, from his father, the late Malcolm Kerr — assassinated in 1984 whereas serving as president of the American University of Beirut — to coaches comparable to Popovich, Phil Jackson, Pete Carroll and former Liverpool supervisor Jürgen Klopp. His type, a mixture of all, has commanded consideration from coaches throughout sports, in addition to management consultants and executives.
Credentials: Kerr’s groups have gained 4 NBA championships and appeared in two extra NBA Finals. Sure, he could have been accorded a few of the most proficient NBA rosters of this century, together with Steph Curry and Kevin Durant at their primes, however our voters took discover of his skill to speak with empathy, handle a roster of superstars and stay a gradual presence amid the each day drama {of professional} basketball.
What our voters mentioned:
Tara VanDerveer, former Stanford girls’s basketball coach: “In the pros, you’re going to trade people, but I think he’s loyal to the person, and he’s also true to the team in that he has to make tough decisions that are all about making the team better.”
Dale Murphy, former MLB MVP: “When things are challenging, great leaders don’t separate themselves from the players. He doesn’t separate himself when things don’t go well and he sheds the praise — he deflects it — when things do go well.”
Gregory Sullivan, Missouri professor: “The best coaches balance support and demand, and Kerr lives in that sweet spot: high support, high challenge.”
2. Dawn Staley, South Carolina girls’s basketball coach
Staley was considered one of the trailblazers of the WNBA, a six-time All-Star who turned considered one of the top ground generals of her period. In 18 seasons at South Carolina, she has confirmed to be considered one of the greatest tradition builders in sports, reworking the Gamecocks right into a powerhouse.
Credentials: She has gained three NCAA titles and made seven Final Fours as a coach — together with 5 in a row since 2021. In the course of, she’s grow to be an advocate for girls’s sports and a revered voice in basketball.
What our voters mentioned:
Sue Enquist, former UCLA softball coach: “She teaches you how to hover above the noise, have fun and grow. She is a truth teller.”
Eddie George, Bowling Green soccer: “Her impact goes far beyond wins and championships. She builds people, sets standards and has left every program better than she found it. Dawn transcends sports; the best leaders in every arena look to her for wisdom, perspective and guidance.”
Scoonie Penn, former NBA assistant coach: “It’s the way players always talk about her, the love they show her, the way they go back to the school and the way she shows up for them. That’s really powerful.”
3. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors guard
Widely thought to be maybe the best shooter in NBA historical past, Curry helped revolutionize basketball together with his type of play and impressed a brand new era of gamers to deal with long-range capturing. He’s additionally helped set up an up to date mannequin for a celebrity chief: steady, collaborative and joyful.
Credentials: Curry is a four-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors and two-time MVP, together with the first-ever unanimous MVP in 2016. He additionally gained a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He has performed his complete NBA profession with the Warriors.
What our voters mentioned:
Jason Terry, Utah Jazz assistant coach: “His demeanor and disposition and how he handles himself.”
Johnny Tauer, St. Thomas males’s basketball coach: “Two of our program tenets are intrinsic motivation and competitive joy. He embodies these traits at levels I’ve never seen another pro athlete exceed.”
Margueritte Aozasa, Texas girls’s soccer coach: “A large part of my own coaching philosophy is ‘let your strengths be your strengths.’ He honed his specialty so much it literally changed the way a whole generation plays and appreciates the sport of basketball. He doesn’t always seek the spotlight but finds a way to use his performance and his platform to inspire those around him.”
At 71, UConn coach Geno Auriemma turned the oldest coach to win a Division I basketball title in 2025. (Luke Hales / Getty Images)
4. Geno Auriemma, Connecticut girls’s basketball coach
Auriemma has grow to be synonymous with girls’s basketball, a direct communicator and grasp motivator who constructed maybe the sport’s best dynasty. He’s additionally confirmed extremely resilient; he gained his first NCAA Championship in 1995 with Rebecca Lobo as his star and his twelfth 30 years later, with Paige Bueckers main the method.
Credentials: Auriemma has gained 12 NCAA championships, appeared in 24 Final Fours and holds the file for most victories in school basketball historical past at the Division I degree — males’s or girls’s. He has additionally been voted the AP nationwide coach of the 12 months 9 occasions.
What our voters mentioned:
Tamika Williams-Jeter, Dayton girls’s basketball coach: “Coach is a winner, lover of detail and a menace. He never stops learning about himself and how to motivate the people around him.”
John Cook, former Nebraska volleyball coach: “He was a role model and somebody I studied throughout my coaching career. I think great leaders have to be adaptable and adjust to the times, especially in the last few years in college sports. He sticks to what he believes in, but he’s learned to adapt.”
Chad Brown, former NFL linebacker: “A lot of leaders shy away from uncomfortable conversations. He doesn’t. He believes growth lives in those moments, and his players end up better for it. What really separates him, though, is that he’s evolved. He’s coached through different eras, different styles, different personalities and he’s adjusted without losing who he is. That’s hard to do. Most leaders either refuse to change or lose their identity trying to.”
5. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs coach
When Reid turned the head coach of the Chiefs in early 2013, he had already skilled success throughout a protracted stint as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. In Kansas City, he staked his declare as considered one of the best NFL coaches of all time, constructing a dynasty with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and making the playoffs for 10 straight seasons.
Known as a detail-oriented participant’s coach and a masterful trainer, he did it with a easy ethos: “Don’t judge.”
Credentials: Reid has gained three Super Bowls with the Chiefs and led his groups to the Super Bowl six occasions, together with as soon as in Philadelphia. He ranks fourth all-time in profession wins, trailing solely Don Shula, George Halas and Bill Belichick.
What our voters mentioned:
Mike Brey, Atlanta Hawks assistant coach: “The consistent, steady emotions and the projection of no ego.”
George Karl, former NBA head coach: “I love how he handles problems. I also love how he handles success. He motivates his players. He’s demanding of his players. And the last thing I’ll say about him I’ve not said about many people: He reminds me a lot of (former North Carolina men’s basketball coach) Dean Smith.”
6. Sam Presti, Oklahoma City Thunder basic supervisor
Presti has confirmed to be considered one of the most adept architects in the NBA, constructing a contender with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, then finally blowing it up and engineering a championship group in 2025 with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.
Credentials: Presti has one NBA championship as a basic supervisor and three extra as an assistant basic supervisor for the San Antonio Spurs. Long considered an analytically-savvy government, he’s additionally a voracious reader who emphasizes participant character, group tradition and a easy mindset: Thinking large, constructing small.
What our voters mentioned:
Jeff Polzer, professor at Harvard: “From what I can see from the outside, it looks like Sam is always learning, including from places outside of the sports world, and I think he encourages everyone inside his organization to do the same thing. They’re always looking for new, innovative ways to get better, both individually and collectively. When you put those things together, it makes for a great leader.”
Shaun Livingston, former NBA participant: “Sam has this balance of IQ plus EQ that he demonstrates transparently with his players. Pro sports can feel very transactional, where it squeezes the joy from the game players grow up playing. The best leaders I worked with were all able to make the hard decisions while treating players as humans not product. Sam embodies those traits.”
7. Emma Hayes, U.S. girls’s nationwide soccer group coach
Hayes is thought to be considered one of the most influential figures in girls’s soccer, greatest recognized for her lengthy and profitable tenure as head coach of Chelsea Women, the place she deployed mantras like: “What got us here won’t get us there.”
Credentials: At Chelsea, she led the membership to seven Super League titles and 5 FA Cups. In 2023, she was appointed head coach of the U.S. girls’s nationwide group. She started her tenure in May 2024 and led the group to a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
What our voters mentioned:
Brayan Peña, former MLB catcher: “I admire everything she represents. What she’s doing now with the U.S. women’s national team is incredible. Leading the USA at the highest level is a dream of mine, too. As someone who came from Cuba and was given an opportunity to build a life and a career in the United States, I feel that same responsibility and pride. Just like her, I want to make history here.”
Joy Fawcett, former USWNT defender: “I admire how she’s willing to try new things. She doesn’t worry about what other people think. She seems open to learning and listening to other people as well.”
8. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions coach
Campbell has pulled off considered one of the most spectacular feats in sports: He turned the Detroit Lions into an NFL contender.
His group took a step again in 2025 — lacking the playoffs after the departures of its offensive and defensive coordinators — however our voters have been captivated by his uncooked, enthusiastic type, which manifests in a few of the purest locker-room speeches in sports and an unforgettable coffee order.
Credentials: At his opening information convention, he famously mentioned his group would “bite” off the kneecaps of opponents. After a 3-13-1 end in his first season in 2021, he helped remodel the Lions right into a successful outfit, together with back-to-back NFC North titles in 2023 and 2024. Of course, his management type is not only bluster and rah-rah speeches. It additionally features a heightened emotional intelligence and a radical authenticity.
What our voters mentioned:
Alex Avila, former MLB catcher: “A couple things that I think set him apart: The ability and feel to know the right time when to kick you in the ass or pat you on the back, and the way he talks about his players. Many of his players talk about ‘running through a brick wall’ for him, which is funny cause I would say the same thing about my former Hall of Fame manager, Jim Leyland.”
Joe Maddon, former MLB supervisor: “He seems straightforward with everybody, even in his interviews during games on the sideline. That’s what really resonates, right from his first press conference. The guy doesn’t have a filter because he doesn’t need one. He just needs to slice open a vein and let it pour out: This is what I’m thinking. This is what I believe. And that works for him.”
A’ja Wilson guided the Las Vegas Aces to a championship in 2025. (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
9. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces ahead
Wilson, a celebrity middle for the Las Vegas Aces, is considered one of the most dominant gamers in WNBA historical past, recognized for her energy, excessive basketball IQ and her skill to regulate video games on each ends of the ground.
Credentials: She has gained 4 WNBA Most Valuable Player awards and three WNBA championships, together with each in 2025. Wilson has additionally grown into considered one of the league’s most recognizable gamers and revered leaders, pulling in teammates for one-on-one conversations and taking possession throughout what Las Vegas head coach Becky Hammon known as “the embarrassing moments.”
What our voters mentioned:
Ok.J. Wright, San Francisco 49ers assistant coach: “I just admire the way she carries herself. She’s fun and spreads positive energy.”
Jordan Chiles, Olympic gold medalist: “She is confident, she is real and she shows up for her team and for her people every single day. Her greatness is evident, but she reminds me that true leadership is about heart, consistency and never dimming your light so others can feel comfortable.”
10. Mike Tomlin, former Pittsburgh Steelers coach
In his 19 seasons in Pittsburgh, Tomlin by no means had a shedding season and have become a mannequin for longevity and tradition in the NFL. Along the method, he leaned on “Tomlinisms” comparable to: “The standard is the standard.” The Steelers made the playoffs once more this season, however after a blowout loss to the Houston Texans, Tomlin stepped down.
Credentials: Tomlin first made historical past by successful Super Bowl XLIII, turning into the youngest head coach ever to win a Super Bowl at the time, at 36. He led the Steelers to a different Super Bowl look following the 2010 season. He made the playoffs 13 occasions in 19 seasons on the job, though he misplaced his final seven playoff video games.
What our voters mentioned:
Lindsay Gottlieb, USC girls’s basketball coach: “I listen to his press conferences to learn something. Not necessarily about football tactics, but how, as a head coach, you stand up and take accountability, give clear messaging and be consistent as a human.”
Ndamukong Suh, former NFL defensive deal with: “What sets him apart is that he’s the ultimate player’s coach. Between my personal interactions with him and what I hear from guys across the league, the respect he commands is unmatched.”
11. Tom Izzo, Michigan State males’s basketball coach
Credentials: Izzo’s tenure at Michigan State started in 1995. In the many years since, he has led the program to eight Final Fours and an NCAA championship whereas turning into a mannequin for toughness and longevity.
What our voters mentioned:
Stephanie Norman, Arizona State assistant girls’s basketball coach: “I admire his old-school train of thought. He’s a man of principle. Time is the only filter that I trust, and I’m obsessed with people who can stay in this industry for a long time. Longevity is the biggest flex. … He keeps it real, and his players and team reflect his values.”
Izzy Rodriguez, Kansas City Current defender: “He creates an environment to grow and learn as both a player and person, and he upholds everyone to the highest standards.”
Amanda Berkley, Loyola Chicago volleyball coach: “His competitive excellence and longevity.”
12. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback
Credentials: The quarterback of the defending Super Bowl champions, Hurts, continues to be not all the time thought-about considered one of the greatest at his place. However, after main the Eagles to 2 Super Bowl appearances, our voters acknowledged his stoic and regular management.
What our voters mentioned:
Olivia Smoliga, Olympic swimmer: “He’s so calm, when someone could crash out at all the things that he’s experienced. He just shows how steady he is and centered in himself, and I really, truly admire that.”
13. Pete Carroll, former Las Vegas Raiders coach
Credentials: In profitable tenures at USC and the Seattle Seahawks, Carroll gained championships whereas turning into a mannequin for a brand new form of coach — a joyful warrior obsessive about tradition. That didn’t translate to his tenure with the Raiders. He was fired after one season in Las Vegas.
What our voters mentioned:
Justin Su’a, founding father of The Performance Advisory Group: “I had the chance to attend Pete Carroll’s final class of his course offered through USC’s Marshall School of Business, ‘The Game is Life.’ Watching him connect with students and translate leadership into lessons that extend far beyond sports was powerful. After hearing so many players and coaches describe him as a leader they’d run through a wall for, it was clear why. His presence alone creates belief.”
14. Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics president of basketball operations
Credentials: Once upon a time, Stevens guided Butler to 2 deep Cinderella runs in the NCAA Tournament. Now, he’s often known as considered one of the most considerate, progressive and profitable executives in sports.
What our voters mentioned:
Nick U’Ren, Phoenix Mercury basic supervisor: “I’ve never met anybody who doesn’t enjoy interacting with Brad or working with Brad. To succeed in this industry over the longevity he has speaks to his truthfulness, his morality, his professionalism, his kindness. I really admire somebody who can achieve what he’s achieved while maintaining the level of respect and admiration that he has over the course of time.”
15. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
Credentials: In eight seasons as a beginning quarterback, Mahomes has gained three championships and two MVPs whereas being a celebrity who performs with joyful power.
What our voters mentioned:
Derrick Johnson, former NFL linebacker: “His ability to handle the QB position with poise and confidence is unmatched.”
In addition to teaching the Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra can be the coach of Team USA. (Issac Baldizon / NBAE through Getty Images)
16. Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat coach
Credentials: Spoelstra acquired the Heat Culture torch from government Pat Riley and have become considered one of the NBA’s most well-regarded coaches. His groups have gained two NBA championships and appeared in the finals six occasions. Spoelstra, who has coached the Heat since 2008, is now the longest-serving energetic coach throughout the 4 main U.S. sports leagues.
What our voters mentioned:
Jordan Fee, Florida Atlantic assistant males’s basketball coach: “In my few interactions with coach Spoelstra, I admired how genuine and humble he was. He’s clearly gotten over himself and has an immense desire for continued learning. His consistency and care are as good as it gets.”
17. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx ahead
Credentials: Not solely is Collier considered one of the WNBA’s greatest gamers and a former NCAA champion at Connecticut, however she has additionally emerged as a consummate skilled, serving as vice chairman of the WNBA Players Association.
What our voters mentioned:
Andrea Hudy, UConn director of sports efficiency: “Napheesa Collier embodies efficiency in every sense of the word. No wasted movement and no wasted words. Just consistent excellence and professionalism. She shows up, treats people well and competes with a quiet ruthlessness that makes her impact unmistakable.”
18. Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm ahead
Credentials: The first general decide in the 2012 WNBA Draft, Ogwumike gained a championship with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2016 and is president of the WNBA Players Association, main via a transformational time for the league and its gamers.
What our voters mentioned:
Dr. Jennifer Lerner, Harvard professor: “I get the sense that she demonstrates sustained elite performance with low ego and low theatrics. She also demonstrates sustained labor leadership skills and long-horizon institutional thinking.”
19. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins middle
Credentials: The best NHL participant of his era, Crosby is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, recognized for his constant humility and legendary work ethic.
What our voters mentioned:
Dr. Michael Gervais, efficiency psychologist: “Sidney is somebody who completely has aligned the way he thinks, the way he speaks and the actions that he takes. When it comes to leadership, people that are fully aligned in those three orders have this incredible power to them. Those are people who move cultures.”
20. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame soccer coach
Credentials: At simply 39, Freeman is 43-12 as the head coach at Notre Dame, rising into considered one of the new charismatic faces of faculty soccer.
What our voters mentioned:
Muffet McGraw, former Notre Dame girls’s basketball coach: “He puts players first, focusing on developing the whole person rather than just the athlete. By clearly articulating his vision and living it every day, he has built a championship culture that players believe in and are eager to be part of.”
21. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees outfielder
Credentials: Absolutely dominant at the plate, the bodily imposing Judge has gained three American League MVP awards whereas turning into the first Yankees participant to be named group captain since Derek Jeter.
What our voters mentioned:
Tracey Fuchs, Northwestern area hockey coach: “I think he has all the attributes of a great leader. He is humble and seems to have the respect of his teammates. He is selfless and team comes first and those are the people who you want to follow.”
22. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams coach
Credentials: It’s arduous to imagine that McVay shouldn’t be but 40. He’s guided the Rams to 2 Super Bowl appearances, together with one championship, whereas constructing a training tree of disciples throughout the NFL.
What our voters mentioned:
Deland McCullough, NFL assistant coach: “He is a master of his stuff. He gets fired up to share his vision and knowledge. Dude is a winner.”
Chase Daniel, former NFL quarterback: “He consistently is changing. He’s not staying the same. He’s always trying to reinvent himself, reinvent his team. I just think it’s such a cool way to be.”
Becky Hammon has gained three titles as the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces. (Ian Maule / Getty Images)
23. Becky Hammon, Las Vegas Aces coach
Credentials: A trailblazer on the courtroom and on the sideline, Hammon was a longtime assistant for the San Antonio Spurs — the first girl to be a full-time NBA assistant coach. She turned head coach of the Aces in 2022 and has already gained three WNBA championships.
What our voters mentioned:
Booger McFarland, former NFL defensive deal with: “I look at people who take the road less traveled. It would’ve been easier for her to go right to the WNBA and try and be an assistant coach and come that way. I always admire people who take the road less traveled because a) they know it’s gonna be hard; b) they accept that challenge; and c) they understand that if and when they conquer that challenge, it’s going to be more fulfilling.”
Rebecca Lobo, former WNBA participant: “I was a veteran on the New York Liberty in 1999. That season, Becky Hammon went from being an undrafted rookie to someone earning valuable minutes during the WNBA Finals. Her grit, determination and leadership were on full display to me then and have been ever since. She broke a glass ceiling (by) being the first woman to coach in the NBA, demanded NBA-level pay to come to the W, and then led the Las Vegas Aces to three titles in her first four years coaching. She’s unafraid in her approach and honest with people. I admire her success and the toughness it took to achieve it.”
24. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers ahead
Credentials: Firmly part of the NBA’s GOAT dialogue, James retains going at 41. One side of his management legacy: He’s taught a era of gamers tips on how to deal with their our bodies via consistency, innovation and arduous work.
What our voters mentioned:
Will Conroy, USC assistant males’s basketball coach: “His leadership is different than what you assume most would think when it comes to leadership. I look at LeBron as someone that’s been in a position of icon for a very long time. LeBron does not abuse that celebrity. He works extremely hard. He does not hide from his critics. He does not disappear to the community that brought him up.”
25. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder guard
Credentials: The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, SGA led the Thunder to their first NBA championship final season. If there’s one phrase to explain his management type, it could possibly be poise.
What our voters mentioned:
Becky Burleigh, former Florida soccer coach: “He seems extremely aligned with (coach) Mark (Daigneault) in an era where many superstars are oppositional with their head coach.”
26. John Harbaugh, former Baltimore Ravens coach
Credentials: His tenure with the Ravens is over. However, Harbaugh turned considered one of the most revered coaches in the NFL by successful video games and embracing a servant-leadership type. One apt quote: “We confront everything, but never anybody.” Harbaugh was fired after the Ravens didn’t make the playoffs this season.
What our voters mentioned:
Mike DiBenedetto, Iowa Wolves (G League) assistant coach: “Longevity and constant success are so hard to do, and with being in charge of such a large staff, he doesn’t get the credit he deserves. To do it for that long has to be valued.”
R.C. Buford has labored for the San Antonio Spurs since 1994. (Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE through Getty Images)
27. R.C. Buford, San Antonio Spurs CEO
Credentials: Gregg Popovich is retired, however the entrance workplace architect of the Spurs dynasty stays. Buford is arguably considered one of the best NBA executives in historical past, guiding a company that has gained 5 NBA championships and turning into a mannequin for group tradition throughout sports.
What our voters mentioned:
Dr. Ruth Gotian, management knowledgeable: “R.C. Buford is one of the rare leaders who sees potential before it is fully formed and then creates the conditions for it to soar. He is a leader’s leader. He doesn’t just reward high performance; he builds a culture where excellence is expected, supported and shared. In his world, high performance is not a solo act. It is an organizational pursuit, an ethos and a way of being.”
28. Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics coach
Credentials: Thrust into the job in 2022, Mazzulla has confirmed to be considered one of the most ready and diligent head coaches in sports. He guided the Celtics to the NBA championship in 2024.
What our voters mentioned:
Brian Hoyer, former NFL quarterback: “I just think he calls it like it is. He’s tough, but his guys love him. I love how he handles the media and the pressure. Quotes like this: ‘People are gonna say the target’s on our back, but I hope it’s right on our forehead in between our eyes. I hope I can see the red dot.’ He’s like a cool, young version of Belichick.”
29. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills quarterback
Credentials: Allen turned a struggling Buffalo group right into a constant playoff contender. Rising from being a flippantly recruited quarterback to an NFL celebrity, he’s racked up Pro Bowl honors and introduced actual hope and stability to the franchise.
What our voters mentioned:
Cliff Avril, former NFL defensive finish: “Just the energy that he plays with. The fact that he’ll put his body on the line. Most quarterbacks don’t have that mentality. I’m looking at it from a player’s perspective on the field. But then also when you see him on the sideline and how he moves. He also does things the right way off the field. … He’s gonna get out there like a defensive player and rah-rah but also conduct himself in a certain way and lead his team to success.”
Travis Ishikawa, former MLB participant: “I like the way he handles himself in adversity. You don’t see him show bad body language in the moment, and you don’t see him make excuses after.”
30. Dan Lanning, Oregon soccer coach
Credentials: Fiery and passionate, Lanning arrived at Oregon in 2022 and instantly turned Oregon right into a nationwide contender. He has guided the Ducks to the College Football Playoff the final two seasons.
What our voters mentioned:
Drew Stanton, former NFL quarterback: “Dan Lanning balances all of his job requirements masterfully while prioritizing relationships. Standing firm in what he believes in, adapting always and rejecting passivity.”
31. Stephen Vogt, Cleveland Guardians supervisor
Credentials: When Vogt turned the supervisor of the Guardians in late 2023, he had been retired for barely greater than a 12 months. Cleveland gained the AL Central in 2024 and 2025, and Vogt immediately turned considered one of the steadiest and most revered managers in baseball.
What our voters mentioned:
Matt Antonelli, former MLB participant: “He empowers players to be themselves. He is a great communicator and a connector and understands that leadership is about relationships, and that’s why his players believe in him.”
32. Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers supervisor
Credentials: Based on the résumé alone, Roberts is turning into considered one of the most completed managers in MLB historical past. The Dodgers gained back-to-back World Series in 2024 and 2025, including to a championship throughout the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season and two different World Series appearances in 2017 and 2018. A grasp of accountability and communication, Roberts could also be baseball’s reply to Steve Kerr.
What our voters mentioned:
Rashon Burno, Northern Illinois males’s basketball coach: “You can tell that players have a tremendous amount of respect for him. I admire his ability to communicate, lead and give these guys the space to be themselves.”
Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers gained the World Series in 2025. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
33. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers DH/pitcher
Credentials: Ohtani doesn’t converse loudly. However, his professionalism and respect for the sport converse volumes. In addition to the championships with the Dodgers, he led Japan to a World Baseball Classic championship in 2023.
What our voters mentioned:
Valorie Kondos Field, former UCLA gymnastics coach: “Not only is Shohei Ohtani the greatest baseball player in history, his servant’s heart, respect and gratitude are on display in everything he does.”
34. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers middle
Credentials: The best hockey participant in the world at the second, McDavid has led the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup finals appearances. He hasn’t damaged via — but — however he stays a mannequin for main by instance.
What our voters mentioned:
Hilary Witt, New Hampshire hockey coach: “He makes everyone around him better.”
35. Pat Murphy, Milwaukee Brewers supervisor
Credentials: Murphy has risen via the teaching ranks and developed his group with a capability to guage expertise and join personally with gamers. He has turned the Brewers right into a powerhouse, incomes back-to-back NL Manager of the Year awards and main them to consecutive division titles and a franchise-record 97 wins in 2025.
What our voters mentioned:
Yonder Alonso, former MLB first baseman: “He’s a great communicator. He has a way of reaching every person in the room.”
36. Andrew Friedman, Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations
Credentials: According to Friedman, constructing winners requires sharp decision-making and daring but calculated dangers. It retains his groups aggressive 12 months after 12 months. He’s confirmed his management with three World Series championships, long-term consistency and a popularity as a forward-thinking architect of recent baseball.
What our voters mentioned:
Aditya Krishnan, former director of analytics in the NFL: “He’s shown an ability to be successful in multiple different environments. With very limited resources in Tampa, he was able to be very successful with the Rays beyond what he had available. And then when he moved to L.A., instead of just trying to run the same playbook back with a larger budget and more resources, he was able to adapt to a different strategy. He’s also shown an ability to be patient over time.”
37. Curt Cignetti, Indiana soccer coach
Credentials: As the second-year Indiana coach main arguably the most shocking rise in college football history, Cignetti has grow to be recognized for his motto, “production over potential.” He’s additionally earned a number of coach of the 12 months awards and has Indiana enjoying in the nationwide championship sport, which would have appeared unthinkable just some years in the past.
What our voters mentioned:
Lou Nanne, former NHL basic supervisor: “He gets the most out of his players. He has to be a good judge of talent and a good motivator because he gets them to play as a team.”
Brian Hoyer, former NFL quarterback: “This right here sums it up. He’s confident but not cocky, and his players embody that.”
38. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty ahead
Credentials: A generational expertise, Stewart led UConn to 4 consecutive NCAA championships, has gained a number of WNBA championships, MVPs and Olympic gold medals.
What our voters mentioned:
Izzy Rodriguez, Kansas City Current defender: (*40*)
39. Shaka Smart, Marquette males’s basketball coach
Credentials: Smart has guided applications like VCU and Marquette to nationwide relevance via a training philosophy, particularly at Marquette, that facilities on building strong relationships and fostering player growth.
What our voters mentioned:
Bruce Bowen, former NBA participant: “What I admire is Shaka’s persistence in never being satisfied with where he is until it’s better. It’s not easy to connect with kids whose ideas of what the game is today may not shape up to be the same as the head coach, but Shaka continues to find a way to connect and enhance along the way.”
T-40. Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies DH
Credentials: When the Phillies want an enormous second, Schwarber typically delivers. His regular, unshakeable veteran presence helps set a assured, aggressive tone.
What our voters mentioned:
Bryan Price, former MLB supervisor: “What has driven my admiration for Kyle and his leadership skills is his combination of four major components: competitiveness, confidence, performance and presence. The first three are on display at all times. The fourth — presence — is something that resonated from him during a brief conversation we had a few years ago. He’s just a terrific person: affable, direct, confident, approachable. The type of person you feel comfortable around immediately. What a great combination for a teammate and leader.”
T-40. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder
Credentials: Betts has gained 4 World Series — one with the Boston Red Sox and three with the Dodgers — all whereas enjoying all over the area: proper area, shortstop and second base.
What our voters mentioned:
Travis Ishikawa, former MLB outfielder: “His willingness to play multiple positions where the team needs him to go. He plays loose and looks to enjoy himself out on the field. No matter how good or how bad he is playing, he plays the game hard and the right way with respect.”
Others who acquired a number of votes
Kelvin Sampson (Houston Cougars), Kara Lawson (Duke), Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever), Scottie Scheffler (golf), Gary Bettman (NHL), Ryan Day (Ohio State), Luke Donald (golf), Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma City Thunder), Tyronn Lue (L.A. Clippers), Jon Cooper (Tampa Bay Lightning), Marta (Orlando Pride)
— Lindsay Schnell, Richard Deitsch, Michael Russo, Craig Custance, C.J. Moore and Jason Quick contributed to this story.