PRIORITY SPORTS SPEAKERS

Chicago Bears Head Coach
College: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Accolades:
Assistant Coach of the Year (2024)

Notes:
Ben Johnson is the current Head Coach of the Chicago Bears, having been appointed to the role after the 2024 NFL season.

In his first year in Chicago, he led the team to double digit wins for the first time since 2018. His energy and commitment turned the franchise around, leading to an appearance in the NFC Divisional Round.

Prior to this, he served as the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, where he earned national recognition starting in the 2022 season. After the Lions’ 0-8 start, Johnson was promoted mid-year from pass game coordinator to offensive coordinator, and he quickly turned the offense into one of the league’s best, finishing with a top-five ranking and setting a franchise record with eight games over 30 points. Johnson continued his success in 2023 and 2024, leading the Lions to back-to-back NFC North titles, including Detroit’s first playoff victory in 30 years in 2023. In 2024, he oversaw the league’s top-ranked offense, averaging 33.2 points per game, setting multiple records, including the most 40-point games in a season without turnovers (five), and leading the Lions to become the second team in NFL history with four players surpassing 1,000 scrimmage yards.

Before his tenure in Detroit, Johnson coached at Boston College (2009–2011) and the Miami Dolphins (2012–2018). Additionally, he attended North Carolina for college where he walked on as a quarterback.

Topics: Athletes, Leadership, Motivation, Perseverance, Teamwork

Links: Ben Johnson Introductory Press Conference | Chicago Bears (2024), Exclusive Sit-Down With The New Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson (2024), Ben Johnson’s motto for the Bears – “Good. Better. Best.”

New York Times Best-Selling Author
Veteran
Philanthropist

Notes:
Brenda Warner, wife of Kurt Warner and mother of seven children, is a speaker, philanthropist, New York Times best-selling author, registered nurse, and United States Marine.

She, alongside her husband, founded the First Things First Foundation, a non-profit public charity dedicated to impacting lives by promoting Christian values and blessing the lives of those less fortunate. In addition to the First Things First Foundation, they also started Treasure House, a supportive living community for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities inspired by their son Zachary. She serves as the creative catalyst for most of the foundation programs and generates ideas based on her personal life experiences.

The film, American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story, displays the vital role that Brenda has played throughout the life of her husband and all the obstacles he faced in his career.

Books: First Things First, One Call Away

Testimonials: “She did awesome!!! She was so fun, engaging, and inspiring!!! I received so much positive feedback…it was exactly what we were hoping for!! “ – Evolus

Topics: Art, Disabilities, Faith, Family, Military, Motherhood, Nursing, Perseverance, Philanthropy, Writer

Links: Evolus Interview (2022), American Underdog Movie Trailer (2021), Kurt & Brenda People Magazine Feature (2021), Players’ Tribune “Long Live Love with Kurt Warner” (2018), Building Treasure House (2018), Women of Faith (2011)

Retired NBA Player
Advocate for Parkinson’s Disease
Undergraduate College: Xavier University

Accolades:
NBA All-Rookie First Team (1995) | J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (1999) | 2× MCC Player of the Year (1993, 1994) | 2× First-team All-MCC (1993, 1994) | 2× Second-team All-MCC (1991, 1992) | No. 33 retired by Xavier Musketeers

Notes:
Brian Grant was an NBA idol; in his 12-year career he played for 5 teams and became a strong contributor to his surrounding communities.

During his career, Brian also served underprivileged youth and sick families in his community which earned him the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.

Two years after he retired, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. His motivation to stay healthy launched the Brian Grant Foundation for those with Parkinson’s Disease who want to lead active and fulfilling lives.

He now continues to inspire as a speaker, philanthropist, and patient while also enjoying fishing, surfing, and the mountains of Oregon.

Book: Rebound: Soaring in the NBA, Battling Parkinson’s and Finding What Really Matters

Topics: Athletes, Leadership, Motivation, Parkinson’s, Perseverance, Teamwork

Links: The Need for Support with Allan Cole, WISE (2022), TED Talk (2013)

Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Tackle
College: Ohio State

Accolades:
Walter Payton Man of the Year (2024) and 6x Nominee | 7x Pro Bowl (2017-2022, 2024) | 4x First-team All-Pro | NFL Top 100 (’16, ’18, ’19, ’20, ’21, ’22, ’25)

Notes:
Cam Heyward is a current defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has spent his entire career with the Steelers since he was a first round draft pick in 2011. Prior to being drafted, Cam went to Ohio State where he played all four years and was First-Team All-Big Ten his senior year.

His longevity in Pittsburgh is made even more special due to his family having strong ties to the city – his grandparents were born and raised there, his mother was born and raised there, and his late father played football for Pitt (as well as being a Pro Bowler in the NFL).

Cam lost his father to cancer in 2006, and honors him daily through both playing on the field and the work he does off the field. Cam and his mom started their foundation, The Heyward House, to positively impact Pittsburgh’s youth by addressing the needs of kids and families who need the most support. Heyward House is committed to the community in a variety of ways from supporting kids in the foster care system and those facing health problems, to providing clothes and supplies for those going to school and trying to get jobs.

Due to this work in the community, Cam won the coveted Walter Payton Man of the Year Award after the 2023 NFL Season. In the offseason of 2022, Cam launched his podcast “Not Just Football” with VOX to discuss the league and topics across all sports, pop culture and more.

He and his wife, Allie, have three kids – two daughters and a son.

Topics: Athletes, Community/Charity Work, Leadership, Perseverance, Podcasting, Teamwork

Links: Walter Payton Man of the Year Acceptance Speech (2024), Not Just Football Podcast (2023), Heyward House Foundation Website, WPMOY Nominee Video (2023), Son of Ironhead: A Profile of Pittsburgh Steeler Cam Heyward | NFL Films Presents (2016)

Retired NBA Player
Executive Basketball Advisor at Butler University
College: Butler University

Accolades:
NBA All-Star (2017) | Horizon League Player of the Year (2010) | FIBA U-19 Gold Medalist (2009)

Notes:
Gordon Hayward is an NBA All-Star who recently retired from the NBA after a 14-year career.

He went to Butler University, where he led the Bulldogs to the 2010 NCAA Championship game and became a household name for his clutch performances and all-around skill.

He was drafted ninth overall by the Utah Jazz in 2010 and developed into an NBA All-Star.

In 2017, he was traded to the Boston Celtics and immediately suffered a gruesome injury that sidelined him for a whole year. After battling through an extensive recovery, Hayward got back on the court and continued to be a reliable scorer, playmaker and teammate.

He played for the Charlotte Hornets and Oklahoma City Thunder before retiring at the end of the 2024 season. recognized for his professionalism, leadership, and balanced game on both ends of the court.

He and his wife, Robyn, have four kids, three girls and one boy. They went viral in 2018 for a gender reveal video where Gordon found out he was having his third girl, famously saying “Daddy’s always happy.”

He is Catholic and has put his faith prominently in his life since retiring.

Topics: Faith, Family, Motivation, Perseverance, Recovery, Teamwork

Links: “Daddy’s always happy” gender reveal video (2018),, Gordon Hayward Opens Up on Retiring From the NBA, Why He Didn’t Sign with the Heat, & NBA Trash Talk (2024), Gordon and his faith

Creighton University Men’s Basketball Head Coach
College: University of Northern Iowa

Accolades:
Big East Coach of the Year (2020) | Big East Regaular Season Champions (2020) | Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Champions (2004, 2012, 2013) | Missouri Valley Conference Regular Season Champions (2013)

Notes:
Greg McDermott is the current head coach of Creighton University’s men’s basketball team and starting his 17th season.

During his time at Creighton, he has led the Bluejays to continued success, including guiding the team through the school’s transition from the Missouri Valley Conference to the Big East after the 2012–2013 season. In Creighton’s first year in the Big East, McDermott helped lead them to runner-up finishes in both the Big East regular season and the conference tournament, earning Creighton an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.

In the 2024–2025 season, McDermott became the Bluejays’ all-time men’s basketball wins leader. Throughout his coaching career, McDermott has achieved continued success, with 14 total NCAA tournament appearances—eight of those with Creighton—including a trip to the Elite Eight in the 2022–2023 season.

Prior to coaching at Creighton, McDermott served as the head coach at North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, and Iowa State. Prior to coaching, Greg McDermott played basketball at Northern Iowa.

Topics: Athletes, Leadership, Motivation, Perseverance, Teamwork

Links: Leadership Lessons with Greg McDermott | Engineering Culture Podcast (2024), Greg McDermott on Pardon My Take (Starts at 40:51) (2024), John Fanta Interviewing Greg McDermott (2024), Big East on NBC Sports: Interview with Greg McDermott on Navigating the Transfer Portal and NIL (2024)

University of Tennessee Football Coach
Retired NFL Player
College: Weber State (1996-1997), Snow College (1998), University of Oklahoma (1999-2000)

Accolades:
SEC Coach of the Year (2022) | The American Champion (2018) | Walter Camp Award (2000) | AP College Football Player of the Year (2000) | Archie Griffin Award (2000) | Quarterback of the Year (2000) | Consensus All American (2000) | Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year (2000) | First-Team All-Big 12 (2000)

Notes:
Josh Heupel is the current Head Coach of the Tennessee Volunteers.

After taking over in 2021, Heupel led Tennessee to a 7-6 record in his first season, earning the Steve Spurrier First-Year Head Coach Award. In 2022, he elevated the program to new heights, leading the Vols to an 8-0 start, their best since 1998, and a final 11-2 record, capped by an Orange Bowl victory over Clemson. Tennessee’s 11 wins were the most since 2001 and tied for the second-most in school history, earning Heupel the SEC Coach of the Year Award. Heupel continued his success in 2024, guiding Tennessee to its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance with a 10-2 record.

Before Tennessee, Heupel was the Head Coach at UCF from 2018 to 2020, where he helped the Knights win the American Athletic Conference Championship in 2018, finishing with a 12-1 record.

Heupel’s coaching career followed an impressive playing career, which began at Weber State, where an ACL injury led him to transfer to Snow College, a junior college where he earned All-American honors. His standout performance at Snow College earned him a spot at Oklahoma, where he became a Heisman runner-up in 2000 and was named AP Player of the Year. Heupel led the Sooners to an undefeated season and a national championship in the 2001 Orange Bowl, defeating Florida State. Drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2001, Heupel’s playing career was ultimately cut short by shoulder tendinitis in his throwing arm.

Topics: Athletes, Leadership, Motivation, Perseverance, Teamwork

Links: Tennessee HC Josh Heupel Talks College Football Playoff & More with Rich Eisen (2024)

National Football Hall of Fame Quarterback
Retired NFL Player
Current NFL Network & Westwood One Analyst
College: University of Northern Iowa

Accolades:
Super Bowl Champion (XXXIV) | Super Bowl MVP (XXXIV) | 2× NFL Most Valuable Player (1999, 2001) | Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2008) | 2× First-team All-Pro (1999, 2001) | 4× Pro Bowl (1999–2001, 2008) | 2× NFL Passing Touchdowns
Leader (1999, 2001) | 3× NFL Completion Percentage Leader (1999–2001) | 2× NFL Passer Rating Leader (1999, 2001) | NFL Passing Yards Leader (2001) | Bert Bell Award (1999) | Bart Starr Award (2010) | Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor

Notes:
Kurt Warner, though undrafted, had an incredible NFL career. He led the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl victory, was named Super Bowl MVP, won NFL MVP in back-to-back seasons, was a 2x First-team All-Pro, and was selected to the Pro Bowl four times.

He joined Westwood One’s broadcast booth full-time in 2018 as the Lead Color Analyst for both Monday Night Football and the Super Bowl.

His success carries over from the gridiron as he is extremely dedicated to giving back to the community. As a man of his faith, Kurt and his wife Brenda, established the First Things First Foundation, a non-profit public charity dedicated to impacting lives by promoting Christian values and blessing the lives of those less fortunate. Kurt and Brenda, inspired by their son Zachary, also started Treasure House, a supportive living community for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

His philanthropy efforts earned him the 2008 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, the 2008 Good Guy Award from the Pro Football Writers Association, USA WEEKEND’s Most Caring Athlete in 2009, and the 2010 Bart Starr Award. Inspired by the galvanizing story of Kurt’s life and how he overcame several obstacles in his career, the movie, American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story, debuted in theaters on December 25th, 2021.

Books: First Things First, All Things Possible

Topics: Athletes, Broadcasting, Disabilities, Faith, Family, Leadership, Motivation, Perseverance, Teamwork

Links: American Underdog Movie Trailer (2021), A Profile in Character – Moderated Q&A (2022), Players’ Tribune “Player Evolution” (2019), HOF Speech (2017), NFL Films The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players (2010)

Retired NBA Player
U.S. Veteran – Army Ranger
MBA: Harvard University
Undergraduate College: Duke University

Accolades:
NCAA Champion (2015)

Notes:
Marshall Plumlee is a 7-foot-tall former NBA player, U.S. Army Ranger, and currently an investment professional at Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative investment firm with over $1 trillion in assets under management.

He played basketball at Duke University under Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, serving as team captain and helping lead the Blue Devils to the 2015 National Championship before joining the New York Knicks while concurrently serving in the Army National Guard.

In 2018, Plumlee left the NBA to serve on active duty in Special Operations as a U.S. Army Ranger. He completed two combat deployments to Afghanistan, including during the 2021 evacuation operations in Kabul.

Following his military service, he earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and joined Blackstone in New York City. He often speaks about the common threads between the best teams in sports, the military, and business, focusing on values like trust, discipline, and the relentless pursuit of a shared mission.

Topics: Athletes, Discipline, Leadership, Military, Motivation, Perseverance, Teamwork

Links: Marshall Plumlee Inspires Duke Squad (2021), Coach K on Marshall Plumlee (2020), GQ Article – With the U.S. Army, Marshall Plumlee Took His Game to Another Level

Alabama Men’s Basketball Head Coach
College: Maranatha Baptist University

Accolades:
2× MAC Coach of the Year (2018, 2019) | SEC Coach of the Year (2021) | NCAA Final Four (2024) | 2× SEC Regular Season Champions (2021, 2023) | 2× SEC Tournament Champions (2021, 2023)

Notes:
Nate Oats is the current Men’s Basketball Head Coach of the University of Alabama.

In his seventh season, he is chasing another successful regular season and SEC/NCAA tournament run. He has led Alabama to the NCAA tournament for four straight seasons, and in 2022–23, they hit a school-record 31 wins and were the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament for the first time ever. He has led the team to two SEC Tournament Championships (2021, 2023) and two SEC Regular Season Championships (2021, 2023).

Prior to joining the Crimson Tide, Nate was a high school basketball coach and math teacher. He then became the Head Coach at the University of Buffalo where he led the Bulls to 3 MAC Division championships and earned MAC Coach of the Year twice.

Known for his gritty coaching style and eye for talent, Nate has put the Alabama men’s basketball program on a national stage.

Topics: Athletes, Coaching, Leadership, Motivation, Perseverance, Teaching, Teamwork

Links: Nate Oats on coaching Strategy, NBA Connections, & More (2025), Nate Oats Speaking with Andy Katz (2024), Post-game speech, SEC Regular Season Champs (2023), Nate Oats & Nick Saban World Games (2022)

Retired NFL Player
Mental Health Advocate
Athletes for Care Founder
College: University of Iowa

Accolades:
2nd overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft | Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year (2003)

Notes:
Robert Gallery is a retired NFL player best known for his strength, leadership, and resilience on the offensive line.

Gallery starred at the University of Iowa, where he became one of the most dominant linemen in college football. A consensus All-American and winner of the 2003 Outland Trophy, he was selected second overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2004 NFL Draft. Over his eight-year NFL career, Gallery played primarily with the Raiders and later with the Seattle Seahawks, earning respect for his toughness and consistency in the trenches.

Since retiring from football, he has become an advocate for former athletes’ health and wellness, specifically CTE. He himself has suffered from brain trauma, mental health issues, and other abusive behaviors due to his football career and CTE. He has been outspoken about the treatments he has used and what has helped him overcome the effects of his football career. Gallery launched Athletes for Care to support research, advocacy and real solutions for athlete mental health.

Topics: Brain trauma, Mental health, Perseverance, Recovery

Links: Podcast: NFL Veteran’s Battle with Brain Injuries, Rock Bottom & Finding Life-Saving Treatment in Mexico (2025), Ibogaine saved Retired NFL Player Robert Gallery’s life. Now he’s paying it forward (2025), Athletes For Care Website

Golden State Warriors Head Coach
Former USA Men’s National Team Head Coach
Retired NBA Player
9x NBA Champion
College: University of Arizona

Accolades:
As Player: 5× NBA champion (1996–1999, 2003) | NBA Three-Point Contest Champion (1997) | Second-team All-American – AP (1988)| Third-team All-American – NABC (1988) | 2× First-team All-Pac-10 (1986, 1988) | No. 25 retired by Arizona
As Coach: Gold Medal Team USA Coach at Paris Olympics (2024) | 4× NBA champion (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022) | NBA Coach of the Year (2016) | 2× NBA All-Star Game Head Coach (2015, 2017)

Notes:
Currently the head coach of the Golden State Warriors and USA Basketball Men’s National Team, Steve Kerr has had a more-than successful career.

He’s an 9x NBA champion (5 from his 15-year playing career and 4 so far as a coach) and head coach of the Gold Medal Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Gold Medal.

Through just nine NBA seasons as head Coach, Kerr is already first in all-time wins in franchise history. He was also awarded the NBA Coach of the Year Award in 2016.

As part of the NBA 75th anniversary celebrations in 2022, Kerr was named one of the greatest 15 NBA coaches of all time.

Although Steve earns a lot of praise on the court, he’s also earned a lot off the court. He chooses to donate all proceeds from his speaking engagements and marketing deals towards causes that he is passionate about – the East Bay College Fund which he created in honor of his father, Dr. Malcolm Kerr, the African American Initiative at University of California, Berkeley, and the Warriors Community Fund to name a few. Additionally, Steve donated $1 million to assist with renovations towards the McKale Memorial Center and future academic facilities at his alma mater, the University of Arizona. Recently, Steve was an executive producer on the 2026 Oscar winner for best short documentary called “All the Empty Rooms.”

In addition to giving back to the community, Steve also speaks about what he believes in and played a significant role in voicing the importance of gun control in America. Most recently, he spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago sharing his thoughts on leadership and compassion.

Topics: Athletes, Broadcasting, Coaching, Gun Control, Human Rights, Leadership, Motivation, Perseverance, Political Advocacy, Statistics, Teamwork

Links: Dialogues for Democracy: Steve Kerr hosted by David Axelrod, DNC Speech (2024), Stanford Graduate School of Business Q&A (2021), Pepperdine Dean’s Executive Leadership Series (2017), 60 Minutes (2019)