At Baden Sports, we believe that sports are vital to building healthy communities. Here are the stories of three coaches that embody our mission to build community through sports by doing things differently and giving back.
Brandon Roy, retired NBA All-Star, Rookie of the Year, High school basketball coach
The basketball community at Garfield High School in Seattle, WA helped Brandon Roy accomplish what most high school basketball players can only dream of; he was NBA Rookie of the Year in 2007 and a 3-time All-Star during his 6-year career with the Portland Trailblazers and later the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In 2017, Roy returned to Garfield High School to give back to the community that gave him so much and to lead his team to the elusive Washington State Championship he was never able to win during his playing days.
Barbara Berry, Founder The Way to Win
Barbara founded The Way to Win club program in 1999 to support the development of Pacific Northwest based youth basketball athletes. Now in it's 19th season, her program stands alone in its unique emphasis on essential off-the-court development in academics, community service, and leadership to develop well-rounded players that will find success both on and off the court.
Barbara's unique and heartfelt approach to coaching sets her apart in today's world of high-pressure youth sports. To her, winning isn't the end goal, it's teaching her students how to be successful in all aspects of life, winning basketball games is the added bonus.
Courtney Thompson, Two-time Olympic Women's Volleyball Medalist, Co-Founder Give it Back Foundation
Pacific Northwest native Courtney Thompson medaled as a member of the US Olympic Volleyball Team at both the 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio Games.
After achieving incredible success at the highest levels of her sport, Courtney realized she could do so much more off the court. Courtney and her Olympic teammates founded the Give it Back Foundation in 2015 to empower young athletes and to raise money for charity. Their volleyball camps teach volleyball and life skills while raising money for a variety of charities.
