Harvard’s Men’s Basketball Coach Tommy Amaker Shares Leadership Insights

On September 24, head coach of Harvard’s men’s basketball program Tommy Amaker participated in an inspiring Chapel discussion, sharing insights into leadership, service, and the traits that define excellent teammates in athletics and in life.

Mr. Amaker is the all-time winningest head coach in Harvard men’s basketball history, transforming the Crimson into an Ivy League powerhouse with seven Ivy League championships, four NCAA tournament appearances, and eight postseason berths. As a player, he was an All-American point guard at Duke, playing for Coach Mike Krzyzewski. He would later join Coach K’s staff as an assistant coach, winning back-to-back national championships. Off the court, Mr. Amaker is a nationally respected leader in mentorship, inclusion, and executive leadership, serving as an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, co-chairing the NABC Committee on Racial Reconciliation, and serving on the Board of Overseers for the Boys & Girls Club of Boston.

The Chapel began with a heartfelt introduction from History Teacher Bennett Pitcher who coaches basketball at Belmont Hill and attended Harvard specifically to play for Mr. Amaker. Despite never appearing in a game due to injuries, Mr. Pitcher saw firsthand the impact of Mr. Amaker’s approach to leadership. “Coach Amaker has been a transformational person in my life,” Mr. Pitcher said. “I wouldn’t be the man I am today without Coach Amaker. He has done so much for me, he stood by me through countless injuries and setbacks, and he was there for me at some of my lowest moments.”

Mr. Pitcher was joined onstage by seniors Andrew Gilmore, Ky-Mani Monteiro, and Jahmier Stephenson, who guided the conversation with a range of questions highlighting the interaction between coaching and character. 

After the Chapel conversation, Mr. Amaker met with a smaller group of students for an even more focused discussion. The boys took full advantage of Mr. Amaker’s wisdom and experience, asking questions that got to the heart of what it takes to be a great teammate and how to best navigate challenging moments. Whether it involved the selflessness to work through difficult team dynamics, or the strength required to ask for help during real life struggles, Mr. Amaker answered each student’s question with honesty and empathy, making sure every student left feeling heard.