CLEVELAND -- In celebration of 25 years (1999-2024) of creating access and opportunities for underrepresented talent in sports, the McLendon Foundation is proud to announce two new initiatives as it embarks on its next 25 years: the Secret Summit and The McLendon Foundation Experience.
Inspired by the historic March 12, 1944 'Secret Game,' which broke barriers by integrating basketball in the South, these initiatives aim to capture its spirit by uniting sports professionals from all backgrounds. The goal is to foster genuine relationships, drive meaningful change, and celebrate the transformative power of sport.
"We are excited to launch these initiatives that honor Coach John McLendon's legacy and to continue making an impact in the sports industry. The Secret Summit and the McLendon Foundation Experience represent the next chapter in our vision to unite diverse leaders, drive meaningful change, and empower the next generation of sports professionals," said Adrien Harraway, Senior Vice President of NACDA and Executive Director of the McLendon Foundation.
The Secret Summit, an exclusive invitation-only gathering, unites senior-level sports professionals and friends of the McLendon Foundation for a grand reception. This event, set for April 3, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas, aims to bring together diverse sports leaders to forge connections, build partnerships, and advance the Foundation's mission. Each year, the Foundation will honor a trailblazer whose contributions have helped reshape the sports industry with the Legacy of Impact Award.
The 2025 Legacy of Impact Award honoree, Wade Houston, broke barriers as the first Black men's basketball coach in the SEC and at the University of Tennessee, as well as the first Black basketball scholarship recipient at the University of Louisville. By honoring his legacy, the Secret Summit not only celebrates the past but also ignites dreams for the future leaders in sports.
The McLendon Foundation Experience, debuting in the fall of 2025, is a two-day conference designed to empower young professionals, graduate students, and student-athletes from all backgrounds who aspire to build a career in sports. By fostering inclusivity, the event creates a platform where diverse perspectives converge, offering future leaders in sports access to unparalleled networking opportunities, skill-building workshops, keynotes, and industry insights.
Additionally, the experience provides sports organizations and companies the opportunity to connect with and recruit top talent, supporting the growth of the next generation of leaders in the sports industry.
Registration for this experience will open March 2025.
For more information about the Secret Summit, the McLendon Foundation Experience, or to explore customized sponsorship opportunities tailored to align with specific goals, please contact Adrien Harraway at aharraway@nacda.com or Ishita Tibrewal at itibrewal@nacda.com.
About the McLendon Foundation: The McLendon Foundation, established in 1999, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded and administered by NACDA. The Foundation honors the legacy of Hall of Fame coach John McLendon who was a pioneer in the field of athletics, the game of basketball, and the civil rights arena. Its mission is to create access and opportunities for historically excluded talent who aspire to impact the sports industry. The Foundation is committed to empowering and developing the next generation of executive leaders in sports through financial resources, a robust educational curriculum and an engaged community of principled leaders. All organizational planning for the Foundation directly aligns with the values of Coach McLendon: Integrity, Education, Leadership and Mentorship. More information regarding the McLendon Foundation can be found at minorityleaders.org, McLendon Foundation's LinkedIn Page and @McLendonScholar.
About NACDA: NACDA, now in its 60th year, is the professional and educational Association for more than 24,000 college athletics administrators at more than 2,200 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. NACDA manages 19 professional associations and four foundations. In addition to virtual programming, NACDA hosts and/or has a presence at seven major professional development events in-person annually. The NACDA & Affiliates Convention is the largest gathering of collegiate athletics administrators in the country. For more information, visit www.nacda.com.
