Most Admired Leaders in Sports

[CTWarrior]

Shaka made The Athletics 40 most admired leaders in sports.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6945825/2026/01/15/top-leaders-in-sports-2025-most-admired/?campaign=16492623&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=20869862

39. Shaka Smart, Marquette men's basketball coach
Credentials: Smart has guided programs like VCU and Marquette to national relevance through a coaching philosophy, especially at Marquette, that centers on building strong relationships and fostering player growth.

What our voters said:
Bruce Bowen, former NBA player: "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."

[Newsdreams]

Rigged

[muwarrior69]

So who was number one?

[Heisenberg]

Rigged

So who was number one?

Rigged you say?

1. Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors coach
2. Dawn Staley, South Carolina women's basketball coach
3. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors guard
4. Geno Auriemma, Connecticut women's basketball coach
5. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs coach
6. Sam Presti, Oklahoma City Thunder general manager
7. Emma Hayes, U.S. women's national soccer team coach
8. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions coach
9. A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces forward
10. Mike Tomlin, former Pittsburgh Steelers coach

---

All Men's College Basketball Coaches

11. Tom Izzo, Michigan State men's basketball coach
39. Shaka Smart, Marquette men's basketball coach

[Newsdreams]

Rigged you say?

1. Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors coach
2. Dawn Staley, South Carolina women's basketball coach
3. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors guard
4. Geno Auriemma, Connecticut women's basketball coach
5. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs coach
6. Sam Presti, Oklahoma City Thunder general manager
7. Emma Hayes, U.S. women's national soccer team coach
8. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions coach
9. A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces forward
10. Mike Tomlin, former Pittsburgh Steelers coach

---

All Men's College Basketball Coaches

11. Tom Izzo, Michigan State men's basketball coach
39. Shaka Smart, Marquette men's basketball coach

I don't use teal

[willie warrior]

Shaka made The Athletics 40 most admired leaders in sports.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6945825/2026/01/15/top-leaders-in-sports-2025-most-admired/?campaign=16492623&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=20869862

39. Shaka Smart, Marquette men's basketball coach
Credentials: Smart has guided programs like VCU and Marquette to national relevance through a coaching philosophy, especially at Marquette, that centers on building strong relationships and fostering player growth.

What our voters said:
Bruce Bowen, former NBA player: "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."

How's that working these days?

[79Warrior]

How's that working these days?

You want to be judged on one year in your career?

[PointWarrior]

Most professionals are

You want to be judged on one year in your career?

[wadesworld]

Most professionals are

That is...not true at all.

[tower912]

Crazy what people outside looking at the whole forest see.