WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON - CEN-LA WOLVES athletic COMPLEX

At precisely 4:59 pm—right on cue—Coach Dunn approached the meeting‑room door and, with a sharp click, closed it behind him.

Ten captains filled the tiered, cushioned seats of the Cen‑La meeting room, each row rising slightly above the one in front. Coach Dunn stood at the front—his broad shoulders squared, crisp navy polo perfectly pressed—locking eyes with each leader in turn before he spoke.

Coach Dunn: “Welcome to Lead the Way, Captains. This is our first weekly meeting of the season—and we’re starting strong. Instead of spending each week rehashing what needs fixing or poring over current updates, you’ll work through a structured curriculum: a field manual designed to train you to lead.”

He let the words hang for a beat.

Coach Dunn: “Every team—undefeated or winless—faces storms. We’ve always had a captain’s council, but this year we’ll be intentional. On bad teams, no one leads. On good teams, coaches lead. On great teams, players lead. I need you to lead.”

Rick McLaughlin, a sophomore receiver and ‘at-large’ selection to the council by the coaching staff, leaned forward, every sense on high alert. This wasn’t a ceremony—this was the real deal.

Coach Dunn flipped open his notebook and revealed a gleaming white “C” patch.

“Here’s how it began,” he said. “Before these patches were everywhere, teams were still figuring out how to mark a leader.”

1983, Dallas Cowboys: One‑season trial on four captains.
1992, San Diego Chargers: “CAPTAIN” stitched on their four captains for the season.
2007, NFL Standard: The “C” we all recognize became universal for all 32 teams.

Coach Dunn continued, “Finally, the NFL made the patch official: a two‑inch ‘C’ on the right chest, topped with up to four gold stars—one for every season you serve. Suddenly, a simple cloth emblem became the ultimate symbol of resolve, accountability, and the unseen work that defines true leadership.”

Coach Dunn: “So what does this cloth mean? Is it earned, or merely ceremonial? In the pros, captains manage coin tosses, rules talks, locker‑room morale—and all the grind behind the scenes. Your ‘C’ isn’t a souvenir; it’s a promise.”

Just as the captains lean in, Coach Dunn’s secretary slips through the door and whispers, “He’s here.” A knowing grin spreads across Dunn’s face.

Coach Dunn:“Hold tight—I wanted to make a splash, and mission accomplished.” He rises. The door swings open, and in strides Tom Brady.

Rick’s eyes widened as he caught Brett Yeager—the offensive‑line representative—and Darius Perry—a defensive lineman—barely containing their excitement, slapping a thunderous high‑five in the aisle.

Brady pauses, eyes scanning the room, then speaks evenly: “My proudest achievement wasn’t seven Super Bowl rings or MVP honors. It was being elected captain—twice—during my fourth and fifth seasons at Michigan.”

He lets that sink in. “You see us on TV giving pregame speeches or walking out for the coin toss—that’s the highlight reel. But it’s the unseen moments, the grind and responsibility behind the scenes, that truly define a captain.”

That cliffhanger is just the beginning of the leadership journey.

THE NEXT LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

The Leadership Academy then immerses your captains in a full SEC West campaign—complete with shocking upsets, gut‑wrenching heartbreak, blown calls, season‑threatening injuries, and the ever‑present battle against selfishness. In the All‑Sports track, a dedicated Cen‑La mental performance coach guides athletes from every discipline through these same defining moments.

As a head coach, I’ll admit I once took a more informal approach—electing captains at season’s end and spotlighting them at the awards banquet. That peer‑selected honor felt meaningful, and I still believe in its value. We evolved to selecting captains when district play began, with weekly meetings to check in. Yet, without a true curriculum, most weeks—often as the meeting loomed—I realized I had little to discuss beyond our upcoming opponent or sending captains to speak with middle school teams.

We lacked a structured program to actually teach them how to lead.

With Lead the Way, everything changes.

Now, captains earn—and embody—that patch every single day, in every huddle, meeting, and are given the tools to lead on and off the field.

How the Academy Works

Weekly Guides & Video: Digital manuals and QR-linked coach insights delivered each Thursday.
Interactive Discussions: Small-group scripts and a captains’ chat for real-time problem-solving.
Game-Day Simulations & Speakers: Fictional scenarios paired with insights from leaders like Tom Brady, Nick Saban, Jocko Willink, and Florida State legendary softball captain, Ellie Cooper.
Physical Manuals: Journaling prompts for growth and team-branded materials.

With these core elements, Lead the Way trains captains to lead—on and off the field.

Are you ready to turn captains into culture‑shaping leaders?

Don’t wait until season’s end to recognize leadership—build it from game one. Enroll your team in Lead the Way today and give your captains the playbook, the mindset, and the support they need to step up when it matters most. Visit our website or contact us now to customize your program and light the way for your champions.

Ready to empower your captains?

Visit coachrandyjackson.com/leadershipacademy to learn more, or email culture@coachrandyjackson.com to schedule your free 15‑minute strategy call today.