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Maya Angelou once said, “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.” Autumn Lockwood’s collegiate and professional journey embodies this spirit of resilience and perseverance. Her story isn’t just about accolades—it’s about the power of persistence to overcome barriers often encountered in a male-dominated industry. From the classroom to the sidelines of football’s grandest stage, Lockwood’s path proves that Black History still happens daily. Lockwood’s Educational Foundation And Academic Journey Autumn Lockwood’s educational journey paved the way for her career in sports performance. According to the Philadelphia Eagles’ official website, she earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise science from the University of Arizona, where she built a strong foundation in athlete development and sports science. She furthered her expertise by completing a master’s degree in sports management at East Tennessee State University, gaining valuable experience and insights that...
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league has no intention of updating its stance on DEI in the wake of Donald Trump’s return to office. President Trump retracted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts soon after taking office on Jan. 20, 2025. As a result of his early action, federal employees in DEI roles were placed on paid leave as “the agency takes steps to close/end all DEIA initiatives, offices and programs,” AFROTECH™ previously reported. Prior to and since Trump’s appointment, major companies, such as Target, Walmart, Meta, and Amazon, have severed their ties to DEI commitments. Others, such as JPMorgan Chase, Costco, Apple, and seemingly the NFL, are making it clear they will remain steadfast in their commitment to DEI. “We didn’t get into this because it was a trend,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in December 2024. “And we’re not getting out of it because it’s a trend. We’re in it because it makes the NFL better. And what it is, is to make sure that...
Dawn Staley has made history yet again. The University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball coach continues to leave an indelible mark on the sport. Known for her trailblazing accomplishments, Staley first made headlines in 2021 when she became the highest-paid Black coach in NCAA women’s basketball, as previously reported by AFROTECH™. Her leadership has propelled the Gamecocks to remarkable success, including appearances in six NCAA Final Fours and securing the school’s first national title in 2017, Reuters reports. Since then, Staley has only strengthened her legacy. In 2024, under her guidance, the team celebrated an undefeated 38-0 season, culminating in their third national championship, according to Sports Illustrated. Notably, all three titles have been achieved during her tenure. A Historic New Contract Staley’s transformative impact on the University of South Carolina’s basketball program has earned her another groundbreaking contract. Per a university press release,...
Dawn Staley continues to offer a guiding hand to basketball star Aliyah Boston. The pair first teamed up at The University of South Carolina. Staley serves as the school’s head coach of women’s basketball and is currently signed to a historic seven-year contract that has made her the highest-paid head coach in NCAA Women’s Basketball, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. Boston played under Staley’s leadership from 2019 to 2023. Together, they won one national titles against the University of Connecticut in 2022, notes NBC-10 Philadelphia. Boston’s collegiate career would position her as the school’s all-time leader in overall rebounds, offensive and defensive rebounds, blocked shots in SEC games, double-doubles, and triple-doubles, among others, according to the WNBA. She is also a four-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year, two-time National Player of the Year, and two-time SEC Player of the Year. Throughout it all, Staley has remained front and center as a fan even as Boston...
College basketball coach Leonard Hamilton is being sued for allegedly defrauding several players. According to Yahoo! Sports, former Florida State University (FSU) basketball players Darin Green Jr., Josh Nickelberry, Primo Spears, Cam’Ron Fletcher, De’Ante Green, and Jalen Warley have filed a lawsuit against their former coach. The players claim Hamilton owed them $1.5 million in total through name, image, and likeness (NIL) payments. They say he made promises of payments starting in April 2023, when he held a meeting and allegedly told the players they would receive compensation of $250,000 each. The money was expected to be disbursed by March 2024, but the players claim those funds never materialized even though he continued to assure them that they would be paid. “Every player on the 2023-24 FSU men’s basketball team roster relied on the promises that Hamilton made when they either decided to transfer to FSU or remain enrolled at FSU and play out the season,” the suit said, per...
Mike Tomlin, the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, has made a name for himself as one of the most respected and successful coaches in NFL history. As of recent estimates, Mike Tomlin’s net worth is approximately $30 million . His wealth comes primarily from his coaching career, lucrative contracts, endorsements, and other ventures. Coaching Career And Salary Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Tomlin became the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2007, making history as one of the youngest head coaches in NFL history to win a Super Bowl, which he did in 2009. Throughout his tenure with the Steelers, Tomlin has been one of the highest-paid coaches in the league. His annual salary is reportedly around $8 to $12 million, making up the bulk of Tomlin’s net worth and total earnings. As a coach, Tomlin has never had a losing season, never getting below .500 in his 17 seasons coaching the Steelers. His record as a coach is 173-100-2, planting him firmly as the most successful Steelers...
Kevin Burnett has transitioned from the football field to help families create wealth. Burnett, an Inglewood, CA native, was drafted in 2005 as a 42th draft pick in the second round to the Dallas Mavericks, according to ESPN. He was signed to a 4-year deal valued at $3.31 million with the team, which included a $1.15 million signing bonus and $1.15 million guaranteed, Spotrac notes. Burnett played for four teams throughout his career, ultimately retiring with the Oakland Raiders in 2014. He earned a total of $20.57 million. In retirement, Burnett took some time to water into his wife and four kids, per Equities.com. He became more immersed in his children’s worlds, which also included sports. This led him to coach his older kids’ football and baseball team, sparking a newfound purpose. “Hey, this is where I see my purpose,” Burnett explained. “It’s where I see my angle.” In 2020, he secured a position at McArthur High School in Hollywood, FL, as a football coach. With poverty and...
Dawn Staley knew her worth, which led to her receiving a historic contract. Since joining the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball program as the head coach, she has led the team to 10 NCAA Attendance titles, with three appearances leading to national championships (2017, 2022, and 2024) the university’s website mentions. The 2024 win was foreshadowed by an undefeated season, with the team achieving a 38-0 run. This is merely a snapshot of the accolades Staley has secured since becoming the team’s head coach in 2008. “What women’s basketball needs is just someone that is literally a true honest GOAT. [I go so hard for Coach Staley] because no one wants her here,” WNBA player and former South Carolina Gamecocks player A’ja Wilson said, per Andscape. “No one believed she could get to this point and she’s sitting here shining. I think that is why she’s such a trailblazer for women’s basketball.” In 2021, Staley became the highest-paid Black head coach in NCAA Women’s Basketball,...
The Charlotte Hornets are being led by a Black executive team. Following the selling of Michael Jordan’s stake in the team for a reported $3 billion in June 2023 to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, as previously reported by AFROTECH™, it is undergoing new changes in leadership. On March 5, 2024, Jeff Peterson was hired on as the executive vice president of basketball operations, notes the NBA. Before this role, he had been assistant general manager of the Brooklyn Nets. According to a press release, the team cemented a deal with Dotun Akinwale, who has worked in the NBA for 11 years as an executive, to bring him on as assistant general manager. Prior to the title, he had been promoted to vice president of player personnel for the Atlanta Hawks. On May 9, 2024, Charles Lee, who boasts a decade of experience as an NBA assistant coach joined the team as head coach, leaving the Boston Celtics. “We are excited to welcome Charles Lee as the head coach of Charlotte Hornets,”...
Dawn Staley’s secret to success lies within the connection to her players. The South Carolina Gamecocks Head Coach was overcome with emotions fresh off the team’s NCAA national women’s basketball championship win against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday, April 7, 2024. This marks Staley’s third women’s national championship, according to CBS News. Reflecting on the University of South Carolina team’s latest victory, Staley expressed during an ESPN interview, “I’m so incredibly happy for our players. It doesn’t always end like you want it to end, much like last year. But my freshies are at the top of my heart because they wanted this, and I hope we can erase whatever pain they had last year not being able to finish it here. So I’m just super proud of where I work. I’m super proud of our fans. It’s awesome.” Dawn Staley, an emotional victory. “We serve an unbelievable God.” 🏆❤️🥹 pic.twitter.com/oNpn5PrW9r — Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) April 7, 2024 The Gamecocks...
A mental fitness startup co-founded by Pittsburg Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson has scored new funding. In 2018, Wilson (chief impact officer) founded the digital fitness company Limitless Minds with his brother Harry Wilson (CEO), a former med device and pharma sales leader; DJ Eidson (president), a former pharmaceutical and biotech sales leader; and the late Trevor Moawad, a mental conditioning coach named Sports Illustrated’s “World’s Best Brain Trainer,” according to the company’s website. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Russell Wilson (@dangerusswilson) The website also mentions that the Louisville, KY-based company started as a business coaching consultancy. Four years later, it created a digital platform called Club Limitless, which offers coaching, live on-demand mindset training, and performance tools to train users’ mental fitness. Over the years, some of Limitless Minds’ clientele have included Fortune 500 companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Workday,...
