Play Like a Champion Today
Sports Leadership Conference
The 2026 Play Like a Champion Today Sports Leadership Conference will take place June 10-12, 2026 on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. We're excited to announce our 2026 theme is Building Community, with each day of the conference exploring the unique ways in which our programs impact young athletes and how leaders can build a culture that elevates these communities. It's an opportunity for our national Play Like a Champion community to once again connect with each other, learn from an outstanding group of speakers and be inspired in our role as mentors for youth.
For those interested in what a typical schedule looks like, 2025 schedule and speaker information can be found here.​​​ A look at some of the exciting speakers joining us in 2026 can be found below and the full 2026 conference schedule will be released this spring.
The Play Like a Champion Today Sports Leadership Conference is the premiere annual gathering of youth and high school athletic administrators, coaches and leaders from across North America. The conference celebrates the three pillars of connection, education and inspiration, with each year offering a unique opportunity to interact in kinship with like-minded sport leaders while learning core elements of the Play Like a Champion approach. The fantastic speakers and stimulating break-out groups are sure to inspire all! Each summer's conference offers particpants the opportunity to collaborate on strategies for building a brighter, healthier and more just sport culture for student-athletes. Join us to learn from an exciting group of speakers and interact with an amazing network of leaders from our national community!
Who Should Come? Administrators, coaches and community leaders involved in youth and high school sports or concerned with the health and well-being of children across America. This conference is for those who want to learn from experts, engage with peers, and find ways to take action in their own communities and schools. Whether you're an athletic director or coach, a business executive or a community leader, you will find valuable discussion, learning, and kinship at this unique annual gathering.
"The experience last year was truly transformative for me, both spiritually and professionally.
Not only did I learn invaluable lessons on leadership, team building, and character development, but I also gained profound insights that deepened my spiritual journey. The guidance shared during the sessions was incredibly impactful, and I’ve been able to immediately apply many of these teachings in my role as a director." - 2024 Participant
2026 Featured Speakers
Roy Hibbert leaped into the spotlight as an All-American basketball player at Georgetown University from 2004-2008, going from fan-favorite to NBA prospect over four years. The 7'2" Hibbert was drafted 17th overall and traded to the Indiana Pacers, where he played most of his career before retiring in 2018. Along the way he made two NBA All-Star teams and an NBA All-Defensive Team (2014), earning a reputation as a hard working presence in the middle of the paint, capable of both scoring points and locking down opposing post players. Since retiring from the NBA, Hibbert has served as a Player Development coach for the Philadelphia 76ers and a college basketball analyst for CBS Sports, as well as sharing his story with audiences across the country, encouraging people to "stand tall" in the face of self-doubt.
Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, serves on the faculty of the Alliance for Catholic Education's Remick Leadership Program at the University of Notre Dame and is the chaplain of the Notre Dame football team. As an education professor, he directs the "Higher-Powered Learning" program, which helps teachers and leaders leverage technology to meet the needs of all learners in K–12 classrooms. As football chaplain, he is known for his warmth and humor, serving coaches and student athletes while making complex spiritual themes accessible and inspiring. Fr. Nate earned a master of divinity in theology and a master of education from the University of Notre Dame, as well as a doctorate in education leadership and policy from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He was ordained in the spring of 2006 and is currently the priest-in-residence in Keough Hall.
Widely considered one of the most likable coaches in men's college basketball across his 23 year tenure as the Head Coach at the University of Notre Dame (2000-2023), Mike Brey is currently an Assistant Coach with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. An advocate for Play Like a Champion since the program's beginning and a fan favorite at past conferences, Brey's personality and coaching acumen have earned him national acclaim. Across 28 seasons as a college head coach at Delaware and Notre Dame, Brey amassed 582 wins. He was named AP Coach of the Year in 2011 and Big East Conference Coach of the Year three times (2007, 2008, 2011). His teams reached 15 NCAA Tournaments, which included 3 trips to the Sweet 16 and two more to the Elite 8. Yet it's his commitment to the people he coaches that has made him such a beloved figure.
Dr. Carlie McGregor is a licensed psychologist embedded in the University of Notre Dame athletic department. In her role as a sport psychologist, she provides individual and group psychological services. She works with athletes to address mental health concerns and to enhance athletic performance with the goal of collaboratively elevating well-being, optimizing athletic performance, and, ultimately, helping student-athletes develop into their best selves. Her areas of interest include multicultural identity empowerment, sport performance, interpersonal patterns, identity development, and self-worth concerns. McGregor earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of New Mexico (UNM) in 2015. She then went on to complete her Master of Science and PhD in Counseling Psychology, with an emphasis in Sport and Performance Psychology, at the University of North Texas.
More 2026 Speakers To Be Announced Soon!
Annual Pre-Conference Retreat
Our 12th annual pre-conference spiritual retreat kicks off this year's conference on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 with the theme "Building Beloved Community." Inspired by the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., this retreat will explore the relationship between faith and action, as well as the opportunity for our own communities (schools, leagues, etc.) to realize our full human potential. This annual retreat offers a chance for busy leaders to pause, reflect on the graces they have encountered, and re-energize so that they can continue to pour themselves out to the athletes and staff entrusted to their care. The 2026 Retreat will take place at Foley's inside O'Neill Hall, which is located on the south end of Notre Dame Stadium on campus at the University of Notre Dame. An optional Mass is available at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at 11:30 am EDT and the retreat will begin at Foley's at 1:30 pm EDT. The annual retreat is included in your conference registration. We hope you'll join us!
"This is my favorite conference I have attended." - 2024 Participant
Play Like a Champion is committed to assuring that all children have an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of youth sports in a safe and fun environment. Through our annual conference, coach and parent education, and initiatives like A Team for Every Child, this work is improving the lives of children in communities across the country. If you are unable to make the conference this year, please still consider a tax-deductible donation of $100 or more to support Play Like a Champion's mission. Click the link below to donate today!
What are people saying about the Play Like a Champion Today Conference?
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100% of participants attending our last conference said it met or exceeded their expectations.
“I love the feeling of family this conference leaves you with.”
“It’s always the people at the conference and the opportunity to engage in discussions with them about how they live out this mission within their own schools and leagues that is powerful. This is a phenomenal group committed to the well-being of our children and the mission of virtue driven sports. It’s your biggest asset as a program and this conference allows the group to get together in one place and interact.”
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“Seeing the conference first-hand was great. Athletics today really needs your message! Great values and strong character can and should be the results of an athletic program, but they have to be at the forefront of the program. You are reinforcing those concepts to all of your participants and that will be a great help to all the kids playing in their programs!”
“ I met such wonderful people from all over the place. I gained great new ideas from them and different perspectives on life. Also, the conference was very well run and professional by a wonderful organization with such committed energetic people.
“This is a fantastic conference that exceeded my expectations. It was organized and professional. The speakers were very impactful and inspiring! All the content was relevant, informative and thought provoking. The conference created collaboration with seminar formats and close interaction with presenters and colleagues.”
“It is a summer ritual to attend the conference to be inspired and motivated to prepare for another year in coaching and education.”
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"I loved the subject matter of this conference – it was both informative and inspirational. These are subjects most people are uncomfortable discussing and the conference presented it in a very positive and professional light."