Daron K. Roberts is a former NFL and college coach who serves as founding director of the Center for Sports Leadership and Innovation (CSLi) at the University of Texas. CSLi is the first university-based institute dedicated to developing leadership and character curricula for high school and collegiate athletes.
Roberts has a proven track record in improving management systems and developing leadership strategy for managers in both the private and public sectors. He has been featured in ESPN the Magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek and Sports Illustrated. A lecturer at the University of Texas, Roberts focuses on issues of governance and innovation in the sports arena. He teaches two upper-division honors courses – Leadership Strategy in Sports and Disruptive Innovation in Sports. He also leads course – A Gameplan for Winning at Life – that is taught to all incoming freshmen student-athletes at the University of Texas.
After graduating from Harvard Law School, Roberts served coaching stints with the Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, West Virginia Mountaineers and Cleveland Browns. He holds a B.A. in Plan II Honors and Government from the University of Texas (2001), an M.P.P. from Harvard’s Kennedy School (2004) and a J.D. from Harvard Law School (2007). He served as Student Body President during his tenure at the University of Texas. Before entering graduate school, Roberts worked as an aide to Senator Joe Lieberman.
The Harvard Kennedy School of Government recognized Roberts as one of its “75 Most Fascinating Alumni” and the World Economic Forum pegged Roberts as a “Young Global Leader” for creating a nonprofit football camp – 4th and 1, Inc. 4th and 1 provides free SAT prep, life skills development and football training to at-risk youth in Michigan, Texas and Florida. The camp has served nearly 400 student-athletes since 2010.
The Presidential Leadership Foundation – a joint venture between Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush – tabbed Roberts as a Presidential Leadership Scholar for 2015. He was one of 60 members in the inaugural class.
Launched on December 15, 2014, the Center for Sports Leadership and Innovation represents the University’s commitment to live up to its mission statement: To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.
CSLi leverages the University’s academic and sports capital to cultivate leadership and character reform among student-athletes across the country.
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