ATLANTA, GA (December 13, 2025) — The Westminster Schools successfully hosted the second Atlanta Coaching Collective (ACC) on Saturday, December 13, welcoming coaches from across the Atlanta area for a morning of high-impact professional development, collaboration, and community building. Held in Barge Commons on Westminster's campus, the event brought together coaches from youth leagues through high school programs to engage in meaningful conversations around leadership, culture, and performance in today's athletic landscape.
Launched in 2023, the Atlanta Coaching Collective was founded to create a vibrant and supportive network for coaches across the city. The event continues to serve as a space where coaches can learn from experienced leaders, exchange ideas, and grow together while navigating the evolving challenges of modern athletics.
The morning opened with a keynote address from Becky Burleigh, one of the most accomplished coaches in NCAA women's soccer history. In her session, "What Drives Winning Environments," Burleigh drew on her national championship career at the University of Florida to explore the foundations of high-performing team cultures. Her presentation emphasized trust, clarity, accountability, and connection as essential components of sustained success.
A featured panel discussion, "From Pros to Parents: Navigating Youth Sports," followed, offering a candid conversation led by four former professional athletes now experiencing youth sports from a parent's perspective. Panelists Matt Wieters, Kyle Korver, Corey Patterson, and Champ Bailey shared insights on balancing competition and joy, redefining success, and supporting young athletes in healthy, meaningful ways.
Attendees then selected from two breakout sessions. "The First-Year Head Coach Playbook: Building Culture and Defining Your Vision" featured Chris Pollard (University of Virginia Baseball) and James Ramsey (Georgia Tech Baseball), who shared lessons learned from their coaching journeys and strategies for establishing strong program identity. The second breakout, "High Performance Trends in High School Sports: A Data-Driven Q&A," was moderated by Dr. Kyle Hammond and included experts Nick Gibson and Dr. Eric Nichols, focusing on athlete development, injury prevention, and the growing role of sports science and analytics.
The event concluded with a closing session titled "From the AD's Chair: What Makes Coaches Great," featuring Josh Brooks, Director of Athletics at the University of Georgia, and moderated by Westminster President Keith Evans. Brooks offered perspective on leadership, hiring, and program development, sharing what distinguishes impactful coaches and how strong leadership at the top shapes successful athletic departments.
As youth and high school sports continue to evolve, the Atlanta Coaching Collective remains committed to supporting coaches not only in developing athletes, but also in shaping culture, character, and community. Westminster is proud to host this growing initiative and looks forward to continuing to bring Atlanta's coaching community together for future events.
For more information about the Atlanta Coaching Collective, please contact Westminster Athletics.
