Coach Dez Dunham
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Desmond "Coach Dez" Dunham is an educator, nationally recognized coach, entrepreneur, author, TEDx speaker, Under Armour Coach and Ambassador, and visionary dedicated to developing people and creating opportunities that inspire generations. With 28 years of experience in education and coaching, Coach Dez has developed hundreds of All-Americans and guided student-athletes toward collegiate opportunities at Ivy League institutions, leading HBCUs, and universities across the country. His coaching excellence earned him the 2022 United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Girls Track & Field Coach of the Year honor. As the founder of Kids Elite Sports, he has transformed his passion for youth development into an organization serving approximately 600 campers and families while creating meaningful employment and leadership opportunities for nearly 700 young counselors.
But Coach Dez's greatest impact extends far beyond the finish line. Through his philosophy of valuing people, building authentic relationships, and teaching others to embrace the process, he challenges individuals to recognize their potential and achieve more than they thought possible. His memoir, Running Against the Odds, chronicles a journey of adversity, mentorship, perseverance, and purpose. Now, alongside his wife, Jami, he is pursuing the adaptation of his story into a feature film, with a vision to inspire audiences far beyond the world of sports. From coaching champions to building a business, developing leaders, and bringing an inspirational story to the screen, Coach Dez is driven by one mission: Developing People. Building Businesses. Inspiring Generations.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
- That valuing people before performance creates a culture where growth, trust, and results naturally follow.
- How Coach Dez developed hundreds of All-Americans and guided student-athletes to Ivy League and HBCU opportunities.
- Why embracing the process as the reward allows outcomes to become byproducts of consistent personal development.
- How connection before correction helps leaders inspire young people to become more than they thought possible.
- That building Kids Elite Sports from passion to purpose created jobs for nearly 700 high school and college counselors.
- Why Coach Dez's philosophy “develop the person, results will follow” drives sustainable success in coaching, business, and life.
- How to turn personal adversity into a published memoir and a feature film that inspires audiences beyond sports.
- That success is personal but legacy is generational, measured by how many people you help go further.
- Why meeting people where they are unlocks potential and helps them recognize where they can go.
- How to build a business that changes lives, not just generates revenue, while expanding into underserved communities.
about the show
Next Level CEO is an entrepreneur education series hosted by Daymond John, created for business owners, founders, and leaders who want real insight from people who have built, scaled, and led successful companies.
Each episode features expert CEOs, founders, and industry leaders sharing the stories, decisions, strategies, and lessons behind their growth. Viewers get a closer look at how strong brands are built, how companies scale, and how experienced entrepreneurs think through leadership, opportunity, risk, and long-term success.
From disruptive startups to established business empires, Next Level CEO gives entrepreneurs a front-row seat to the business strategies, founder insights, and leadership moves that drive business excellence.
Whether you are an entrepreneur looking to grow, a business owner ready to level up, or a leader who wants to learn from proven builders, Next Level CEO delivers practical lessons from people who have created something that lasts.
