Tommy Amaker

Tommy Amaker is an educator, coach, and leader who has transformed the Division I men’s basketball program at Harvard University both on the basketball court and “Beyond the 94 x 50.” As a player, he was an All-American, a National Defensive Player of the Year, and a gold medalist with the U.S. national team that won the World Championship in 1986. He earned these accolades as a star point guard at Duke University in the 1980s, where he also began his coaching career as a graduate assistant and then assistant coach under Coach Mike Krzyzewski. Amaker's success at Duke included being part of the coaching team when the Blue Devils won the NCAA championship in 1991 and 1992.

Amaker's first head coaching job was at Seton Hall in 1997, where he led the team to an NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance. He later held the head coach position at the University of Michigan for six seasons, which included a 2004 NIT championship title, making him the youngest Black coach to ever win a national title (NIT or NCAA). He joined the Harvard community in 2007, and under his guidance, the team has won seven Ivy League championships, made four NCAA tournament appearances, and received three NIT berths. In 2016, he became the all-time winningest coach in Harvard men's basketball history.

Off the court, Amaker has made significant contributions to developing his athletes into future leaders. His program philosophy, "Teach. Lead. Serve," emphasizes the integration of social justice and leadership development into his program. He initiated the Breakfast Club, a platform where student-athletes meet notable business leaders and social activists. These efforts have earned him a leadership position as a Board member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and co-chair of the Committee on Racial Reconciliation. He has also been instrumental in the John McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative, which seeks to provide opportunities for young people of color in athletic departments throughout higher education.

Amaker's commitment to service extends beyond the basketball court. He serves on the Board of Overseers for the Boys & Girls Club of Boston, is an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, and is a Special Assistant to Harvard University President Larry Bacow. Recently, he was a Spring 2021 Fellow at the Hauser Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he continued his advocacy for diversity and inclusion in sports. His dedication to these causes was recognized in February 2021, when he was named a Champion of Diversity by the NCAA.