As I officially start the role as PCA’s Chief Executive Officer, I’m as excited and motivated about our work now, as I ever have been during my 18+ years at PCA. When others ask why I’ve stayed at the organization for so long, the answer is simple—the mission and the people. Those two things are what will continue to drive us forward in ensuring that all kids, regardless of social or economic circumstance, have access to a positive, youth sports experience. 

My vision for PCA will stay true to the work that we have been committed to since we were founded, and when we merged with Coaching Corps in 2022. I truly believe that the platform of youth sports is one of the greatest assets we have in our country. If done right, the youth sports experience is something that not only teaches life skills, promotes healthy competition and healthy, active lifestyles, but can also bring communities together. You could argue that if we are deliberate in creating positive, equitable, and accessible experiences, that youth sports is the greatest platform for positive youth development. 

That is why we want to ensure that every child, in every community has access to the potential life changing benefits of a positive youth sports experience. We know that there are barriers keeping kids in under-resourced communities from experiencing this, so PCA will continue to partner and work alongside stakeholders in communities around the country to get more kids participating in sports. 

This mission and vision of PCA could not come to life without our people—the staff at PCA, our partners at the local and national level, our National Board of Directors, our local board members, our funders and all of you that continue to support our work. I also want to send thanks and gratitude to PCA’s immediate past CEO Janet Carter. It was Janet’s vision and partnership that made the merger between PCA and Coaching Corps successful. Without Janet’s leadership, we would not be where we are today, and we are all grateful for the years she has put into making the world a better place for our kids.

We often say the most important word in our name is Alliance, because we cannot have the impact we do without the partnership and support of others. The PCA network of partners, supporters, and friends is vast, and we are excited to welcome and partner with two new entities:

  • Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation: As part of the foundation’s focus on youth sports, we will partner together to bring PCA programming to Muscogee County (GA) School District over the next two years, working with school leadership, coaches, parents, and student-athletes at the high school and middle school level.
  • Gatorade: We are excited to partner up with the leading sports performance brand as its newest Equity in Sports initiative partner, where together we will increase our impact in training and recruiting coaches, and creating more positive youth sports experiences for all youth, with a focus on getting more women and girls in the game.

The collaboration between our partners and supporters, and our staff is where the magic happens. Every day I am inspired by the PCA staff who see the potential and impact in sports-based youth development—with many of those staff members working in this space for 10+ years. To scale and deepen our work across the country, we must tenaciously continue this type of commitment. 

In order to help us move this work along, we are excited to announce the appointment of Robert Marcus as PCA’s new Chief Strategy and Impact Officer. In this new, elevated role, Rob, a nationally recognized leader in this work, will:

  • Ensure that all of our organizational strategies, programs, and initiatives drive meaningful and systemic change, while using an equity lens. This will help focus the alignment between our impact measurement, advocacy, decision-making frameworks embedded with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles, and strategic priorities across the entire organization, with our mission and the community’s needs.
  • Strengthen community and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that those most impacted have a voice in shaping community-based interventions, while leveraging data and storytelling to drive transparency, accountability, and investment in equitable access and opportunity.
  • Continue to lead our Sports Equity work, including coalition building, volunteer coach recruitment, community roundtable programming, advocacy efforts, and impact measurement—ensuring sports remain accessible and inclusive in all communities.

We are excited for Rob to bring his leadership and vision to this expanded role and look forward to the impact he will drive across our organization and beyond.

This leadership transition for PCA will not force us to change course or slow down, but instead will enable us to continue accelerating our work, building on the great momentum of the last few years. We will continue to innovate to meet the needs of the everchanging youth sports landscape and needs of our youth. 

The next few weeks are a snapshot for the exciting work that PCA will continue to lead to ensure that positive youth sports opportunities are accessible for all kids, in all communities. Next week, we will host our first ever National Sports Equity Convening with our partners at LA84. That event will lead into NBA All-Star Weekend festivities in the Bay Area, where we will engage with our friends from Under Armour, Curry Brand and the Oakland community, as well work alongside long-time partners at the Jr.NBA/Jr.WNBA, and take in some pickleball as the official charity partner at the Celebrity Pickleball Bash in San Francisco (for a full schedule of where PCA will be during All-Star Weekend, check it out here). 

Thank you for your continued support of PCA. Regardless of what role you play—a youth sports coach, parent, organizational leader, community builder, PCA staff member, supporter or friend—we are excited to continue on this journey alongside you, as we deliver on all the opportunities that a positive youth sports experience can provide for our youth. And we’d love to hear your feedback and thoughts on where PCA is headed. Please feel free to reach out to me at CEO@positivecoach.org

With gratitude, 

Jason Sacks
Chief Executive Officer
Positive Coaching Alliance
Check out PCA’s 2024 Annual Report Here