PCA 2025 COACH OF THE YEAR

Without further adieu, we are pleased to announce PCA’S 2025 COACH OF THE YEAR for the incredible impact he is making with his athletes, in and out of sports.

We reviewed hundreds of outstanding coaches, and Coach Jareem Gunter rose to the top as someone who not only positively impacts youth but also makes sports more equitable and accessible for all and is making a positive impact on their community!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate a coach or provide a reference in support of your coach. You input is invaluable in this process and we hope you’ll consider nominating a coach again next year.

Jareem’s impact extends far beyond the game of basketball- he is a mentor, role model, and leader who uses the power of sports to reach life lessons that last a lifetime. His dedication to positive coaching and character development truly embodies PCA’s mission!

As a former principal who believes in young people, Coach Jareem Gunter took that belief and created a sports program that also focuses heavily on creating good people. His program is more than just a basketball team, they are a community dedicated to empowering young athletes to reach their full potential both on and off the court. Their mission is to instill valuable life skills such as leadership, teamwork, and perseverance through the game of basketball. They are not a basketball program; they are a manhood development program that plays basketball.

Jareem developed a unique structure that includes mentorship programs, community service activities, and workshops focused on topics like leadership and goal-setting. He ensures that every player has a voice and feels included. During team meetings, he often opens the floor for each athlete to share thoughts, recognizing that a diverse range of perspectives strengthens the team’s bond. Additionally, he incorporates workshops on topics like identity, empathy, and allyship, ensuring the Dream Team becomes a safe space for athletes of all backgrounds.

Jareem’s coaching emphasizes a growth mindset, showing athletes that effort and improvement matter more than perfection. One technique he uses is setting “effort goals” rather than just performance targets. For instance, instead of telling an athlete to focus on scoring, he’ll encourage them to focus on effective passes or defensive maneuvers—actions that contribute to team play and individual skill-building. He believes that every young athlete deserves a chance to play and grow, regardless of financial background or personal circumstances, and actively works to make that possible. Coach Jareem’s commitment to accessibility is even more impactful given that the Dream Team believes they are the only free AAU program for all players in California. As a means to help support the financial needs of the team, Jareem worked with the team to write their own book and sell it to raise funds. He now has a team of published authors!

We are thrilled to recognize Jareem and the Dream Team from Antioch, CA at our Game Changer Awards & Benefit on Thursday, May 22nd, 2025, at the San Francisco Fairmont where we’ll also recognize youth coaches who were impactful in the lives of several Bay Area professional athletes as they share their stories.

As the 2025 COACH OF THE YEAR Award Winner presented by TeamSnap, Coach Gunter will be featured in a video shared at our Game Changer Awards & Benefit on May 22nd, 2025, at the Fairmont San Franciso. Coach Gunter also receives an all-expenses-paid trip for two to join us at the event and accept the award onstage.

If your coach was not selected as a Top 10 National Winner, you can nominate them again next year. Please use this link to request a reminder notification when the 2026 Coach of the Year Awards Program opens nominations.

NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR REVIEW COMMITTEE

Special thanks to this group of sports and business professionals for their assistance with reviewing our top nominees for Coach of the Year.