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Board hears plan for Champions 101 leadership program for student athletes; pilot rollouts planned

Williston Basin School District No. 7 Board of Education · January 13, 2026

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Summary

The board heard a Champions 101 presentation describing a tiered athlete leadership curriculum (freshman to senior) with coach and parent modules and a phased rollout; presenters said pilot teams will be used with a full rollout expected by summer/fall 2026, subject to funding and scheduling.

Robert, an activities‑department staff member, introduced Travis Connolly of Champions 101 and the board heard a detailed presentation on a sports‑based leadership and training program intended for athletes, coaches and parents.

Connolly described Champions 101 as "a sports performance to leadership development program" that provides an immersive curriculum designed to teach intangible leadership qualities — teamwork, accountability, handling adversity and coachability — alongside athletic skills. He said the program includes an open freshman track called the Champions Club, a sophomore/junior leadership council selected by application or coach nomination, and a senior "Champions Elite" experience.

On implementation, Connolly described a flexible model: freshmen may join by open invitation or coaches can require participation for captains; the sophomore/junior tier uses nomination or application depending on partner school preferences; and Connolly suggested pilot rollouts with single teams to test logistics before broader adoption. He said the program provides virtual lessons, study guides and worksheets and offers professional development resources for coaches.

Board members asked about mandatory participation, coach buy‑in, timeline, costs and sustainability. Connolly and Robert said the program can be rolled out in stages, with the presenters aiming to have programming in place by summer/fall 2026 if community support and internal scheduling permit. The board discussed potential funding partners (the transcript references local foundations) and agreed to further planning. No formal vote was taken on the program.

Connolly also described parent modules and practical resources for sports parents and said Champions 101 has partner relationships with about 50 partners across multiple states. The board expressed support for piloting the program and requested follow‑up details regarding timeline, costs and how coaches would be trained to integrate modules into existing practice schedules.