As a native to Memphis, Tennessee, Coach Bill Courtney is a giant among men – an award winning global business leader, respected community and philanthropic champion, author, speaker to fortune 500 companies, and father and husband to a remarkable family.
In 2003, Bill began volunteering at Memphis’ inner city Manassas High School in an effort to turn its underperforming football team around. In 2003, the team had 19 players with a dismal 4-95, 10-year record. In the 2008 & 2009 seasons, the team’s record improved to 18-2, with 75 players. More importantly, in a neighborhood where young men are 3x more likely to be dead or in jail than to have a job or be in college, 31 out of their 32 seniors went to college in his last two seasons there. The story inspired a Hollywood film——which won the 2012 Academy Award for Best Feature Length Documentary.
Since then, Bill’s deep care for his country has led him to focus on platforming everyday people who are doing extraordinary things to improve our social fabric through a podcast and movement called, An Army of Normal Folks.
In my estimation, Coach Courtney is a hero. His life is a testament to resilience, love, forgiveness and the true power of believing in others, and yourself. So many people have been made better through the intentional way he’s crafted his life.
In this conversation, you’ll hear from someone who relentlessly invests grace and belief into those who may be most unlikely to receive it.
Our conversation was both deeply moving and inspiring for me. It reminded me of how much a single life can be changed when we don’t give up on them. And the ripple effect that this singular spark of belief can ignite in our communities and world. I hope it touches you as well.