Leadership development of high school varsity basketball captains with mentoring by their coach

Advisors: Mary Beth Henning.Committee members: Todd Gilson; Hidetada Shimizu.This qualitative study combined the techniques of person-centered ethnography and self-study to follow four varsity boys' basketball team captains and their coach throughout a season. The focus of the study was on the leadership characteristics and leadership development of the captains and the coach, with a particular focus on the mentoring relationships between the captains and their coach. This study filled several gaps in the literature concerning athlete leadership development by providing in-depth analysis of the leadership perceptions of athletes as they encountered situations throughout a season. Among the findings of this study are that each captain found specific areas of leadership growth while noting a general trend toward leadership improvement; the captains believed there was value and guidance in the mentoring conversations they had with their coach; and the coach understood the influence of his choices and behavior on the leadership development of the captains. Additionally, the study found that the captains differentiated the methods of leadership they employed based on their perceptions of their roles and leadership skills. Also, the study includes the coach's perceptions of his ability to mentor the captains and his reasoning behind his choice of pedagogy and methodology, as well.Ed.D. (Doctor of Education