News

ORLANDO, Fla. (August 24, 2026) — Founded in 1985 by humanitarian and sports activist Dr. Richard Lapchick, the Institute for Sport and Social Justice, a nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the power of sport to develop leaders and create positive change, announced today that it is rebranding as The Huddle: A Sport Leadership Institute.

The new name reflects the organization's evolution and its continued focus on the transformative power of sport. A huddle is where people come together to listen, learn, strategize and move forward with a shared purpose. That spirit is at the heart of The Huddle's approach to sport leadership.

"The sports landscape is ever-changing, but one thing remains clear: sport has an outsized impact on culture," said The Huddle CEO Dr. Jeffrey O'Brien. "We see every day how powerful sport can be to shape people, communities and culture. Our goal is to help athletes, coaches, teams and organizations recognize that influence and use it to create positive change. The Huddle better reflects who we are today and where we're going next."

For more than 40 years, the organization has worked with athletes and sports organizations to address some of the most pressing issues facing sport and society. The Huddle will continue its longstanding work in gender-based violence prevention; leadership development; diversity, equity, inclusion, & belonging; and culture & climate, providing training and education to collegiate and professional sports organizations and their athletes.

"I am incredibly proud of what this organization has accomplished over the past 40 years and the lives we have touched along the way," said Dr. Richard Lapchick, founder of The Huddle. "The Huddle honors that legacy while evolving to meet the needs of a new generation of sports leaders. This is a new season, and I'm excited for what comes next."

The organization is also expanding its leadership development programming, including its Leadership Academy for high school student-athletes, which equips young athletes with the skills, self-awareness and confidence to become stronger leaders on and off the field.

"The name may be changing, but our commitment to using sport as a force for good is stronger than ever," said O'Brien. "This is the next chapter of an organization with a 40-year legacy, and we're excited about what we can build together."

The Huddle: A Sport Leadership Institute will continue working with sports organizations, teams, athletes and community partners to build stronger leaders and healthier, more inclusive sports cultures.

To learn more about The Huddle and its programs, visit www.thehuddle.org (opens in new tab).

About The Huddle: A Sport Leadership Institute

The Huddle: A Sport Leadership Institute helps athletes and teams build championship cultures. Founded in 1985 by human rights activist Dr. Richard Lapchick, The Huddle brings together former athletes, scholars, coaches, and content experts to equip and empower leaders across the sports community. Through dynamic education, leadership development, knowledge creation, and community building, The Huddle helps athletes, coaches, administrators, and organizations create stronger teams and more inclusive, high-performing cultures. In 2025, The Huddle delivered more than 200 training programs for over 6,000 leaders across the sports industry, working with organizations including the NCAA, NWSL, Detroit Pistons, Arizona Diamondbacks, PAC-12 Conference, Chicago Fire, Orlando Pride, The University of Texas at Austin, University of Michigan, Clemson University, and many others.