His Classmates Were Ticketed for Wall Street, but He Became a Brilliant NFL Coach
Sports Illustrated • • general
Key Points:
- Mike Macdonald and Jori McMurtrey (now Palmer), both Leonard Leadership Scholars at the University of Georgia, pursued leadership and sports careers after graduating in 2010 from an elite program admitting only 30 students annually out of over 32,000 undergraduates.
- The Leonard Scholars program, founded through benefactor Earl T. Leonard Jr., emphasizes values-based leadership, service projects, and career alignment, and played a key role in shaping Macdonald's coaching philosophy and career trajectory.
- Macdonald’s leadership skills and football acumen, honed through the Leonard program and coaching internships, led to his rise through NFL ranks, culminating in his 2024 hiring as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, where he has already led the
