Up2Us Sports coaches are leaders in the field of sports-based youth development (SBYD), but they often don't receive the recognition they deserve. Coaches' Corner is our way to show our appreciation for our incredible coaches who make positive change in their communities every day!
This month, we spoke with Brandon Pack, a former Up2Us Sports coach, former Up2Us Sports VISTA, and current Northeast Program Manager at Up2Us Sports. Brandon is also the creator of the very first Coaches’ Corner blog!
When you think about what a day in the life of an 11-year-old looks like, what comes to mind? Maybe you think of a kid going to school, or hanging out with their friends, or playing sports.
Chances are, if you’re anything like this author, “youth development” was not one of the first things you thought of.
But Brandon Pack, a former Up2Us Sports coach, former Up2Us Sports VISTA, and current Northeast Program Manager at Up2Us Sports, did just that as an 11-year-old.
Beginning when he was in just the sixth grade, Brandon would walk from his middle school to a nearby elementary school to tutor. This tutoring experience led to him working one-on-one with a younger student, where he helped diagnose that student with dyslexia and ultimately helped him achieve academic success - setting Brandon on a path for a career in youth development from an early age.
“I had a blast working with [this student],” Brandon said, “and it showed me that what youth really need is just some kind of role model that is present… [M]e working with him changed him so much academically. He grew as a scholar, and it was amazing to see.”
“One thing stood out to me about these kids I worked with, and that was their love for basketball. I found that it was the easiest way for them to not only respect me, but to consider me someone safe.”
As he grew older, Brandon stayed involved in youth development. He created a program at his youth center for older kids to serve as “apprentices” to their program director and plan events for other kids, and later worked at School’s Out New York City (SONYC), an after-school program providing sports and arts instruction to middle schoolers in all five boroughs.
“One thing stood out to me about these kids I worked with,” he said, “and that was their love for basketball. I found that it was the easiest way for them to not only respect me, but to consider me someone safe. I tried to meet them where they were, and once we developed that bond through basketball, everything outside of the gym started to fall in place as well.”
Being able to connect with youth through sports was a pattern Brandon noticed again later in life, this time when he was working at Variety Boys and Girls of Club Queens (VBGCQ), one of the largest youth development organizations in New York City. Eventually, he became an Up2Us Sports coach at VBGCQ, and, as Brandon put it, “[T]he rest was history.”
During his time at VBGCQ, Brandon helped coach a basketball team and a music program. But when his service term as a coach ended, unsurprisingly, his desire to continue serving youth did not.
“After my [coaching] term [ended], I realized that a lot of the issues that kids today face come solely from the adults in their life, whether that be parents, teachers, or in many cases, program staff that are supposed to create a safe space for them,” Brandon said. “Because of this realization, and me being the fixer that I am, I decided to become a VISTA to make a change internally… and [eventually decided to become] the Program Manager for Up2Us Sports [in the Northeast].”
“I think it’s important to note that hurt people hurt people, and that’s the case for a lot of youth throughout the world when it comes to the adults in their life. My goal is to make sure that this cycle of pain is broken to ensure a better future for generations to come.”
In his current role as Northeast Program Manager, Brandon’s responsibilities are wide-ranging — from onboarding and exiting New York City and New England-based coaches from the Up2Us Coach Program, to planning and facilitating events and trainings for coaches, Brandon does it all! But what Brandon focuses on most is supporting coaches who are serving as mentors to youth, just like he once did when he was in their shoes.
“I have placed an emphasis on making sure that the people who are in direct service to these kids are people who know themselves and make sure that they take care of themselves,” Brandon said. “I think it's important to note that hurt people hurt people, and that’s the case for a lot of youth throughout the world when it comes to the adults in their life. My goal is to make sure that this cycle of pain is broken to ensure a better future for generations to come.”
Even though being a Program Manager involves more “behind-the-scenes” work and less direct service than coaching does, the lessons that Brandon learned from being a coach have translated well into his current job.
“The biggest lesson I learned as a coach had to be adaptability,” Brandon said. “I was a part of the coaching cohort that transitioned into the pandemic in the middle of our terms [in the 2019–20 program year], and to say it was an adjustment is an understatement, as I’m sure everyone knows by this point. To be adaptable is to be ready in each and every possible scenario [or] outcome for an occasion, and while I was nowhere near ready to be locked down for months, I was able to somewhat roll with the punches. Taking that [lesson of adaptability] into my future positions as a VISTA, and definitely as a Program Manager, has helped me navigate some tricky situations to say the least, but it also [has helped] me be prepared for anything at any time.”
“What I love most about Up2Us Sports is the fact that the organization is full of people who truly believe in the mission.”
Brandon is incredibly experienced with and committed to youth development at all levels, and, as he’d tell you, he’s not the only one! Brandon is currently one of 14 total Up2Us Sports staff who are alumni of the Up2Us Coach and/or VISTA programs - a testament to the power of our AmeriCorps programs in setting up our service members for success in their future careers.
“What I love most about Up2Us Sports is the fact that the organization is full of people who truly believe in the mission,” Brandon said. “From top to bottom, people have an affinity for working with youth and doing what we can to create a lifestyle through sports that some of us as employees longed for when we were in their position [as kids].”
Brandon served as an Up2Us Sports coach from August 2019 to August 2020 then as an Up2Us Sports VISTA from August 2020 to August 2021 at Variety Boys and Girls of Club Queens (VBGCQ) thanks to support from AmeriCorps. He was hired full-time at Up2Us Sports in September 2021.
