Eugene Pough is a coach who has made a profound impact as both an Up2Us Sports Coach, as well as at The Philadelphia Youth Football Academy (PYFA), of which he is a founder and the current Executive Director. PYFA was founded in 2020 and has partnered with Up2Us Sports since the beginning of 2024.

Through Taleek Norman’s multiple AmeriCorps service terms through Up2Us Sports as a Coach and VISTA at NYC’s Equity Design, he has become a pillar of his community, catalyzing teamwork and personal development both among his students and fellow coaches.

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.

Photo Credit: Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Instagram

Up2Us Sports Field Champion Coaches Sergio, Frank, and Hugo were three of five Dodgers Dreamteam coaches named a 2024 Dodgers Dreamteam Coach of the Year.

In honor of the 23rd Anniversary of 9/11, and as part of AmeriCorps’ National Day of Service and Remembrance, the Up2Us Sports NYC Coach Team participated in a First Responder Training with World Cares Center. 

For the ninth consecutive year, Up2Us Sports has received funding from PennSERVE, Pennsylvania’s state service commission. For the 2024-2025 year, the grant will support 10 Up2Us Sports coaches across Philadelphia, as well as economically vulnerable suburbs.

For the 11th consecutive year, Up2Us Sports has received funding from Volunteer Louisiana, the state service commission of Louisiana. For the 2024-2025 year, the grant will support 20 Up2Us Sports coaches around the parish of New Orleans

Up2Us Sports and Morgan Stanley’s Alliance for Children's Mental Health have joined forces to develop an exclusive six-part series tailored specifically for SBYD coaches.

For the ninth consecutive year, Up2Us Sports has received funding from Serve Illinois, Illinois’ state service commission. Since 2015, Serve Illinois has provided grants for 202 AmeriCorps service members through Up2Us Sports.

It was recently announced that Up2Us Sports has received funding from California Volunteers, California’s state service commission, for the ninth consecutive year. Since 2016, California Volunteers has provided grants for 408 AmeriCorps service members through Up2Us Sports.

For LGBTQ+ Pride Month, we asked coaches how to ensure an inclusive and supportive team culture for LGBTQ+ athletes and to explain the importance of having representation in sports for the younger generation of LGBTQ+ athletes.

AmeriCorps announced that Up2Us Sports would once again receive critical funding for our national service coach program. Since 2009, AmeriCorps funding has allowed us to train and support over 3,900 coaches to significantly impact the lives of nearly 100,000 young people.

Through partnership and collaboration, Up2Us Sports and Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative (PYSC) are using direct service to coach underprivileged youth. Launched in 2016 by Executive Director Beth Devine, PYSC has been a pillar of the Philadelphia community for eight years.

We are pleased to announce our 2024 Coaches and VISTAs of the Year for their exemplary service and commitment to serving and mentoring students nationwide.

As an AmeriCorps-funded national service program, supported in California by California Volunteers, our LA-based staff and coaches were proud to serve their communities on March 31 for César Chávez Day.

Coach Katlyn serves as an Up2Us Sports coach at DC Girls Baseball. When asked who or what makes her feel empowered to be a coach and to explain the importance of women in sports breaking barriers and making a difference, this was her response.

AmeriCorps will lead the celebration of AmeriCorps Week 2024 during the agency’s 30th anniversary. The theme, AmeriCorps is not a moment, it’s a movement, demonstrates the hundreds of thousands of members and volunteers, and the millions of alumni, who have committed to get things done for America for the past three decades.

While February is officially Black History Month, Up2Us Sports honors and celebrates Black voices all year long. Black History Month is an opportunity to pay special tribute to their voices and stories. We asked our coaches to share their thoughts on what Black History Month means to them and why representation in coaching matters.

Ciera Jones - an Up2Us Sports Coach at partner program Friends of Baseball in Portland, Oregon - was named a 2024 National Winner of the Positive Coaching Alliance Coach of the Year Award. She has served since March 2023 thanks to funding from AmeriCorps.

Each January, MENTOR unites communities for National Mentoring Month. We are proud to join MENTOR by amplifying the voices of three of our AmeriCorps service members this month.

We talk a lot about grassroots change at Up2Us Sports. But what does that look like? Javan was a student at Dolores T. Aaron Academy in New Orleans, who was coached by Up2Us Coaches. A few years later, he is now making a difference as an Up2Us Coach himself. Read his story.

Between January 11th and January 17th, 2024, Up2Us Sports staff, VISTAs and coaches across the country participated in AmeriCorps’ MLK Day of Service.

On Wednesday, January 10th, Up2Us Sports’ NYC-based Program staff participated in a special event at Fordham University alongside our partner Equity Design, Bronx Health REACH, & PS 32.

The L.A. Clippers Foundation honored two Up2Us Coaches as Clippers Community Heroes of the Game on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. Coaches Jasmine Hernandez and Frank Martinez were honored at halftime the game.

As we close out 2023, we spoke with some of our coaches about what is most rewarding about being a coach, what made them want to become a coach, and who they want to say #ThanksCoach to.

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.

November 4th marks National Coach Appreciation Day, and we humbly request your continued support as we launch our annual #ThanksCoach campaign.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month and is held annually to bring awareness and education on preventing childhood bullying and promoting kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

Our 2024-2025 Call for Partnerships is NOW OPEN! Up2Us Coach is an AmeriCorps-funded national service program that funds coach-mentors that work directly with youth.

Up2Us Sports, in partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF), announces that applications are now open for the fifth year of the LADF Field Champions program.