When Coach Mahari first heard about Strive from a friend, he didn’t know exactly what to expect. But the more he learned, the more it felt like something he was meant to do.
“I care a lot about building up kids and building our future,” he said. “The kids are the future. They deserve a better foundation to be leaders and become better people.”
Now a rising sophomore at McDaniel College and a returning coach, Mahari reflects on how last year’s experience was more than just basketball – it was about connection, growth, and leading with authenticity.
One memory still sticks with him from last summer: a speech he gave during last year’s Sports Challenge. “I got very vulnerable in that speech,” he recalled. “I felt like it opened everybody up. It made everyone more real with each other. Even though we were only together for ten days, it felt like we’d known each other for a year.”
That kind of emotional honesty isn’t just a one-off for Mahari, it’s part of his leadership style. He describes himself as more of an introverted-extrovert, someone who prefers one-on-one conversations to shouting directions across the court.
Strive didn’t change that; it amplified it. Through our character-driven leadership approach, Mahari saw how his quiet, consistent leadership could have a lasting impact.
One moment that brought that to life was when he coached a seventh grader who was clearly talented but hard on himself after mistakes. “He’d mess up once and say, ‘I’m never going to make it to college,’” Mahari remembered. “Me and another coach told him, ‘Bro, you’re in seventh grade. You’re good. You’re going to make mistakes. We all do. It’s about how you bounce back.’ That kind of self-talk, like ‘I’m not good enough’ – that’s what holds you back. We told him, ‘Tell yourself: I am good enough. I’ll do better next time.’”
When asked which of Strive’s core values stuck with him most, Mahari pointed to Know Thyself without hesitation.“If you know yourself, it makes everything else easier. It helps you stick with it, helps you bounce back. It just carries into every part of life.”
That awareness is also how he connects with students – by balancing vulnerability and humor. “You’ve gotta joke with them. They’re kids. But also, open up just enough so they feel safe being themselves around you,” he said. “If they don’t feel anything from you, they’re not going to connect with you. You’ve got to give them that space.”
To any new coach stepping into Strive for the first time, Mahari has one simple advice to give them: “Be yourself. Don’t come in overthinking it or being too nervous. You’ll find your flow. You’ve got other coaches to learn from – see how they do things and mix that with your own style. That’s how you grow.”
As for what he hopes students take away from our new Sports Challenge model?
“Leadership. Learning how to lead not just others, but yourself. Knowing who you are. Taking your losses the same way you take your wins, and learning from both.”
Coach Mahari is proof that leadership doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful. He’s back for another summer – and ready to help the next generation of athletes know themselves, believe in themselves, and lead with purpose.