Former NBA Commissioner David Stern Endows Multi-Million Dollar Leadership Institute Within Texas Tech Athletics
LUBBOCK, Texas — May 18, 2025 — In a landmark move blending sports excellence with character-driven development, Texas Tech University announced the creation of the David J. Stern Leadership Institute, a multi-million dollar endowment funded by the late former NBA Commissioner David Stern. The Institute, housed within Texas Tech Athletics, is poised to become a national model for ethical leadership education among student-athletes and coaching staff.
The generous endowment, valued at over $10 million, was part of Stern’s final philanthropic vision before his passing in 2020. His estate finalized the gift this year, with Texas Tech chosen as the flagship institution to carry forward his legacy of principled leadership and social responsibility in sports.
The David J. Stern Leadership Institute will focus on instilling ethical leadership principles, decision-making frameworks, and personal development curricula tailored to the challenges and opportunities faced by athletes and coaches. Programming will include immersive workshops, mentorships with industry leaders, speaker series, and integrated coursework developed in partnership with Texas Tech’s Rawls College of Business and the School of Law.
A Lasting Legacy of Leadership
David Stern, who served as NBA Commissioner from 1984 to 2014, is widely credited with transforming the NBA into a global powerhouse while prioritizing community development and player empowerment. During his tenure, Stern championed policies emphasizing civic engagement, diversity, and ethical conduct, values that will now become central pillars of the new Institute.
“David Stern believed that leadership in sports must extend far beyond the scoreboard,” said Adam Silver, current NBA Commissioner and longtime colleague of Stern. “This Institute ensures that his values—integrity, responsibility, and purpose-driven leadership—will shape the next generation of sports leaders.”
Stern’s connection to Texas Tech may appear surprising on the surface, but his family revealed that he had long admired the university’s commitment to student development, its deep ties to underserved communities, and the rising national profile of its athletics programs.
“David was passionate about education and equality,” said Dianne Bock, Stern’s widow. “He saw Texas Tech as a place where the future of sports leadership could be reimagined—not just with talent on the field or court, but with vision, accountability, and a deep sense of ethics.”
Elevating Texas Tech Athletics
For Texas Tech Athletics, the establishment of the Institute represents a significant milestone in its evolution. Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt described the endowment as “transformational,” asserting that it will place Texas Tech at the forefront of character-based leadership development in collegiate sports.
“Our student-athletes are the future CEOs, coaches, and community leaders of tomorrow,” Hocutt said. “Thanks to the generosity and foresight of David Stern, we now have a world-class platform to ensure their leadership is defined not only by success but by substance.”
Dr. Lawrence Schovanec, President of Texas Tech University, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the Institute’s alignment with the university’s broader mission. “This gift strengthens our institutional commitment to developing graduates who lead with character,” Schovanec said. “We are honored and humbled to carry forth the legacy of one of sports’ greatest visionaries.”
National Recognition and Strategic Vision
The Institute has already drawn praise from across the collegiate athletics landscape, with plans underway to host an annual “Ethical Leadership in Athletics” symposium, attracting thought leaders, executives, and coaches from across the country. Additionally, the program will offer certification pathways for student-athletes interested in leadership roles within sports organizations, nonprofits, or community service sectors.
In an era where the values of sports leadership are increasingly scrutinized, the David J. Stern Leadership Institute represents a bold and necessary step forward.
A New Era in Sports Leadership
At its core, the Stern Institute is more than a tribute—it is a call to action. By equipping student-athletes and coaches with the tools to lead with integrity, the program aspires to redefine what it means to be a leader in sports.
“David Stern changed the game,” said Texas Tech men’s basketball head coach Grant McCasland. “Now, through this Institute, he’s changing lives—off the court, where it matters most.”
With the inaugural cohort set to begin programming in Fall 2025, Texas Tech is poised to become a beacon of principled leadership in college athletics—carrying forward David Stern’s enduring belief: that sports, at its best, uplifts not only the individual, but society itself.
