Dwayne Shackleford
Co-Director
Founder – Shackleford Basketball & Books | Athletic Director | Coach | Mentor
Dwayne Shackleford Sr. is an award-winning coach, educator, and youth mentor with over 15 years of experience empowering student-athletes in underserved communities. As the founder of Shackleford Basketball and Books, he leads a transformative program that integrates high-level basketball training with academic enrichment and nutritional support—equipping youth to make healthy, informed life choices both on and off the court.
Currently serving as the Athletic Director and Head Varsity Basketball Coach at Friendship Tech Prep in Washington, DC, Shackleford has built a powerhouse program, guiding his teams to seven DC PCSAA Championships and earning five DC PCSAA Coach of the Year honors. He also earned recognition as the DCIAA Girls Coach of the Year for his success leading the girls’ varsity program at Anacostia High School to a DCIAA Championship. Throughout his career, he has developed numerous All-Met, All-State, and Player of the Year athletes—all while maintaining a strong academic culture, with his teams consistently achieving the highest GPAs among school sports programs.
Shackleford’s impact stretches far beyond school sports. Through his What It Takes Training Program, he’s trained elite-level talent, including NBA players Brandon Jennings, Nick Young, JaMychal Green. His youth camps serve over 100 participants weekly, and his team of coaches and mentors supports holistic development across academic, athletic, and character-building dimensions.
A proud graduate of the University of Southern California, Shackleford is driven by one mission: to use sport as a tool to unlock educational and life-changing opportunities for youth who need them most. By bridging the gap between talent and access, he continues to shape the next generation of student-athletes—one practice, one lesson, and one book at a time.