Coach Donnie Campbell
Ted Lasso Keynote Speaker | Championship Coach | Leadership Expert
Coach Donnie Campbell is the real-life inspiration behind Jason Sudeikis' beloved Ted Lasso character. With 36 years of championship coaching experience mentoring future NBA stars, Donnie inspires audiences to discover their "MVP"—their Mission, Values, and Plan—to reach their potential and lead teams to new heights through authentic, compassionate leadership.
Imagine discovering you're the inspiration for one of television's most beloved characters. Coach Donnie Campbell didn't seek the spotlight—he simply spent 36 years building championship teams by uplifting student athletes on and off the court. When Jason Sudeikis revealed to Stephen Colbert that his high school basketball coach inspired Ted Lasso, Donnie was thrust into unexpected fame. But what makes Donnie extraordinary isn't his connection to an Emmy-winning show—it's the decades of leadership wisdom that made him worthy of that honor in the first place.
When you book Coach Donnie for your event, you're bringing someone who goes beyond feel-good fiction to deliver tangible lessons for leading with heart. His acclaimed keynote "What's Your MVP?" combines personal stories of mentoring future stars with triumphs and tribulations from his coaching days. Donnie teaches leaders how to establish their Mission, Values, and Plan to gain clarity on purpose, maintain focus, and make better decisions both personally and professionally. Meeting planners consistently praise him as "one of the most inspirational keynote speakers I've seen in 30+ years of event planning" who "effortlessly commanded the room of 540 business leaders."
Donnie's mentoring approach centers on instilling confidence through accountability and empathy—the same principles that echo through the fictional AFC Richmond locker room. He teaches that leadership comes in all forms, helping audiences recognize what each person brings to the team and how to motivate them individually while building collective success. His lessons on developing people first through building character and trust, creating purposeful and challenging practice, establishing accountability from the top, and fostering cultures of respect and hard work apply directly to business teams facing today's challenges. Audiences leave entertained, moved, and equipped with fresh perspective on empowering leadership.
Establish your own MVP—when you have a clear Mission, Values, and Plan, you can focus on purpose, make better decisions, and succeed personally and professionally.
Leadership comes in all forms—recognize what each person brings, motivate them individually, and help them realize the importance of working together toward goals.
Support future leaders as they develop—appreciate that building self-confidence and understanding "why" takes years of experience and patient mentoring.
Lead with inner humility—found not in big words but in character, how you view life, and how you treat others with respect and authenticity.
"Donnie Campbell was one of the most inspirational keynote speakers I've seen in 30+ years of event planning."
On stage, he effortlessly commanded the room of 540 business leaders as he redefined the concept of LEADER and TEAM for all of us!
Before Jason Sudeikis ever dreamed of playing Ted Lasso, he found inspiration in his high school basketball coach, Donnie Campbell. Though obscure outside Kansas, Coach Campbell planted seeds of wisdom in young Jason as his Shawnee Mission West coach back in the 90s. Decades later, those lessons of leadership and integrity blossomed on the Emmy-winning show that captured hearts worldwide. When Sudeikis revealed the origin story to Stephen Colbert, Coach Campbell was thrust into an unexpected spotlight—but the math teacher and coach had already built a championship career by uplifting student athletes.
Donnie's mentoring approach centers on instilling confidence through accountability and empathy. His keys to success echo through AFC Richmond's fictional locker room: respect everyone, work tirelessly, and believe in each other. Boasting 36 years of coaching under his belt, Donnie graduated college on a football scholarship. Though initially obscure, he developed championship teams and mentored future NBA stars by staying true to his positive principles. Today, in addition to shaping young lives daily, Coach Donnie shares his brand of compassionate leadership with corporations and conferences.
Blending wit and wisdom, Donnie inspires audiences to define their core values and nurture talent from the inside out. His keynote seamlessly blends personal stories with actionable takeaways applicable across industries. Audiences connect with the accidental foundation of television's "ultimate good guy" while gaining practical tools for empowering leadership. Organizations including A Place for Mom, AAIM, LeadingAge Connecticut, and Vincue consistently praise his ability to pick up on industry issues and incorporate them into presentations that resonate deeply.
Coaching Excellence:
• 36 years championship coaching experience
• High school basketball coach (Shawnee Mission West)
• Mentored future NBA stars
• Built multiple championship teams
Ted Lasso Connection:
• Real-life inspiration for Jason Sudeikis character
• Featured on Stephen Colbert
• Connection revealed on national television
• Principles reflected in Emmy-winning show
Professional Background:
• Math teacher and educator
• Football scholarship graduate
• Decades shaping young lives
• Corporate keynote speaker
Coach Donnie Campbell is the real-life inspiration behind Jason Sudeikis' beloved Ted Lasso character—a distinction that brings instant recognition and credibility. But what truly sets Donnie apart is his 36 years of championship coaching experience where he mentored future NBA stars and built winning teams through his unique approach centered on accountability and empathy. His "What's Your MVP?" keynote goes beyond the feel-good fiction to deliver tangible leadership lessons on establishing Mission, Values, and Plan that drive real business results. Audiences don't just get a celebrity tie-in—they get decades of proven mentoring wisdom from someone who shaped champions.
Donnie's signature keynote "What's Your MVP?" teaches leaders how to establish their Mission, Values, and Plan for clarity on purpose, focus, and better decision-making both personally and professionally. He addresses leadership in all forms, helping audiences recognize what each person brings to the team and how to motivate them individually while building collective success. Key themes include supporting future leaders as they develop, leading with inner humility found in character and how you treat others, developing people first through character and trust for long-term success, using purposeful practice to build communication and resilience, establishing accountability from the top by admitting mistakes and learning together, and creating cultures of respect, hard work, and teamwork that unleash potential.
Yes, absolutely. Coach Donnie delivers engaging virtual keynote experiences that maintain his authentic coaching style and leadership wisdom in digital formats. His ability to connect with audiences through storytelling and personal anecdotes translates seamlessly to virtual platforms. Whether in-person or virtual, Donnie brings the same energy, wit, and actionable insights that have made him a sought-after speaker for corporations and conferences nationwide.
Coach Donnie's keynote presentations are typically 45-60 minutes. However, he's highly flexible and works with meeting planners to create the perfect timing for your event. Whether you need a powerful opening keynote to set the leadership tone, a closing session that sends attendees home inspired, or a mid-conference presentation to reenergize participants, Donnie adapts his content and delivery accordingly. He can also participate in panel discussions or extended Q&A sessions where attendees can dig deeper into his MVP methodology and coaching principles.
Absolutely. Coach Donnie works closely with event organizers to understand your organization's specific challenges, culture, and desired outcomes. His leadership principles—respect, hard work, accountability, empathy, and belief in each other—apply universally across all industries. Whether your audience works in healthcare, technology, finance, retail, associations, or any other sector, Donnie ensures his coaching wisdom and MVP framework speak directly to their experiences. Meeting planners consistently note how Donnie "did a great job picking up on issues that the field is dealing with and incorporating it into his presentation," demonstrating his ability to tailor content while maintaining authentic delivery.
Select Voices operates as a boutique speaker bureau, providing personalized attention throughout the entire booking process. We know Coach Donnie personally and have complete confidence in his ability to deliver an inspiring keynote experience that blends his Ted Lasso connection with decades of authentic leadership wisdom. We handle all logistics including contracts, travel arrangements, technical requirements, and pre-event coordination with Donnie's team. You'll work directly with us to customize Donnie's presentation content, coordinate timing, and ensure every detail aligns with your event vision. Our goal is making your event unforgettable while providing a seamless, stress-free booking experience from inquiry to post-event follow-up.
Ready to inspire your team with championship leadership lessons from the real Ted Lasso? We know Coach Donnie personally and trust him completely to deliver a keynote experience that entertains with his TV connection while providing actionable MVP methodology your leaders can implement immediately. Fill out the form below and we'll be in touch within 24 hours to discuss availability, pricing, and how we can customize Donnie's presentation for your audience.