Bard College Coach TJ Kostecky Teaches Leadership Through Sport in Ukraine and Senegal
TJ Kostecky, the men’s soccer head coach at Bard College, taught a series of classes and workshops in Ukraine and Senegal this past summer.
This summer, TJ Kostecky, the men’s soccer head coach at Bard College, traveled from the Lorenzo Ferrari Field on Bard’s Annandale campus to classrooms, training grounds, and community centers across two continents, where his goal was to use the power of sport and vision training to foster leadership, resilience, and hope. The first stop on his journey was to Ukraine, where he had been invited by the Ukrainian Catholic University and Kyiv-Mohyla Academy to deliver a series of seven masterclasses for students, veterans, professors, and business leaders on the theme of “Life and Leadership.” His sessions explored how the mindset of an athlete—resilience, adaptability, and focus—parallels the mindset required for leadership during times of crisis. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Bard has welcomed and supported more than 50 Ukrainian undergraduate students, and Kostecky's presence helped reinforce solidarity through education and sport.
While in Senegal, Kostecky partnered with local organizations to empower young athletes and community coaches through the principles of his Vision Training for Life program, which is designed to enhance awareness, decision-making, and connection on and off the field. He led sessions that combined soccer drills with leadership exercises, and through games and group discussions, participants explored how the lessons of sport mirror those of life: adaptability, teamwork, and the ability to grow through challenge. Additionally, Kostecky collaborated with embassy officials and local youth leaders for a leadership workshop at the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, which emphasized how sport can serve as a unifying force in civic engagement, empowering young people to find purpose and agency in their communities.
Post Date: 10-28-2025
While in Senegal, Kostecky partnered with local organizations to empower young athletes and community coaches through the principles of his Vision Training for Life program, which is designed to enhance awareness, decision-making, and connection on and off the field. He led sessions that combined soccer drills with leadership exercises, and through games and group discussions, participants explored how the lessons of sport mirror those of life: adaptability, teamwork, and the ability to grow through challenge. Additionally, Kostecky collaborated with embassy officials and local youth leaders for a leadership workshop at the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, which emphasized how sport can serve as a unifying force in civic engagement, empowering young people to find purpose and agency in their communities.
Post Date: 10-28-2025