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About Adam

Entering Adam's 10th season in Division-I men’s college basketball, he was unfulfilled, stuck in his career, and experienced the end of a long-term relationship. He had achieved a life-long dream (becoming a D-I basketball coach), but it had come at great cost to himself and others, and he could not shake the questions: "Have I been a good person? Have I been a good son, brother, boyfriend, friend, and coach?"


As he developed responses to these questions, his renewed self-knowledge, purpose, and values allowed him to be with others in a more life-giving way, resulting in the best season of his basketball coaching career. Throughout the 2017-18 season, he saw the personal fulfillment and growth of others that came as a result of serving others, while the program he served also performed on the court and achieved their goals. As he connected with others in the profession over their shared challenges, Adam felt a deep certainty that he couldn’t keep the transformation he experienced to himself. And he knew the insights had to be moved forward in a way that honored and served others.

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Now, as a Leadership Coach working primarily with students, student-athletes, and athletic-coaches, Adam helps leaders become servant-leaders, and increase the capacity of individuals to lead. Adam believes that leadership is a creative process of developing goodness in ourselves and others. That's why his work with others is a co-creative partnership that provides the time, space, and opportunity to learn about yourself, so you can better serve others and act with greater impact.

About: Bio

Credentials

  • International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential holder.

  • Owner and Operator of Adam Gierlach Coaching

  • Leadership Coach for the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University. The Doerr Institute is recognized as the No. 4 World's Best Leadership Development Program for 2020 by Global Gurus

  • ICF Washington State Board of Directors, Secretary and Director of Coaching Equity, 2019 – Present.

  • EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360 Emotional Intelligence Assessments certified

  • Leadership Snohomish County Signature Program, Class of 2021

  • Certified Leadership Coach through CoachRICE: A Leadership Coaching Program, an International Coaching Federation accredited coach training course run by Rice University’s Doerr Institute for New Leaders

  • 10 years of Division-I men's college basketball coaching experience at Rice University and Cornell University

  • Camp Director for 3+ years for the Rice University Basketball Camps

  • Current lululemon ambassador

  • Enrolled at Gonzaga University, Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies

  • Gonzaga University, Master of Arts, Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Servant-Leadership

  • Rice University, Bachelor of Arts, History

About: Text

Adam served as a foundational staff member for three different head coaches during their rebuild of college basketball programs. Adam was quickly promoted through the Rice basketball staff under head coach Ben Braun. At the time of his promotion to Assistant Coach in June of 2013 at the age of 23, Adam was the youngest Assistant Coach in NCAA Division-I basketball. He was retained on staff by Mike Rhoades at Rice University in 2014, and helped lay the foundation for Rice’s second highest win total in program history in the 2016-2017 season. Prior to that season, Adam was hired as an Assistant Coach at Cornell University by Brian Earl. Adam’s final season as an Assistant Coach at Cornell was the most successful season for the program in 8 years. The season saw the Big Red finish in the top half of the Ivy League and advance to the Ivy League semifinals.

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Adam’s primary responsibilities in college basketball included scouting and game prep, recruiting untapped or undervalued markets, and player development with team point guards. He also served as the Camp Director at Rice University’s basketball camps for 3+ years, leading all staff and administrative aspects of the camp. Under Adam’s guidance, the team camp grew to the largest team camp in Texas, and the camps as a whole hit record highs for number of campers and profit.

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Adam is an International Coach Federation, Associate Certified Coach credential holder, a certified Leadership Coach through Rice University’s Doerr Institute for New Leaders, & certified in the EQ-i 2.0 Emotional Intelligence Assessment & EQ 360 to further support client growth. He also holds an M.A. in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Servant-Leadership from Gonzaga University, and will continue his studies in Gonzaga's Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies. He serves on the Board of Directors for ICF Washington State as Secretary & Director of Coaching Equity. Additionally, he serves as a lululemon ambassador, representing the values of Sweat, Grow, & Connect in the community.

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Adam is based in Spokane, WA. He is a CrossFit-Level 1 trainer, has lived in five different states, and enjoys hiking, reading, a sweaty workout, and chocolate chip cookies.

About: Text
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