About

Stephen Mackey, better known to tens of thousands of students and educators as Coach Mackey, is a player development coach, and Wall Street Journal Best Selling author, based in Texas.

In January 2017, Mackey asked the question: “What would it take to help one million athletes and coaches connect the dots between sports and life?” The answer to that question became 2Words Character Development. Built on the Six Pillars of a Championship Character—Toughness, Integrity, Belief, Excellence, Effort, and Service— 2Words has become one of the top leadership and character curriculums in the country; and in 2021, became the official character development curriculum of the Texas High School Coaches Association.

As a keynote speaker, Mackey has an uncanny ability to connect with audiences of all backgrounds through humor, timeless wisdom, and an infectious energy. Drawing upon the lessons learned as a coach and entrepreneur, the people he meets, and the teams he serves, Mackey helps teams, organizations, and businesses build a Culture of Character.

Mackey’s first book, coauthored with Damon West, is called The Locker Room: How Great Teams Heal Hurts, Overcome Adversity, and Build Unity (Wiley Publishing), and debuted on the Wall Street Journal Best Sellers List in May of 2022.

Mackey is a first-generation college graduate with a B.S. from Texas A&M University and a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. Mackey is currently working on a Doctorate of Ministry, also at Fuller. Among his many accomplishments, Mackey is most proud of his role as a devoted husband to his wife, Teressa, and father to their four kids.