Mark Siwik and Swen Nater are co-founders of BeLikeCoach, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the teaching and development of youth through sport.

BeLikeCoach was formed by a team of experts on teaching and human development in schools, sport and business who came together to determine whether a 1974-75 research study on John Wooden, Swen’s college coach and ESPN’s Coach of the 20th Century, offered clues that might help close the gap between “what is” and “what could be” in youth sport. As the BeLikeCoach project unfolded, the team discovered Jim Huntzingers' The Root of Lean, TWI: The Origin of Kaizen and noticed startling similarities between the TWI Methodology and John Wooden's teaching methods. Learn more about this fascinating discovery and its implications for business, education and society.

Swen Nater

Swen is a 12- year ABA/NBA player, a member of two NCAA championships at UCLA under the direction of John Wooden, and coached Christian Heritage College to a national championship. Swen led the ABA and NBA in rebounding and still holds an all-time NBA rebounding record. At CHC, Swen also taught Algebra, Exercise Physiology, and other PE classes. 

Because of Swen's life-long interest in teaching, boosted by watching John Wooden, he wrote four books, John Wooden’s UCLA Offense, Pete Newell's Playing Big, and The Complete Handbook of Rebounding.. Swen is also the co-author (with UCLA's Dr. Ronald Gallimore) of You Haven't Taught Until They Have Learned , which is a  comprehensive study of Coach Woodens’ teaching methodology. 

When Mark Siwik (BLC co-founder) read the book, he called Swen. The result was the beginning of a non-profit, Be Like Coach, which noticed a lack in teaching skills in today's youth coaches. Knowing the main reason for Coach Woodens’ success was his skill in teaching, the mission of BLC was to provide training for youth coaches that will gain them skill in, not only instruction, but leadership and continuous improvement as well. The theory was, when a coach learns these skills and practices them, coaching will become easier and more efficient (lean), resulting in more production in practice, better statistical results, and more satisfied and happy players. As those things begin to emerge, the culture of that team will change into a learning organization that would continue to positively evolve.  

Mark Siwik

Mark Siwik is co-founder and executive director of BeLikeCoach, a new national nonprofit dedicated to advancing the teaching and development of youth through sport and physical education. BeLikeCoach was formed when Mark and a team of experts on teaching and human development in schools, sports and business saw an opportunity to improve sports and physical education by extending a research study on the teaching skills of John Wooden, the ESPN Coach of the Century.

Mark's legal and business career includes a federal clerkship, partnership at a leading Ohio law firm and recognition for outstanding leadership at the national, state and local levels. His business career includes developing the coaching and leadership skills of senior executives in risk management, non-profit management, strategic planning, practice group management, emotional intelligence, employee development, mentoring and occupational stress.

Alan Lambert

Alan is core team member of BeLikeCoach, a new national nonprofit dedicated to advancing the teaching and development of youth through sport and physical education.  has a unique combination of knowledge and skills in coaching science, coaching at the college and professional level, coaching education and leadership, and website development.  BeLikeCoach was formed when Alan and a team of experts on teaching and human development in schools, sports and business saw an opportunity to improve sports and physical education by extending a research study on the teaching skills of John Wooden, the ESPN Coach of the Century.

Alan's passion and commitment to effective teaching through sport began by playing basketball for Cuesta Community College in San Luis Obispo, California and Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado.  Alan went on to obtain a master's degree in Physical Education from Cal Poly (San Luis Obispo) and he did extensive work PhD work in Motor Behavior and Control at Penn State University where he also taught undergraduate and graduate courses in Motor Skills Acquisition.  After more than 20 years of coaching at the junior college, college and professional levels, Alan made Arizona his permanent home where he became the Basketball Commissioner for the Grand Canyon State Games and the 2009 Commissioner of the Year.  He serves on the Arizona Sports Council Board of Directors and is a member of the Champions Circle for the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission.

Alan is well respected for his work in coaching education.  He is a long time member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.  Alan has conducted coaching clinics at the NCAA Final Four, European Final Four, and he has participated in more than 15 senior level FIBA coaches courses in Europe and the Middle East.  He is a pioneer in using the Internet to build coaching communities and he is well known for his work to create the Basketball Highway - a coaching education site that started with one page and eight links and grew to a peak monthly usage of 500,000 unique visitors from over 200 countries and more than 3,000 pages of teaching materials.