The 5th Quarter Podcast with Sandy Adams

 In the newest episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast – On the Sideline, Sandy Adams sits down with Dr. Sally G. Parish, Vice Provost at the University of Memphis and Superintendent of University Schools.

Dr. Parish has spent years studying leadership identity development, particularly in student athletes. Her research challenges the traditional idea that leadership begins when someone receives a title or formal role. Instead, leadership identity begins forming much earlier through experiences that shape confidence, mindset, and purpose.

Before returning to Memphis, Dr. Parish launched an award-winning leadership development program for student athletes and taught leadership courses at the collegiate level. Her doctoral research explored how athletes develop leadership differently from traditional leadership models, identifying key factors such as growth mindset, grit, and competitive purpose.

Today, she applies many of those insights while leading the University of Memphis school system, which has grown from a small elementary program into a comprehensive K–12 district with multiple campuses and more than 55 athletic teams.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Dr. Parish’s journey from a small town in Tennessee to leading the University of Memphis school district
• How early sports experiences can shape leadership identity
• The research behind leadership identity development in student athletes
• Why many athletes struggle with identity when their playing careers end
• The importance of strong mentors and role models in youth sports
• How helping young people understand who they are — not just what they do — prepares them for the future

Dr. Parish also shares insights from her experience coaching a 4th and 5th grade girls basketball team, where she focuses on building confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills that extend far beyond the game.

This conversation explores the connection between sports, leadership development, and identity, and why the environments we create for young people can shape how they see themselves for years to come.

🎧 Listen to the episode and learn why leadership identity often starts forming long before someone ever holds a leadership title.