Meet Michael DANIELS | Your Athletic Mentor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael DANIELS and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
Other than working for myself, the most important decision I’ve made that contributed to my success was fully trusting God with my journey. My faith has guided every transition, from being on the court as a coach to now expanding my impact beyond it. Today, I focus on developing young people not just as athletes, but as leaders in life. I do this through my PACCEE program—Passion, Accountability, Control, Confidence, Energy, and Effort—which I’ve built into classes, eBooks, and mentorship opportunities. These principles give students and families a roadmap for growth that applies on the court, in the classroom, and in everyday life. Stepping away from direct coaching wasn’t easy, but by trusting God and leaning into PACCEE, I know I’m offering something greater: long-term development that lasts beyond the game.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m Coach Mike Daniels Sr., and my journey has been all about learning how to transition through life’s phases while bringing people along with me. On the field and on the court, I was always the glue guy—the one who connected, supported, and lifted others up.

As As a dual-sport athlete, I learned discipline and resilience early, but life brought even bigger lessons when I became a father at 19. Raising my son while chasing my own dreams forced me to grow up fast and taught me accountability in real time. At the same time, stepping away from competitive basketball for almost a decade reminded me that athletics isn’t only about the game—it’s about the values it instills. Those values stayed with me, guiding my growth as both a 19-year-old boy dad and, later at 30, a devoted girl dad. Learning to balance these seasons of fatherhood and identity shaped me into the man and mentor I am today.
From there, I leaned into education, leveraging my degrees in Criminal Justice and Accounting, along with my MBA in Organizational Leadership, to grow into a transparent, authentic, and transformative leader. Now, I’ve taken those lessons into mentorship—helping student-athletes close the gaps they face, whether it’s academics, athletics, or even learning how to thrive in family life.

What I want people to know about me and my brand is simple: with PACCEE—Passion, Accountability, Control, Confidence, Energy, and Effort—you can win the race. No matter how long or hard the journey feels, these principles give you the foundation to build faith, resilience, and success in every area of life.

I’ve been blessed to gain experience across revenue management, banking, UX/UI design, user research, and teaching, and I use all of that to help others map their journey and grow into who they’re meant to be. That’s why I’m now stepping into public speaking, with several books on the way through Kindle and Amazon—and soon, I’ll be bringing this message to a stage near you.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
For me, a week-long trip depends on the vibe—sometimes it’s family-focused, sometimes it’s a night out with friends, and sometimes it’s discovering new communities through food and culture. Within my brand, I also branch out into food reviews because I believe restaurants and environments tell powerful stories about family, connection, and culture.

This past summer, traveling with my son for his Nike EYBL basketball team gave us the chance to explore a lot of cities, and by far one of my favorite trips was Kansas City—we actually went twice. We stumbled on a thrift convention, visited a spot that housed multiple restaurants under one roof, and what I loved most was how it created a fine-niche community where everyone came together around the table. Of course, we also played basketball while we were there—that’s always part of the experience.

So, if my best friend came into town, I’d want to create the same type of itinerary: a mix of good food, good people, and a community experience that reflects healthy, fun, and family-centered living. That could mean a night out in a vibrant restaurant space, a cultural event, or just hooping and connecting with local families.

And for anyone looking to showcase those types of environments—restaurants, venues, or experiences that align with family, fun, and faith-driven living—I invite them to connect with me through this link so I can feature them in an exposé or blog: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHx7GPh8HgNZ-a8etG2UMoOn2s4S7tizpr-nvXlVatNRFa5A/viewform

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
All glory goes to God—without Him, I am nothing. I am grateful to my father, mother, two sisters, nephew, son, daughter, and my children’s mothers for their constant love and support.

Special thanks to my mentor, Stephen Burns, along with Miles Brandon and Charles McMillan, for their leadership and guidance throughout my journey.

I also honor the great coaches and staff who shaped me, including Jeff Clarkson, Kevin McGill, Cole Johnson, Matthew Wester, Julius Glosson, Naaman Forest administration and staff, GISD administration, paraprofessionals, and the many coaching staffs I’ve had the privilege of learning from.

Much love to the City of Garland and Parks and Recreation, Granger Recreation Center, Prairie View A&M, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity ( Eta Gamma, Rho Nu Lambda, and Alpha Sigma Lambda) for the roles they’ve played in my growth.

Finally, to those unnamed but never forgotten—thank you.

Website: https://linktr.ee/coachmiked

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachmikedaniels

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachmikedaniels/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachMikeDaniels/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachmikedaniels

Other: https://linktr.ee/coachmiked

Image Credits
📸 Photo Credits

FYI Sports Academy

NTX Jaguars

Paul Daniels

Stephen Burns

Coach Sarah Gayler

NFHS Basketball

Jackson Middle School

PACCEE Program

South Sudan National Player – Piath Gabriel

Michael Daniels Jr.

Daniels Family

Andrea Polk & SanMar Corporation

Sellers Middle School

South Garland High School

Webb Middle School

Garland Youth Basketball Organization

Austin Middle School

Coyle Middle School

Adam Schmitz

Amare Griffen