{"id":3647,"date":"2025-03-17T11:45:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T11:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/summit-of-self.com\/?p=3647"},"modified":"2025-05-15T11:12:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T15:12:57","slug":"spotlight-story-ep-6-miles-lester","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thechampionscorner.org\/?p=3647","title":{"rendered":"Spotlight Story Ep. 6 &#8211; Miles Lester"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch\/Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, &amp; X!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: The Champions Corner Podcast: Spotlight Story Ep. 6 - Miles Lester\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"624\" height=\"351\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/episode\/4DLZt509AdfvwI4MRG37np\/video?si=qN_ce_3kSKuItpeWHOLU9Q&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Champions Corner Podcast: Spotlight Story Ep. 6 - Miles Lester\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PzWybWM9jV4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udea8 New Podcast Episode\ud83d\udea8<br><br>From Rice to Wake Forest, from player to coach\u2014Miles Lester\u2019s journey is all about perseverance, leadership, and the love of the game. \ud83c\udfc0\ud83d\udd25<br><br>He shares lessons from the ACC, coaching under Kelvin Sampson at Houston, and how he\u2019s shaping the next\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/L2p82AB6Lv\">pic.twitter.com\/L2p82AB6Lv<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Champions Corner | Empowering Growth, Together | (@Summit_of_Self) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Summit_of_Self\/status\/1901600477835317562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 17, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-3647-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/anchor.fm\/s\/ffe31e44\/podcast\/play\/99952998\/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-2-17%2F396695923-44100-2-e1e00ce56824f.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/anchor.fm\/s\/ffe31e44\/podcast\/play\/99952998\/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-2-17%2F396695923-44100-2-e1e00ce56824f.mp3\">https:\/\/anchor.fm\/s\/ffe31e44\/podcast\/play\/99952998\/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-2-17%2F396695923-44100-2-e1e00ce56824f.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Podcast Description<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In this episode of The Champions Corner: Spotlight Stories, we sit down with Miles Lester, a former collegiate point guard turned coach, whose journey through the game is nothing short of inspiring. From his early days at Rice University to competing in the ACC at Wake Forest, Miles embraced every challenge, mastering his role as a teammate, leader, and student of the game. His perseverance and commitment led him to earn a scholarship in his final year, contributing to the biggest turnaround in ACC history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After hanging up his jersey, Miles transitioned seamlessly into coaching, starting as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Houston. Under the legendary Kelvin Sampson, he was immersed in a culture of excellence, learning the intricacies of player development, video coordination, and what it takes to build a championship program. His experiences, from working in the NBA Summer League to sitting in on coaches&#8217; meetings, provided him with a wealth of knowledge that he now brings to Drury University as an Assistant Coach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout this episode, Miles shares the invaluable lessons he\u2019s learned\u2014from leadership as a point guard to the work ethic required at the highest levels of the game. He opens up about the unique culture at Houston, the transition from player to coach, and how coaching is more than just a job\u2014it\u2019s a calling to serve others and make a difference. Tune in for an inspiring conversation filled with wisdom, basketball insights, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Takeaways &amp; Lessons Learned<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Choosing Rice University<\/strong> \u2013 Miles valued both academics and athletics, understanding the long-term benefits of a strong education alongside his basketball career.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Freshman Year Challenges<\/strong> \u2013 As a young point guard, he learned the importance of leadership, adaptability, and embracing challenges early to grow as a player and teammate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advice to His Younger Self<\/strong> \u2013 Live in the moment more and embrace the present. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Transferring to Wake Forest<\/strong> \u2013 Making the leap as a preferred walk-on required humility, belief in himself, and a willingness to work without immediate rewards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mindset at Wake Forest<\/strong> \u2013 His approach was to master his role, be the best teammate possible, and earn respect through effort and attitude.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Earning a Scholarship<\/strong> \u2013 His perseverance and dedication were rewarded, proving that staying the course and maximizing every opportunity leads to success.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Beyond Basketball \u2013 Off-Court Growth<\/strong> \u2013 Pursuing jobs and internships while balancing sports prepared him for life after college, showing the importance of networking and diverse experiences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Post-Grad Job Search &amp; NBA Aspirations<\/strong> \u2013 He initially set his sights on an NBA coaching\/front office career, but opportunities often come in unexpected ways.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Volunteering at Houston<\/strong> \u2013 Taking an unpaid role in video and player development was a leap of faith, demonstrating the importance of betting on yourself and working hard in entry-level roles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Graduate Assistant Year Two<\/strong> \u2013 Gaining experience in coaching meetings and working under Kelvin Sampson helped shape his understanding of high-level coaching and program building.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Houston\u2019s Culture &amp; Work Ethic<\/strong> \u2013 He learned firsthand what separates elite programs\u2014accountability, toughness, and daily commitment to excellence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Transition to Drury University<\/strong> \u2013 Becoming an Assistant Coach gave him the platform to develop players, mentor young athletes, and continue his passion for the game.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advice for Young Professionals<\/strong> \u2013 Find your passion, be willing to start at the bottom, and commit to learning. The transition from sports to a career is about applying the same discipline, resilience, and mindset that led to success on the court.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This episode is packed with great lessons, that any current &amp; former student-athlete can apply to their life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What&#8217;s Next?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The journey doesn\u2019t stop here! Our next&nbsp;<em>Champions Corner: Spotlight Stories<\/em>&nbsp;<em>Podcast<\/em>&nbsp;episode drops Monday, March 31st\u2014stay tuned for another inspiring conversation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this episode of The Champions Corner: Spotlight Stories, we sit down with Miles Lester, a former collegiate point guard turned coach, to dive into his journey through basketball and beyond. From playing at Rice University and Wake Forest to earning a scholarship and contributing to the biggest turnaround in ACC history, Miles shares the lessons he learned on and off the court. We discuss his transition into coaching, his time at the University of Houston under Kelvin Sampson, and the winning culture that sets Houston apart. Now an Assistant Coach at Drury University, Miles reflects on leadership, work ethic, and the impact of coaching as a way to serve others. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about perseverance, growth, and the pursuit of excellence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3648,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"saved_in_kubio":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,2],"tags":[75,67,76,68,77,78,79,51,80,64,31,58,81,82,83,84],"class_list":["post-3647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-champions-corner-overall","category-champions-corner-spotlight-stories-podcast","tag-acc","tag-basketball","tag-big-12","tag-coaching","tag-culture","tag-graduate-assistant","tag-houston","tag-leadership","tag-podcast","tag-point-guard","tag-resilience","tag-rice-university","tag-spotlight-stories","tag-team","tag-wake-forest","tag-work-ethic"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechampionscorner.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechampionscorner.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechampionscorner.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechampionscorner.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechampionscorner.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3647"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thechampionscorner.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3686,"href":"https:\/\/thechampionscorner.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3647\/revisions\/3686"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechampionscorner.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechampionscorner.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechampionscorner.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechampionscorner.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}