WARRENSBURG, Mo. – University of Central Missouri Athletics will launch the Central Missouri Athletics Leadership Academy, sponsored by Alan & Kathleen Brandt, during the fall 2026 semester, it was announced on Thursday, August 13.

"We are thrilled to launch the Central Missouri Athletics Leadership Academy, sponsored by Alan and Kathleen Brandt. UCM Athletics is proud to be one of the few NCAA Division II athletic departments in the country, making this level of direct investment in our student-athletes," UCM Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Matt Howdeshell said. "This initiative is made possible through the incredible philanthropy of our supporters. We are deeply grateful for the generous support of Alan and Kathleen Brandt, whose investment directly impacts the future of our Mules and Jennies. We also want to express our gratitude to Jeff and Kristi Janssen. Kristi is a proud UCM alumna, and working together with them to make this vision a reality has been inspiring. Finally, special thanks to Bree Heathscott and Alex Backhaus for their hands-on leadership in facilitating these workshops and truly 'Leading the Leaders.' Together, we are setting a new standard for holistic student-athlete development."

UCM Athletics will become just the third NCAA Division II athletics program to utilize the Janssen Sports Leadership curriculum. The academy is a staple of many NCAA Division I "Power 4" programs, including Notre Dame, LSU, Michigan, Texas, North Carolina, and Stanford.

"This academy helps our student-athletes translate what they learn on the field into skills that serve them even after their playing days are over," UCM Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Success and Name, Image, and Likeness Bree Heathscott said. "Those lessons carry directly into careers, and I'm excited to help prepare our athletes not just for competition, but for life after it."

UCM will begin the sessions in the fall of 2026 with student-athletes from each sport program. Each session will cover a different leadership lesson and engage student-athlete participants in bringing the lessons back to their teams.

"Strong leaders are critical to the success of any organization. When Matt [Howdeshell] shared UCM Athletics' vision of hosting a Janssen Sports Leadership Academy to invest in the development of its student-athlete leaders, it was an easy decision for Kathleen and me to support the initiative. When I was a student, I benefited from attending various leadership programs and conferences, and this project provided an opportunity to give back and support UCM student-athletes in a meaningful way. I will consider this initiative a success if it helps develop stronger leaders, contributes to success in collegiate sport competition, and prepares student-athletes to achieve their goals long after their time at UCM," Alan Brandt said.

The Janssen model, pioneered by founder Jeff Janssen, focuses on three distinct leadership tracks:

• Emerging Leaders: Designed for a select group of "high potential"  student-athletes, the Emerging Leaders program provides prospective leaders with the insights, strategies, and skills necessary to become effective leaders on their team, on campus, and in the community. Through ongoing workshops, interactive exercises, action-learning experiences, and readings, the year-long Emerging Leaders program provides a strong foundation for student-athletes to become effective team leaders. The program's emphasis at this level is on creating effective Leaders by Example while setting the stage for Vocal Leadership.
• Veteran Leaders: Designed for team captains and veteran student-athlete leaders from all teams, the Veteran Leaders program provides established team leaders with advanced leadership training and support. The program teaches student-athletes the critical team leadership skills and insights necessary to be effective Vocal Leaders as they manage and conquer the day-to-day responsibilities and challenges of leadership.
• Lead the Leaders: Provides high-potential coaching and staff members with professional development opportunities to facilitate the Emerging Leaders and Veteran Leaders programs, providing them with everything they need to know to teach and implement the powerful, practical, and proven leadership development program to create and conduct a world-class Leadership Academy in-house, right at UCM.

"We are thrilled to partner with UCM Athletics to launch the Leadership Academy! My wife Kristi, a proud UCM graduate ('90), is especially excited about this partnership," Janssen said. "This comprehensive and cutting-edge Leadership Academy will develop strong leaders who will make a meaningful impact across all UCM athletic teams. We'll also encourage student-athletes to apply their leadership skills on campus and throughout the Warrensburg community. Ultimately, these skills will give Academy graduates a significant advantage as they move into their professional careers. We deeply appreciate the strong commitment from Matt Howdeshell, Bree Heathscott, Alex Backhaus, and Alan and Kathleen Brandt in developing UCM's next generation of leaders."

About Alan and Kathleen Brandt
Alan and Kathleen Brandt live and work in Warrensburg, Missouri, with their sons, Patrick and James. They enjoy staying active, spending time with friends and family, and traveling. Alan serves on the UCM Athletics Auction committee

About the Janssen Sports Leadership Center
Widely considered the world's top expert on Sports Leadership, Jeff Janssen is the founder and president of the Janssen Sports Leadership Center. Jeff's pioneering work in launching and conducting Leadership Academies at colleges such as Stanford, UNC, Michigan, Notre Dame, LSU, and dozens of others nationwide remains the gold standard today. Jeff has written over a dozen books on sports leadership, culture, and team building, including the popular Team Captain's Leadership Manual.