About Dan Spainhour

Dan Spainhour has more than 34 years of high school and college coaching experience. He has received numerous awards during his coaching career, including three state championships and twenty coach of the year honors. His teams have collected more than 500 victories and has won nearly 70% of his games. In 2008, Spainhour returned to high school coaching after serving as the director of basketball operations for Florida State University.

At Florida State, Spainhour was involved in all phases of the day-to-day operations of the men's basketball office. He handled the on-campus recruiting, recruiting mailings, office and team fiscal matters, team travel, academic development, dining and housing contracts and served as the director of the annual Leonard Hamilton basketball camp for boys. He helped led the Seminoles to the quarterfinals of the National Invitational Tournament in 2005. He also coached at the University of Miami where he worked under current Florida State coach, Leonard Hamilton. During his time at Miami he helped lead the Hurricanes to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 38 years. His teams have won the prestigious Frank Spencer tournament twice and have been to the state playoffs every year he has coached.

Coach Spainhour is considered to be one of the top teachers of basketball fundamentals in the country as is evident from what top coaches say about him. Coach Mike Krzyzewski had this to say about him: "It is a privilege to endorse Dan Spainhour's coaching and teaching ability. I have found him to not only be extremely knowledgeable about the game but he also has an amazing way of communicating with youngsters. It is a great combination!" while Leonard Hamilton, Florida State’s basketball coach said this of Dan; "Dan Spainhour is an excellent basketball coach. He has a tremendous understanding of the game. His teaching ability makes him one of the finest coaches in the game.”

In 2017, Spainhour was selected to speak at the North Carolina High School coaches clinic, one of only two high school coaches to receive such an honor.

Spainhour also has experience as Athletic Director having served in that capacity at West Stokes and Bishop McGuinness High School. As Athletic Director of West Stokes High School he managed 32 athletic teams including scheduling, budgeting, hiring of staff, travel arrangements, academic enforcement and facilities coordinator. He also organized, directed and established funding and sponsorship for the formation of a new high school athletic program.

Spainhour was the founder of Educational Coaching & Business Communications, a company that later merged with The Leadership Publishing Team. He is the editor of The Coaching and Leadership Journals as well as the author of several coaching, leadership and motivational books. He is a recipient of the Governor's Laurel Wreath Award as an Ambassador of Athletics in the State of North Carolina. Spainhour earned his bachelor's degree in health and physical education from High Point College and his Master's Degree in sports administration from the University of Miami.

What Others Say About Dan Spainhour

"It is a privilege to endorse Dan Spainhour’s coaching and teaching ability. I have found him to not only be extremely knowledgeable about the game but he also has an amazing way of communicating with youngsters. It is a great combination!” --Mike Krzyzewski, Head Coach Duke University

"There isn’t just one thing that sets Dan Spainhour apart from other coaches. His ability to communicate, to teach more than just the game of basketball and his desire to make others better people are just some of the things that make him special. He is an organized, intelligent and savvy basketball person who has the ability to communicate the game to his players in a succinct way for them to be able to absorb the information. He has a tremendous understanding of the game. His teaching ability makes him one of the finest coaches in the game.I could tell that he possessed many of the characteristics of a successful person. I always knew he’d be a successful coach.” --Leonard Hamilton, Head Coach Florida State University

“Dan Spainhour is a terrific coach and educator. I had the pleasure of working several years with him, and I know that his knowledge and enthusiasm are first-rate.” --Tommy Amaker, Head Coach Harvard University

"Dan Spainhour is someone I've known for over 25 years. His teaching ability, his care for young people and his passion for the game of basketball make him a special coach” --Jerry Wainwright