Inspiring the Next Generation
Building Healthier Lives Through Sports & Leadership
Sports & Leadership Academy exists to inspire youth through sports to live healthier lives and become innovators, leaders, and change agents in their communities.
Our Mission
Inspiring the Next Generation
Through sports, mentorship, academics, and leadership development, Sports & Leadership Academy helps young people grow into healthier, stronger, and more impactful leaders in their communities.
“Our mission is to inspire the next generation through sports to live healthier lives, and to be innovators and change agents in their communities.”
Who We Are
Sports and Leadership Academy is a 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organization (Tax ID# 85-3819400) that forms partnerships with local high schools and technical schools to support student-athletes through training, conditioning, and development.
What We Provide
Beyond athletic development, we also provide a space for academic tutoring and place strong emphasis on academic excellence, moral courage, and ethical standards for continued access to our facilities and programs.
Our goal: to develop student-athletes who are not only stronger in sports, but also more disciplined, responsible, and prepared to lead in life.
Vision & Purpose
Training the Whole Person
Our vision and purpose are rooted in helping young people grow physically, mentally, emotionally, academically, and socially through sports, mentorship, and community support.
Vision
We empower youth through sports, leadership development, education, and positive community support — helping them reach their full potential and make a difference.
Purpose
To train the whole person by developing athletic ability, academic responsibility, moral courage, teamwork, and leadership skills that prepare youth for long-term success.
Our Pillars
We live to Serve.
Our culture is our built-out system — who we are as leaders will manifest itself down to the people we serve.
01
Trust
We aim to earn the trust of our community and teach our youth how to be trustworthy. We also believe that trust is indispensable in building a culture that promotes teamwork and good sportsmanship — Trust the Process.
02
Transformation
We believe in the resilience and potential of youth. By investing in the development of each individual’s physical, emotional, intellectual, and moral well-being, we equip them with the necessary tools to flourish as productive citizens.
03
Leadership
Believing in the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” we seek to cultivate agents of peace and justice. These community leaders will be trained as nonviolent advocates for justice and equality.
04
Courage
We develop young men and women who will be courageous and gracious in victory and defeat.
05
Respect
We believe every individual has a unique story, and we value their experiences and perspectives.
06
Results
We do not make excuses. “Can’t” is not in our vocabulary. We must, we will, and we will find a way is the language we speak.
07
Legacy
The historic narrative has been one that has victimized us. We believe now is the time for a re-write. We are active agents of our individual and collective tomorrow. We will work, pray, and work again for a better tomorrow. That is our legacy.
Meet the Founders
Built by Leaders Who Live to Serve
Sports & Leadership Academy was founded by leaders whose lives were shaped by faith, service, sports, education, and a deep commitment to helping the next generation.
Founders of Sports & Leadership Academy
A shared vision to use sports, mentorship, and leadership development as a platform for youth transformation.
01
Frankie Miamen
Frankie Miamen’s life mission is built around service. His belief that true greatness is found in serving others became a foundation for Sports & Leadership Academy.
Born in Liberia during a time of civil war, Frankie’s journey eventually led him to the United States, where sports became a powerful force for discipline, education, leadership, and opportunity.
Read Frankie’s story
From a young age, Frankie felt called to give back to youth. His competitive spirit led him into academics and athletics, including basketball, football, soccer, and track.
By seventh grade, he gained recognition as one of the top urban athletes in his state and was invited to represent the U.S. overseas in basketball. That experience helped him believe that with determination, anything was possible.
During college, Frankie learned the business and operations side of sports through an internship with the Tulsa Shock, a WNBA franchise. He later worked with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Basketball Academy, gaining experience in youth engagement, basketball operations, analytics, scouting, and player development.
With over 15 years of experience in professional sports and youth development, Frankie continues his mission through SALA by helping young people build discipline, accountability, determination, and leadership.
02
Gabriel Sekou Kromah Jr.
Gabriel Sekou Kromah Jr.’s story is shaped by resilience, family sacrifice, faith, education, and the game of football, which changed his life forever.
After leaving Liberia as a young boy, Gabriel spent years separated from his mother. Football became a path that helped him grow, focus, and pursue education.
Read Gabriel’s story
Gabriel’s father was given an opportunity to bring his family to America for a better life during the hardship of the civil war in Liberia. Gabriel, his sisters, and his father came to the United States while his mother and younger brother remained behind temporarily.
Football helped Gabriel continue his education from Robbinsdale Cooper High School to Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minnesota, and later to Wingate University in North Carolina, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree.
During his college years, Gabriel was tested physically and mentally, but his faith helped him keep going. He later returned to Minnesota, married Karina Onumah, and continued growing in faith and leadership.
In December 2020, Gabriel returned to Liberia for the first time since leaving in 1999. Seeing the hardship, poverty, and pain many people faced inspired him to work with his brother and partner Frankie Miamen to build something meaningful through Sports & Leadership Academy.
“Sports became more than a game — it became a pathway for discipline, leadership, education, service, and purpose.”
Sports & Leadership AcademyS.A.L.A 2026 Staff Bios
The People Behind the Mission
Meet the board members, leaders, coaches, coordinators, and global team members helping Sports & Leadership Academy serve youth through sports, education, mentorship, leadership, and community impact.
Our team brings together educators, coaches, operations professionals, creatives, and community leaders committed to developing youth locally and internationally.