About
Coach Dwayne Shackleford Sr.
Founder – Shackleford Basketball & Books | Athletic Director | Coach | Mentor
Born and raised in Southeast Washington, D.C., Coach Dwayne Shackleford Sr. has built his life around basketball, education, and youth empowerment. A product of Anacostia High School, he became one of the city’s top players, earning Washington Post All-Met, All-DCIAA First Team, and USA Today All-American Honorable Mention honors as a senior. One of D.C.-area best shooters in one season he hit 79 three-pointers, Shackleford capped off his high school career by competing in the prestigious Capital Classic All-Star Game.
He continued his playing career at Allegany College (Cumberland, MD), where he averaged 21.4 points per game as a sophomore, earning NJCAA Division I All-American, All-Region XX, and All-Maryland JUCO First Team honors. Shackleford set a school record with 114 made three-pointers, helping lead the Trojans to the Maryland JUCO regular-season title and their 17th Region XX Championship. After earning his Associate Degree in Science, he transferred to the University of Southern California (USC), where he became a standout point guard in the Pac-10 Conference, competing against future NBA players like Nate Robinson, Aaron Brooks, and Jordan Farmar. While at USC, he earned the Joe Barbato Award twice for the team’s best free-throw percentage and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology.
Following college, Shackleford embarked on a successful professional basketball career, playing across America, Europe, and Asia, including stints in Germany, Venezuela, Qatar, and Iran, as well as in the NBA D-League. His global experience fueled his passion for giving back and inspired his next chapter—coaching and mentoring the next generation.
With over 15 years of coaching and leadership experience, Coach Shackleford is now an award-winning educator and mentor dedicated to empowering student-athletes in underserved communities. As the Founder of Shackleford Basketball & Books, he created a transformative program that integrates elite basketball training, academic enrichment, and nutritional education—equipping youth with the tools to succeed both on and off the court.
Currently serving as the Athletic Director and Head Varsity Basketball Coach at Friendship Tech Prep in Washington, D.C., Shackleford has built one of the city’s premier programs. His teams have captured seven DC PCSAA Championships, while he has earned five DC PCSAA Coach of the Year honors and was recognized as the DCIAA Girls Coach of the Year after leading Anacostia High School’s Girls Varsity to a DCIAA Championship. Many of his players have gone on to earn All-Met, All-State, and Player of the Year honors, while maintaining some of the highest academic GPAs among school athletic programs.
Beyond his school leadership, Shackleford runs the What It Takes Training Program, where he has trained elite athletes—including NBA players Brandon Jennings, Nick Young, and JaMychal Green—and hosts youth camps serving over 100 participants weekly. Through his team of dedicated coaches and mentors, he emphasizes character, discipline, academics, and leadership, ensuring every player grows as both an athlete and a person.
A proud USC alumnus, Coach Shackleford remains driven by one mission: to use sports as a tool to unlock educational and life-changing opportunities for youth who need them most. By bridging the gap between talent and access, he continues to inspire, empower, and shape the next generation of student-athletes—one practice, one lesson, and one book at a time.
True Champion!
