Lead Like a Champ: Chuck Wiley Speaks on Lessons in Leadership and Service

You grew up in Baton Rouge and attended LSU as a student-athlete. What did your LSU experience mean to you, and how did it shape the person you became? 
My LSU experience meant a lot to me. Growing up in North Baton Rouge, I became familiar with LSU in high school, but I never thought I'd attend until they started recruiting me for athletics. However, becoming the first person in my family to graduate from LSU made that opportunity even more meaningful. It showed young people in my community that, regardless of where you come from or the circumstances you face, you can succeed anywhere if you believe in yourself, work hard and stay disciplined. 
 
In addition, LSU helped shape my confidence, toughness, resilience and commitment to excellence. At LSU, we learn to compete, lead, overcome adversity and win in the classroom, on the field and in life. Those qualities became part of my DNA, and I have carried those qualities with me throughout my NFL career, education and service to others. 

Looking back at your time at LSU, are there particular professors, coaches, mentors or experiences that had a lasting impact on you? 
I was fortunate to have great people in my life and at LSU who saw more in me than just a football player. Their investment helped prepare me not only to compete professionally but also to become an educator, mentor, leader, and staple in my community. Mr. Verge Ausberry and Dr. Tommy Karam, who served as academic advisors, were a one-two punch in academic and life-skills support while I was a student-athlete at LSU. They had a tremendous impact on my development as a student-athlete. In addition, Mrs. Shelly Mullenix and Mr. Jack Marucci were more than athletic trainers; they became mentors who taught me about balance, discipline, professionalism and caring for people beyond athletics. Moreover, Dr. Carolyn Collins and Dr. Dennis Landin also had a meaningful impact on my LSU experience. Mr. Derek Vaughn, the manager at the African American Cultural Center on campus, also had a meaningful impact on my LSU experience.

You went from LSU football to a seven-year NFL career and eventually into education, leadership and community service. What has been the common thread connecting those different chapters of your life? 
The common thread has always been leadership, service, discipline and helping others win or be great. Also, football gave me a platform, but education and service gave it a greater purpose. Whether I was competing at LSU, playing in the NFL, teaching students, coaching athletes, or mentoring young people, my goal or purpose has remained the same: use what I have learned and the opportunities I have been blessed with to help someone else move forward. Provide UPLIFT.

What lessons did you learn through athletics that have continued to influence your work as an educator, mentor and leader? 
Athletics taught me that talent alone is never enough. Preparation, discipline, accountability, teamwork, perseverance, character, consistency and giving 120% effort will determine how far you go. I also learned how to respond to adversity, accept coaching, compete under pressure and work with people from different backgrounds toward a common goal. Win! Nevertheless, those lessons are just as important in a classroom, workplace, family or the community as they are on a football field. 

After your NFL career, what inspired you to pursue education and devote so much of your time to mentoring others? 
My parents and grandmother were the number one reason. I did not want to disappoint them; I always wanted to make my family and community proud. Moreover, I knew football would eventually end, but my ability to make an impact didn't have to end with it. Education had opened doors throughout my life, so continuing my education was a way to prepare for the next chapter and show young people that learning should never stop. I also wanted young athletes to understand that their identity and potential extend far beyond sports. A jersey or fame may give you a platform, but your education, character, leadership and service determine what you do with that platform. 

You founded the 99 Wayz 2 Win Foundation more than 20 years ago. What inspired you to create the organization? 
I founded the 99 Wayz 2 Win Foundation in 2001 because I wanted to use my experiences, resources and platform as a professional athlete to give young people opportunities to succeed, especially in my community. I knew talented, intelligent youth needed exposure, encouragement, mentorship, resources and someone willing to believe in them. I wanted to give them a chance. Also, I wanted to create a legacy, something that would continue long after my playing career to empower and inspire our youth, our next generation.

What does “99 Wayz 2 Win” mean to you, and how does that philosophy shape the work you do with young people? 
To me, 99 Wayz 2 Win represents the belief that there is never just one path to success; you have at least 99 ways; choose one. We all know every young person has different talents, circumstances, challenges and dreams. Also, winning may mean earning a scholarship, graduating from college, becoming a skilled professional, starting a business, serving your community, becoming a great parent or simply becoming better than you were yesterday. “Did you get better today?” is something our coaches asked daily. Our responsibility is to help UPLIFT young people discover their way to win and give them the tools, confidence, education and support to pursue it.

Your foundation focuses on mentoring, literacy, scholarships, college access and leadership development. Why are those areas particularly important to you? 
Those areas create opportunity. Literacy provides the foundation for learning. Education expands possibilities. Mentoring provides guidance. Scholarships help remove financial barriers. College and career exposure allows young people to see possibilities they may never have considered, and leadership development prepares them to positively influence others. Moreover, I want our young people to understand that where they start does not have to determine where they finish in life. 

Can you share a particular story or interaction with a young person that has stayed with you over the years? 
When I came home to visit my high school alma mater, Southern Lab High School, a kid ran up to me, gave me a big hug, and thanked me for pouring into him, the school and the football team, and for how it changed his life. He also talked about the cleats I donated because, at the time, he didn't have any. I was humbled and proud that I could help a young man who looked up to me. That moment made me feel truly blessed to have touched somebody's life. When someone you once mentored becomes a college graduate, educator, coach, parent, professional or mentor themselves, you realize the impact was never about one event. It was about planting a seed that kept growing.

What have the young people you've mentored taught you about leadership, success and/or service? 
They have taught me that leadership begins with listening and that impact requires consistency. Most young people know when you genuinely care. In fact, they don't simply need someone to tell them what to do; they need people who will show up, listen, encourage them, hold them accountable, walk alongside them, or, to sum it up, show them you care.

You've used athletics as a platform to teach young people about teamwork, discipline, character and academics. Why do you think sports can be such a powerful vehicle for those lessons? 
Sports are a classroom for life, and football is the ultimate team sport. Athletics teach you how to prepare, compete, communicate, sacrifice, handle disappointment, respect others, accept accountability and work toward something bigger than yourself. Moreover, youth may initially come because they love sports and love the game, but that allows us to teach them lessons that extend far beyond the game.

Your community work also includes health screenings, veterans' initiatives and college and career expos. What motivates you to address such a broad range of needs within communities? 
My family is my why. My father-in-law and grandfather-in-law are the biggest part of that story. My grandfather-in-law earned a Purple Heart in World War II, and my father-in-law was drafted into Vietnam; both served with honor, and both came home to little to no support or resources. They were heroes on the battlefield, but they never got the hero’s welcome they deserved. Those testimonies stayed with me, and it’s a big reason I stay committed to veterans’ initiatives today, making sure the people who served don’t get overlooked once the uniform comes off.  
 
That experience also shaped how I think about community work more broadly. Strong communities don’t come from addressing one need in isolation; they come from looking at the whole person and the whole family. We all know education matters, but so does your health, employment, career opportunity, mentorship and access to resources. Also, you can’t separate those things and expect people to thrive. Nevertheless, whether it’s connecting students with HBCUs and career pathways, running prostate cancer and glucose screenings, supporting veterans, promoting literacy or mentoring young people, the mission underneath all of it is the same: meet people where they are, put real resources in front of them and help build a pathway to a better future.

You've continued to give back to Scotlandville and the broader Baton Rouge community where you grew up. What does being able to serve your hometown mean to you? 
Serving Baton Rouge, and particularly Scotlandville, is deeply personal. Those communities helped raise me. In fact, they taught me toughness, pride, perseverance, faith, family and the importance of looking out for others. Many people in my community looked out for me. I want the youth growing up there today to see that someone can leave the neighborhood, accomplish great things and still come home to serve. Success should never make you forget where you came from. Be an inspiration!

You've also taken your service internationally through your work in Ghana. What inspired you to expand your work beyond the United States? 
That story starts with my teammate, fraternity brother, and fellow alumnus, Ofori Agboka. Back when we were students, Ofori would talk about Ghana constantly: the history, the culture, the pride of his family’s roots there. He kept telling me the same thing for years; the community could benefit from what I do: mentoring, leadership, community service. He kept inviting me to see it for myself. I finally made the trip, and it turned into something much bigger than a visit. Through my foundation, I donated sports equipment and had the chance to mentor middle school students at a local STEM school in Accra. I also introduced the kids to American football, running a small flag football camp with equipment donated by my former NFL teams. 
 
Also, what struck me most is how universal the need really is for mentorship, education, leadership, opportunity. Kids in Accra want the same things kids here want: to learn, to compete, to dream, to belong and to have someone believe in them. Moreover, taking that work to Ghana let us use education, sports, mentorship and resources to build a real bridge between communities. Furthermore, it reinforced something I believe deeply: service has no borders. 

What have you learned from your experiences serving communities in Ghana that has influenced the way you approach your work elsewhere? 
Ghana reinforced the importance of gratitude, relationships, culture, resourcefulness and community. I also quickly realized that impact is not always determined by how much you have, but by how willing you are to share what you have. 
 
It also reminded me that the youth in most settings, everywhere, respond to encouragement, opportunity, structure, genuine relationships and leadership. 

You wrote Lead Like a Champ! to teach young readers about integrity, accountability, service, perseverance and teamwork. Why were those the values you wanted to emphasize to this age group? 
Because leadership begins long before someone receives a title, children can learn early that character is what you do when no one is watching. Accountability means owning your decisions; perseverance means continuing when things become difficult; teamwork means helping others succeed; and service means using your gifts to make someone else’s life better. My fraternity inspired my book. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.'s cardinal principles, which I live by every day, are manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift. Establishing principles early will develop better leaders, citizens, teammates and human beings. 

How has your definition of success changed from when you were a college athlete to what it means to you today? 
As a young athlete, success was often measured by wins, championships, statistics, playing time, making it to the NFL and achieving personal goals. Today, my definition is much broader. 
 
Success is about impact. It is about the lives you touch, the people you help, the opportunities you create, the family and relationships you nurture, being a great husband and father and what remains because you were willing to serve. My greatest victories today are seeing other people win. Overcoming adversity, changing your circumstances already. 

You've received recognition for your service, but what moments or accomplishments are you personally most proud of? 
I'm grateful for every honor, but two stand out. The East Baton Rouge Parish Metropolitan City Council proclaimed June 26 as "Chuck Wiley Day" in Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish. Being recognized in your hometown means your community feels the impact and that you're giving back to the place that poured so much into you first. 
 
I'm also deeply proud to have received the President's Volunteer Service Award from President Obama for community service and volunteering. That one still humbles me every time I think about it. 

What continues to motivate you to serve, mentor and invest in others after so many years of doing this work? 
God. God is my motivation. 

When you think about your legacy, what do you hope the people you've taught, mentored and served will carry forward? 
To the people I mentored or served, all I can say is, "Make A Difference!" In addition, I don't want my legacy to be measured in stats, awards or titles. I want people to remember that I served, opened doors, helped others win, and uplifted my communities because I'm a bridge builder. A true leader. A devoted husband and father. An Omega Man. An LSU Tiger. Geaux Tigers!