Founder

Coach Benjamin Okiwe, who wanted to address the needs of low income, inner city student athletes, founded Young Savants in 1999, although Young Savants got off of the ground in 1993. Coach Okiwe grew up in the crux of Boston. He grew up in substandard conditions of poverty and was raised by a single mother. However, throughout his life, he discovered indicators that gave him motivation, instead of hopelessness. He studied hard at school, worked hard to supplement his family’s income, and trained hard in athletics. As a graduate of Brandeis University, Coach Okiwe became a high school educator and coach. As an experienced high school basketball coach, he was challenged by the concept that students, who may excel on the basketball court, often need assistance to apply the same work ethic, enthusiasm, and commitment in other areas of their everyday life and planning for their future. He resigned his full time job as an educator at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School in June 2006 and continued to serve as the head boys’ varsity basketball coach in order to pursue his passion for developing Young Savants. Most recently, Coach Okiwe stepped down as the varsity basketball coach at L-S to consecrate all of his free time to the Young Savants’ mission. Using his life as a role model for students, Coach Okiwe is dedicated to helping students “unlock the many doors that hardship has closed in his neighborhood.”