Top athletes who were coached by their parents

Behind many elite athletes, there’s often a key figure who shaped them from the ground up —and sometimes that figure was right in their own family. Here’s a look at some all-time greats whose paths to glory were paved by a unique parent-coach dynamic, molding both their talent and mental toughness from an early age.

• Coach: Saša Dončić (father)
• Accomplishments: NBA All-Star, EuroLeague MVP, Multiple NBA Records

Luka’s father, Saša, a former professional basketball player in Europe, began teaching Luka the game’s intricacies from a young age, helping him develop a high basketball IQ and versatile skill set well beyond his years.

Growing up under Saša’s guidance, Luka not only honed his advanced ball-handling and court vision, but also cultivated the mental toughness required to play against older, more experienced competition in Europe, as Medium reported.

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• Coach: Jos Verstappen (father)
• Accomplishments: 3 World Championships (2021, 2022, 2023), Youngest Driver to Start an F1 Race

Jos Verstappen, himself a former F1 driver, began coaching Max in karting when Max was only four years old. Known for his rigorous and sometimes brutal training style, Jos ensured Max was equipped with a razor-sharp focus and intense mental toughness.

This foundation propelled Max to reach F1 at just 17, making him the youngest driver ever. Jos’s training, though challenging, built a champion-level resilience and technical skill that helped Max take the sport by storm, securing multiple world championships and setting new standards of excellence in Formula 1.

• Coach: Emmanuel "Mike" Agassi (father)
• Accomplishments: 8 Grand Slam Titles, Olympic Gold Medal, Former World No. 1

Andre Agassi’s father, Mike, was a former Olympic boxer from Iran who dedicated himself to making Andre a tennis champion from day one. Mike’s strict and high-pressure approach included having Andre hit thousands of balls daily from a custom-built ball machine called "the dragon."

While Andre later opened up about the toll this upbringing took on him, especially in his book 'Open', Mike’s relentless drive undeniably played a central role in shaping Agassi’s fiery competitiveness, ultimately helping him secure his place among the tennis greats.

• Coach: Roger White (father)
• Accomplishments: 3 Olympic Gold Medals, X Games Dominance

Roger White took Shaun to his first competitions and recognized his potential, balancing a demanding work schedule to travel with him, as Essentially Sports reported.

As a family, the Whites would live out of a van in order to get Shaun the competition experience necessary to reach the top. Roger’s guidance, as well as his resilience in supporting Shaun’s early career, laid the foundation for Shaun to become the most decorated snowboarder in history.

• Coach: Jim Pierce (father)
• Accomplishments: 2 Grand Slam Singles Titles, World No. 3 Ranking, Fed Cup Champion with France

Not all of these parent-child coaching relationships are entirely positive, with Mary and Jim Pierce being a prime example. Mary’s career was heavily influenced by her father Jim, who coached her with an exceptionally intense and at times controversial approach.

Known for his strict discipline and demanding expectations, Jim often pushed Mary to her physical and emotional limits. While their relationship was tumultuous and eventually led to a public separation, his influence undeniably shaped her powerful playing style and fierce competitiveness.

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• Coach: Wellesley Bolt (father)
• Accomplishments: 8 Olympic Gold Medals, World Record Holder (100m, 200m)

Wellesley Bolt didn’t have a formal coaching resume, but he played a pivotal role in Usain’s early years by encouraging his love for sports and speed.

It's fair to say the coaches he would work with later in his career, like Glen Mills, would take him to that next level, but Wellesley provided Usain with a sense of pride and focus that carried him through his historic career.

• Coach: Gloria James (mother)
• Accomplishments: 4 NBA Championships, 4 MVP Awards, All-Time NBA Scoring Leader

While LeBron's mother, Gloria, wasn’t his official “coach” in the traditional sense, she was undoubtedly his guiding force. Gloria’s emphasis on resilience, discipline, and integrity helped LeBron through challenging beginnings.

She inspired and drove him to put in the work to be the best at what he did, which amounted to a lot of time on the court, according to Sportskeeda. She ultimately laid the groundwork for LeBron’s relentless work ethic and incredible longevity in the NBA.

• Coach: Peter Graf (father)
• Accomplishments: 22 Grand Slam Titles, 377 Weeks as World No. 1

Peter Graf began coaching Stefanie at age three, turning her into one of the most consistent and dominant players in tennis history. Known for rigorous practice routines, he demanded excellence from Stefanie, who delivered with a career that stands among the all-time best.

Their relentless pursuit of perfection propelled her to an unprecedented 377 weeks as world No. 1. She is also the only person to achieve the Golden Slam – winning the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open and an Olympic gold medal in a calendar year.

• Coach: Richard Williams (father)
• Accomplishments: 30+ Grand Slam Singles Titles Combined

Richard Williams famously crafted a 78-page plan to turn his daughters into tennis superstars before they could even walk. He moved the family to Compton, where he drilled them on gritty, unforgiving public courts, as told by Time magazine.

Richard’s unconventional training methods – as dramatized in the Hollywood biopic 'King Richard' combined with an intense belief in their talent, helped Venus and Serena not only reach the top but also redefine women’s tennis.

• Coach: Earl Woods (father)
• Accomplishments: 15 Major Championships, 82 PGA Tour Wins

Earl Woods was as much a motivator as he was a coach to Tiger, starting him on the course as early as age two. Earl himself came from an athletic background and was the first black baseball player to play for Kansas State University, as Medium recounted.

That knowledge, coupled with his military background, saw Earl push his son to his absolute limits on the golf course. Though it was hardly fun and games, this father-son coaching foundation led to one of the most legendary careers in sports history.

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