About

Dan Kenney is a higher education professional who knows his purpose in life is coaching. He has been a basketball coach, director of athletics, and chief of staff. In each of those positions he has led teams. He has been at four NCAA Division I and II universities. They include East Carolina University, Western Carolina University, Winthrop University, and UNC Pembroke.

He spent most of his career at UNC Pembroke before retiring in 2018. His last six years he served as the university’s Chief of Staff where he was heavily involved in coaching the senior executive team and involved in a number of strategic initiatives including NC Promise.

While retired Dan was approached often about helping friends, former colleagues, businesses, and non-profits with executive searches or leadership training needs. In 2019 he founded Coach4aday LLC to formalize his role as a search consultant & leadership coach. He and his wife Mira are the two members of this S corporation registered with North Carolina’s Secretary of State.

In each role Dan realized the importance of leadership fundamentals on teamwork. He determined that the one common trait of championship teams was they all achieved results. He has been a student of the techniques, habits, and behaviors that leaders of championship teams possessed. He truly wants everyone to experience the joys of being part of a championship team.

Every day he writes a daily blog post on 30-day challenges, leadership, teamwork, or living a happy and productive life. In addition to his blog, he has delivered keynote addresses, conducted numerous executive searches, made leadership presentations, and conducted seminars for various businesses, non-profits, athletic departments, churches, and civic organizations.

He is a member of both the Peach Belt Conference and UNC Pembroke Hall of Fames and was bestowed North Carolina’s highest honor the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2018. In 2024 he was selected as a NCAA Division II Gold Award Finalist. He is currently serves on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and Kiwanis of Robeson Lumberton.

Dan resides in Lumberton NC with his wife of 43 years Mira. They have five adult children and two grandchildren. In addition to his passion about coaching Dan is a golfer, a former deacon & elder at his church, a craft beer aficionado, traveler, participant in 30 Day Challenges, and a collector of great friends.