How a former LSU walk-on is shaping a new playbook for leadership
Adam Benhayoune never set out to be the loudest voice in the room. Instead, he chose a different route. One built on presence, patience and showing up when it mattered. That approach has taken him from a quiet leader on the LSU basketball team to an emerging figure in coaching and youth development.
Now, with a degree in Management and a growing voice in the conversation around inclusion and leadership, Benhayoune is stepping into his next role. This time, he’s focused on helping others succeed by applying lessons learned during years most people didn’t see.
Early foundation in San Antonio
Benhayoune was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. From a young age, he found himself drawn to both sports and service.
“My parents always taught me to offer a hand. I would stay with coaches until they left the gym. I would volunteer with special needs every opportunity I had” he says.
While attending Sandra Day O’Connor High School, he excelled both on the court and off it. He was named Prom King, Most Athletic and earned a spot in the National Honor Society. But the title he valued most wasn’t official.
“I was the one who could be counted on,” he says. “Whether it was practice, class or volunteering, I just wanted to be reliable.”
His volunteer work with the Special Olympics and with students with special needs began in middle school and continued through high school. That work laid the groundwork for how he views leadership today.
The walk-on mindset at LSU
In 2021, Benhayoune earned a walk-on spot on the LSU men’s basketball team. Competing in the Southeastern Conference is no small feat. As a walk-on, he wasn’t offered a scholarship or promised playing time. What he did have was work ethic and discipline.
“Every day, I had to prove why I was still there,” he says. “Not to the coaches, but to myself.”
He practiced with some of the most competitive athletes in the country. He learned to lead without needing to be seen. His focus was to contribute to the team, whether it meant helping in drills, encouraging others or pushing the starters in practice.
That mindset earned him a spot on the SEC Honor Roll four years in a row. It also earned him trust within the team, even if it didn’t show up in the box score.
“There’s a role for everyone,” Benhayoune says. “You just have to understand your role and do it well.”
Turning experience into coaching
Benhayoune graduated in 2025 with a degree in Management and a specialization in Human Resources. The combination of business training and athletic experience shaped his approach to coaching.
“Coaching is more than teaching plays,” he explains. “It’s understanding personalities, reading people, and knowing how to bring the best out of someone.”
He now mentors athletes and continues to volunteer in inclusive sports. His goal is to earn a coaching role at the college level, where he can blend competitive training with personal growth strategies.
“I want to develop players in every sense,” he says. “Not just their game, but their character.”
A voice for inclusion in athletics
One of the areas Benhayoune continues to push for is more inclusion in youth and college sports. His years working with students who had special needs shaped his thinking about what teams and programs can look like.
“There’s so much value in people who aren’t always put at the front of the room,” he says. “That applies on the court too.”
According to the CDC, one in six children in the United States has a developmental disability. Benhayoune believes that more schools and programs should offer adaptive sports and build mentorship between mainstream athletes and inclusive teams.
“Everyone can lead in some way. Everyone can be included in some way. You just have to be willing to shift the system to make room.”
Practical leadership, not just titles
Throughout the interview, one message comes through clearly: leadership is not about attention. It’s about action.
“You don’t need a title to make an impact,” Benhayoune says. “Most of the time, the person leading is the one who never left the gym early.”
Whether he is organizing drills, checking in on teammates or setting up chairs at a volunteer event, Benhayoune treats every task like it matters.
“I still reflect every night,” he says. “What did I do well? Where did I fall short? That habit keeps me sharp.”
He also offers simple advice for anyone looking to lead, whether in sports, business or life: help someone else without needing credit.
Key takeaways for professionals and future leaders
Benhayoune’s story is less about basketball and more about mindset. It’s about how showing up daily with purpose can shape long-term direction. It’s about the impact of doing quiet work in visible places.
“Being on the bench gave me perspective,” he says. “And now I’m ready to take that and bring it to the sideline.”
Founder Dinis Guarda
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