The 2024 Little League Coach of the Year’s day job may surprise you
Michael Umpierre was never a professional athlete or coach, but his life’s work supporting children and youth inspired him to volunteer for the Capitol City Little League.
The conclusion of Little League season means another summer has come and gone all too quickly. Like his players, the 2024 Little League Coach of the Year awardee Michael Umpierre will also return to school this month, though his work at Georgetown University is never idle.
Umpierre is predominantly known to his colleagues at the McCourt School of Public Policy’s Center for Juvenile Justice Reform (CJJR) as a juvenile justice administrator, national trainer and consultant, public defender and youth advocate. Umpierre, who holds a B.A. in public policy from Stanford University and a J.D. from Yale Law School, has dedicated his career to improving the lives of youth, particularly those who are underprivileged, vulnerable and most in need. He has been a senior research fellow at CJJR for nearly a decade and was appointed the Center’s director in 2020.
CJJR contributes to groundbreaking research and public policy on juvenile justice in community sectors. The Center provides certificate programs, on- and off-site training, networking opportunities, webinars and more to help leaders in youth justice and related youth-serving systems nationwide achieve better outcomes for the young people in their care. While CJJR has a national footprint, it is focused on helping communities drive their own local system transformations.
Umpierre’s passion for coaching extends his and CJJR’s commitment to supporting children and youth. He has coached for several years, including the last two, during which he has served as the manager of his 11-year-old son Alexander’s team, the Waterdogs of the Capitol City Little League, a volunteer-led league based in Northwest DC. He also assists his 7-year-old daughter Josephine’s softball team. The Waterdogs are named in honor of the Umpierre family’s Portuguese Water Dog, Emmy.
Michael Umpierre coaches the Waterdogs, a youth baseball team in the Capitol City Little League. His son, Alexander Umpierre (third from the right), is a member of the team.
The annual Little League Coach of the Year award, issued by Little League in partnership with Lance Sandwich Crackers and the Positive Coaching Alliance, recognizes extraordinary coaches who inspire their players to be the best they can be, both on- and off the field. Umpierre, endorsed by his players, their families and fellow coaches, was selected from more than 3,700 coaches nationwide.
“I am incredibly humbled and honored by this distinction. It’s a true privilege to support children and youth on the baseball field, but also through our work at CJJR and the McCourt School,” said Umpierre.
Photo credit: Little League International
Little League and Lance Sandwich Crackers flew Umpierre and his family to Williamsport, PA, so that he could throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Little League Baseball World Series on August 17. In recognition of Umpierre’s impact on his community, Lance Sandwich Crackers has also donated $5,000 to support the Capitol City Little League’s future programming.