Some people talk about perseverance. Coach Taneka Rubin lives it.
From her humble beginnings to Division I basketball, from playing overseas to mentoring the next generation at Montverde Academy, Coach Rubin’s story is proof that faith, focus, and hard work can turn any detour into destiny.

In this Sports Life Talk: You Got Next episode, Head Coach KT and B Jones sit down with Coach Rubin to unpack her incredible journey — one that started without hype or headlines but evolved into a blueprint for young athletes chasing their dreams.

Coach Rubin’s story begins where most would have stopped — with an injury her senior year that sidelined her at a critical moment. But while others might’ve seen the end, she saw a reset.

Starting at a community college, she grinded her way to the Division I stage at Florida A&M University (FAMU), where she learned lessons that shaped her entire career. “I needed that path,” she says. “It made me tougher — emotionally, academically, and athletically.”

It’s a reminder to every young athlete: you don’t need the perfect start to create a powerful ending.

After college, the dream didn’t stop. Coach Rubin packed her bags and took her game international — playing professionally in England, Portugal, Spain, and Romania.

The experience was more than basketball; it was personal growth on a global scale. “I learned patience, discipline, and how to adapt,” she says. “You realize basketball is a universal language — it connects people everywhere.”

Her overseas career also came with its challenges, including a full year of uncertainty before her first contract. But true to form, she stayed ready. “That’s what winners do — we prepare even when we can’t see what’s next.”

Now, as an assistant coach at Montverde Academy, one of the top prep programs in the country, Coach Rubin is doing what she does best — developing leaders.

“I try to be the mentor I needed when I was younger,” she says. Her players don’t just learn X’s and O’s — they learn accountability, teamwork, and how to handle the pressure that comes with elite competition.

Her message is simple: “You can’t do it alone. Trust your teammates. Learn from everyone. And remember, effort costs nothing.”

Whether she’s coaching a future WNBA star or a student-athlete chasing a scholarship, Coach Rubin’s influence stretches far beyond the scoreboard.

In 2019, Coach Rubin turned her philosophy into a movement with her book, Winners Win. The book is part motivation, part memoir — a guide for anyone chasing excellence.

“Everybody has a book inside them,” she says. “For me, this was about sharing what I’ve learned — not just as a player, but as a person.”

Through her writing and her motivational videos on social media, she’s become a digital mentor for athletes around the world. Her short, powerful messages on mindset, purpose, and persistence remind followers daily that greatness isn’t an accident — it’s a habit.

“When someone says, ‘That video helped me,’ that’s what keeps me going,” she says.

At Montverde, Coach Rubin is helping build something bigger than basketball — a global student-athlete development program that blends competition, character, and culture.

“I want to prepare them for life, not just for the game,” she says. “Basketball will end one day, but leadership, discipline, and confidence last forever.”

And with Montverde’s next season on the horizon, Coach Rubin’s fingerprints are all over a program ready to make history — not just in wins, but in the kind of people it produces.

Coach Taneka Rubin’s journey is proof that detours don’t derail destiny — they define it. From overcoming injuries to playing overseas to mentoring future stars, her message rings loud and clear:

“Make excellence a habit. Trust the process. Winners win.”

So whether you’re chasing a scholarship, a dream job, or just a better version of yourself, take a page from Coach Rubin’s playbook — stay ready, stay humble, and never stop learning.