University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Bigger Than Basketball, Barker Traveling To Vietnam With Coach For College
July 23, 2025 | Women's Basketball, Student-Athlete Development
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The life of any student-athlete especially a Division I basketball player has its demands, just ask Sydney Barker. The rising junior has spent most of her summer running around Chapel Hill between class, the gym and the weight room for workouts plus assisting at North Carolina women's basketball summer camps.
With reprieve coming soon, Barker has opted against quiet time and instead will travel to Vietnam for three weeks to join Coach for College and run summer camps at local schools in rural areas throughout the country.
"They had a flyer at training table where we always eat, I had seen it through all my years here and had been interested," said Barker. "The more I thought about it; I decided that this was the year."
Teaming up with student-athletes from universities across the United States and Vietnamese college students, Barker and Co. will teach academic subjects, sports and life skills to children throughout the region. Barker's focus will be on basketball, teaching the game she loves to those throughout the Southeast Asia country.
"I'm looking forward to being with kids and helping them as well as building relationships," remarked Barker. "Also, I think I'll learn a lot about myself through this experience. The biggest thing though, is I am excited to work with the kids."
Founded in 2008, Coach for College has grown to include student-athletes from over 40 universities across 26 sports and including Vietnamese college students from over 30 schools. The three-week programs are designed to provide Vietnamese children with important role models at a time where many children in the country begin to drop out of school. Instilling confidence in the children through the power of sport, the program hopes to leave an impact beyond their time with student-athletes.
Stay up to date with the latest North Carolina women's basketball news on X at @UNCWBB, Instagram @UNCWBB and Facebook at Carolina Women's Basketball.Â
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With reprieve coming soon, Barker has opted against quiet time and instead will travel to Vietnam for three weeks to join Coach for College and run summer camps at local schools in rural areas throughout the country.
"They had a flyer at training table where we always eat, I had seen it through all my years here and had been interested," said Barker. "The more I thought about it; I decided that this was the year."
Teaming up with student-athletes from universities across the United States and Vietnamese college students, Barker and Co. will teach academic subjects, sports and life skills to children throughout the region. Barker's focus will be on basketball, teaching the game she loves to those throughout the Southeast Asia country.
"I'm looking forward to being with kids and helping them as well as building relationships," remarked Barker. "Also, I think I'll learn a lot about myself through this experience. The biggest thing though, is I am excited to work with the kids."
Founded in 2008, Coach for College has grown to include student-athletes from over 40 universities across 26 sports and including Vietnamese college students from over 30 schools. The three-week programs are designed to provide Vietnamese children with important role models at a time where many children in the country begin to drop out of school. Instilling confidence in the children through the power of sport, the program hopes to leave an impact beyond their time with student-athletes.
Stay up to date with the latest North Carolina women's basketball news on X at @UNCWBB, Instagram @UNCWBB and Facebook at Carolina Women's Basketball.Â
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