Content Warning: This section of the guide describes and discusses the source text’s treatment of domestic abuse, alcohol addiction, and ableism.

Sam Pickett is the novel’s protagonist. He is a 36-year-old English teacher who teaches the basketball team at Willow Creek in his free time. Sam is a dynamic and round character. His favorite novel is Don Quixote, which he references often. Sam moves to Willow Creek because he wants to escape his past and forget about the murder of his wife, Amy. He struggles with a combination of grief and guilt over Amy’s death. However, through the Broncs’ journey to victory and Sam’s new relationship with Diana, Sam learns to heal from his past trauma and move on from his depression.

Sam’s coaching of the Broncs highlights Sam’s need for support in his own life. Although Sam must learn how to guide the team, he ends up learning more from the boys’ resilience than he expected. Sam uses the Broncs’ continual striving in the face of adversity as a lesson to teach him to push forward, despite his sadness. Sam also learns to take a chance in his life in a way that he has not since Amy died.