Jamy Bechler

Providing Insights on Leadership and Success. Coach Bechler is a John Maxwell Leadership Team Member.

Episode 150: Robyn Fralick, College Basketball Coach

Robyn Fralick was named the head women’s basketball coach at NCAA Division I Bowling Green State University in spring of 2018. Fralick was the architect of the two greatest offensive seasons in NCAA Division II women’s basketball history when she was at Ashland University. She was at Ashland for a total of 10 years. The last three years, she was Ashland’s head coach and had a record of 104-3, for an incredible winning percentage of .972. The Eagles won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2016-17 before returning to the national championship game and earning a runner-up finish in ’17-18. She earned national coach of the year honors twice while at Ashland University.

Click here for Coach Fralick’s complete bio

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Losing only 3 games in 3 years as a Division II head coach
  • Making the transition from DII to DI
  • Taking over a winning program vs. taking over a struggling program
  • Putting together a new staff of coaches
  • Work-life integration with a career and family
  • … and so much more!!!

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Episode 148: Dr. Bhrett McCabe, Sports Pyschologist

Dr. Bhrett McCabe is one of the leading experts in the area of sports pyschology. The best of the best turn to him when they need help with performance and mindset. He is the founder of The MindSide and is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with Clinical Psychology PhD from Louisiana State University (LSU). He is also a practicing Sports Psychologist and he works with a number of PGA TOUR professionals, including Jon Rahm and Billy Horschel. Dr. McCabe has also worked extensively with the University of Alabama athletic department. His podcast “The Secrets to Winning” comes highly recommended and is one of our favorites.

Click here for Dr. McCabe’s complete bio

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • What makes Nick Saban so good
  • Mental toughness
  • Getting the most out of athletes
  • Building a championship culture
  • … and so much more!!!

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Second Half Comeback

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” (Albert Einstein, really smart guy)

28-3…

Many football fans remember that as the score of Super Bowl LI when the Atlanta Falcons led the New England Patriots midway through the third quarter. The Patriots would end up coming back to win that Super Bowl in dramatic fashion.

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Episode 147: Kurt Hines, Football Coach & Thought Leader

Kurt Hines is a well-respected football coach at Coronado High School in San Diego. His social media insights are top-notch. You will want to follow him even if you aren’t a football coach. He is a motivational speaker that provides great thoughts and energy to audiences across the country. Coach Hines is also the host of the “For What It Is Worth Coaching” podcast.

Click here for Coach Hines’ complete bio

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Why he coaches
  • How teaching helps his coaching
  • Playing favorites as a coach
  • Working with special needs kids
  • Advice for coaches – both head coaches and assistants
  • … and so much more!!!

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Careful What You Wish For

The year was 1999 and we were just two kids relishing in the hopes, dreams, and passions like any other set of newlyweds. We were living on Spaghetti O’s and love. I was a very low-paid assistant basketball coach and she was a bank teller. Our household income was below the poverty line.

Little did we know that our financial situation was about to change.

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Episode 146: Coaching Culture with J.P. Nerbun

J.P. Nerbun is the founder of Thrive On Challenge, host of the “Coaching Culture” podcast, and author of Calling Up: Discovering Your Journey to Transformational Leadership. He was also a college basketball player, winning the NIT Championship when he was a member of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.

Click here for J.P.’s complete bio

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Dealing with “uncoachable” players
  • Focusing on the process even though you get fired if you lose
  • What transformational coaching means
  • How to build a strong culture
  • Rules and punishment for your team
  • … and so much more!!!

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A Legacy Without an Asterisk

This is a guest post from Dr. Keith Starcher, a long-time college professor and business consultant. Most importantly, he is the father of my wife, which makes him a big-deal.

The presence, or absence, of asterisks can be a divisive topic in the world of sports today. Think about it. In baseball, should that home run record be followed by an *asterisk?

If a certain NFL team goes undefeated this year, should their season stats include an asterisk? The world of biking, track & field and yes, even business seems to be plagued by those who just don’t want to play by the rules. Yet as some bend or break the rules to enhance their performance, their legacy potentially ends up being tainted with an asterisk (or worse).

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Inspiring Anyone?

Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?

We all remember the iconic scene from the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” when the teacher (played by Ben Stein) is having no success trying to get the class to participate. We have all been around those people that might have been really smart but we just didn’t like them much. They didn’t inspire us. They didn’t motivate us. Think of the people that have meant the most to us. Most of the time, it was probably because of how they made us feel.

I remember how I felt about second grade and my teacher.

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Episode 145: Joanna Bernabei-McNamee, ACC Coach of the Year

Joanna Bernabei-McNamee is the head women’s basketball coach at Boston College. In only her second season at BC, she was honored as the 2020 Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coach of the Year. She led BC to an impressive 20-12 overall record and a fourth place finish in the conference with an 11-7 record. The 20 victories were the most in program history since the 2010-11 season. The team also set a new program record for the most ACC victories with 11. She has previously coached at Albany University, Pikeville College, and West Virginia Wesleyan. She also was an assistant on the 2006 Maryland Terrapins squad that won the national championship.

Click here to read her entire bio.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • “Secret sauce” to turning around a program
  • First steps after taking over a new job
  • Football tailgating tips
  • Balancing a high-level job and family life
  • … and so much more!!!

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Basic Training

My friend Alan Stein, Jr. is considered one of the top performance coaches in the nation. For years he has worked with some of the best basketball players in the world. In fact, when I was a basketball coach, I used many of his conditioning drills for my teams.

He once told me about his first encounter with Kobe Bryant back in 2007 when he was in his prime and considered the best player in the world. Nike flew Alan out to the Kobe Bryant Skills Camp.

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