Jamy Bechler

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

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!!!

[Read more…]

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.

[Read more…]

Episode 144: Ganon Baker, Basketball Skills Trainer

Ganon Baker is regarded as one of the premier basketball skill coaches in the World. He has been around the game of basketball, the skill training business and the coaching world for over 30 years.

Since June 2001, Ganon has been traveling all over the globe impacting the game of basketball via player training, coaching clinics and coach mentorship. He has delivered knowledge filled with energy, passion, and love for basketball and people in 48 US states, 47 countries, 5 continents – while reaching over 10,000 coaches and players a year.

Ganon has trained players from the Professional level (NBA, WNBA, CBA, Euro League and more), collegiate level (NCAA, NJCAA, U Sport and more), high school and middle school levels. He also been a part of coaching clinics in front of over 20,000 coaches globally and his Ganon Baker Certification process has been earned by over 2,500 coaches worldwide.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • How kids can develop their game
  • What made Kobe Bryant so great
  • What coaches can do to better reach kids
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

11 Interview Tips to Give you an Edge

“How would I describe myself? 
Three words: hard working, alpha male, jackhammer … merciless … insatiable“ 
(Dwight K. Schrute)

You have already applied for a job and listened to my advice on the do’s and do not’s of applying for jobs but now it is time for the dreaded interview.  The modern day version of the Spanish Inquisition. What will make you stand out?  What will differentiate you from everyone else.  Here are some ways that you can gain an edge over your competition.

In my career, I have been on 13 interviews for coaching positions at four-year institutions.  Of those 13 interviews, I have been blessed to have 10 job offers.  Through my personal experience, as well as being a member of several search committees, here are 11 tips that will GUARANTEE YOU A JOB!!!

No, not really.  I wish it were that simple. Seriously though, I can offer you one guarantee, however . . .  [Read more…]

Episode 143: Nate Bain, Tennessee Titans Social Media Manager

Nate Bain is the social media manager for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. He joined the club in 2017 after three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, where he was the team’s digital media manager. As social media manager, he is responsible for all the club’s social media accounts, strategy and content ideation. Bain has also worked in the athletic departments at the University of Tennessee and the University of Oregon.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Tips for getting into the sports industry
  • Engaging with fans on social media
  • Social media personalities he follows
  • Breaking news
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Take This Job … and Love It

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.

Social research might prove what we’ve known all along.

Money can’t buy happiness. 

Nor, it turns out, can good looks or social status. 

[Read more…]

Episode 142: Karissa Niehoff, NFHS Executive Director

Dr. Karissa L. Niehoff is the executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is the first female to head the national leadership organization for high school athletics and performing arts activities and the sixth full-time executive director of the NFHS, which celebrated its 100th year of service during the 2018-19 school year. She previously was executive director of the Connecticut Association of Schools-Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference for seven years.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • The state of high school athletics (recorded prior to Covid-19)
  • Advice for how parents can help their kids best
  • Challenges & opportunities facing high school athletics
  • Qualities of great coaches
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Episode 141: Adrian Griffin, Toronto Raptors Assistant Coach

Available on 4/6/20

Adrian Griffin won a World Championship as the lead assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors in 2020. He played in the NBA from 1999-2008 after a stellar career at Seton Hall University. In 2010 he was inducted into the Seton Hall athletic Hall of Fame. Prior to serving as the Raptors lead assistant coach, he also spent time on the sidelines for Oklahoma City, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, and the Milwaukee Bucks. Next year he’ll have each of his three children playing Division I basketball (Duke, UConn WBB, and Syracuse).

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Winning the NBA Championship
  • Integrating a superstar into an existing team
  • How he got his start in coaching
  • Building a team that meshes and accepts their roles
  • What makes Coach K such a good coach
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

100 Favorite Books

“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.” (Mark Twain)

I love to read but it wasn’t always that way. We were made to read in 1st grade and I hated it. However, all that changed in 2nd grade.

[Read more…]

Episode 139: Rising Coaches Elite CEO Adam Gordon

Adam Gordon spent 17 years in the coaching industry, making stops from the JUCO level to High-major Power 5 basketball. In 2010, along with Andy Farrell, he co-founded a company called Rising Coaches with the mission of servicing the coaching industry. In June of 2019, he stepped away from his coaching career and decided to run Rising Coaches full-time. He is now growing his passion project which has an incredible following, support and brand awareness into a profitable business that helps basketball coaches all across the country. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • What qualities the best coaches possess
  • How Rising Coaches helps young coaches develop
  • Tips for young coaches
  • The Rising Coaches conference in Phoenix and Atlanta
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

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