Jamy Bechler

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

Episode 138: Mike Lombardi, former NFL General Manager

Available March 17th

Michael Lombardi spent three decades in the NFL as an executive with the 49ers, Browns, Eagles and Raiders. From 2014-16 he was also an assistant to the coaching staff of the Patriots. In addition to his current work with The Athletic, he’s also worked for other media outlets, including Sports Illustrated, the NFL Network, NFL.com and The Ringer. He is a frequent guest on talk shows, podcasts, and NFL shows. Lombardi worked alongside such NFL legends as Bill Belichick, Bill Walsh, and Al Davis. He and basketball coaching legend, George Raveling, provide daily insights through their site The Daily Coach. The former Cleveland Browns General Manager also hosts his own podcast “The GM Shuffle” with Adnan Virk, and co-hosts a Saturday morning sports betting program on Sirius XM for Vegas Stats & Information Network. In late 2018, Lombardi released Gridiron Genius: A Master Class in Winning Championships and Building Dynasties in the NFL, featuring a foreword by Bill Belichick.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Bill Belichick’s secret sauce with the Patriots
  • What the best coaches do better than anyone else
  • How championship cultures are built
  • Whether a coach will be successful or not
  • Why teams like the Cleveland Browns are not successful
  • … and so much more!!!

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BORED Yet?

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” (Albert Einstein)

You’ve stocked up on more toilet paper than one person should own at one time.

You’re starting to wonder if your hands will ever smell like something other than hand sanitizer.

You’re binge-watching shows you would never be caught dead admitting to viewing.

You’re watching all of ESPN’s 30 for 30’s again.

Sound familiar?

BORED yet?

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Episode 137: Mark Immelman, PGA Broadcaster

Mark Immelman is currently the host of the “On the Mark” podcast on pgatour.com. He also covers live golf for the PGA TOUR on their live-streaming mobile app, PGA TOUR Live, on SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio and for Golf Channel and CBS Sports. In addition to his broadcasting career, he’s also the Director of Golf at Columbus State University and the author of Scandalously Simple: The Easy Way to Accurate Golf Shots. Mark is the older brother of 2008 Masters champion, Trevor Immelman and son of former South African Sunshine Tour commissioner, Johan Immelman.

Immelman believes in a holistic approach to the game. Having coached two Masters Champions, Larry Mize and younger brother Trevor Immelman, Mark understands what it takes to get to the top of the game, and he shares these “trade secrets” with listeners around the globe on the PGA Tour’s “On The Mark” podcast. As a player, Mark Immelman was a four-time All American and played on two NCAA championship-winning teams. He was also the 2009 NCAA-II National Golf Coach of the Year.

Click here to see Mark’s full bio on the Columbus State website.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Transitioning from the national office to becoming the NAIA’s first-ever female conference commissioner
  • Challenges facing today’s student-athletes
  • Qualities of good leaders
  • How to advance in college athletics
  • … and so much more!!!

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Peaks and Valleys

“Mountaintops inspire leaders but valleys mature them.” (Winston Churchill)

This past summer, I went golfing with my wife and her parents. Now, this might seem like the opening line to a joke, but I assure you that they are nice people and I would never say a bad word about them – at least until they stop reading my articles. 

About halfway into the round, I finally birdied a hole and my father-in-law said “It’s about time. I’ve waited 10 years to see you get a birdie.”

I think I saw a playful smile on his face.

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Episode 135: Move the Ball with Jennifer Garrett

Jennifer A. Garrett is an internationally recognized author, life coach, and motivational speaker. She is the host of the “Move The Ball” podcast and the author of “Move The Ball”. Jennifer currently works as an executive coach, corporate consultant, and Judge Advocate in the Army National Guard. She has seven college degrees: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Electrical Engineering, B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Master of Arts (M.A.) in Communication and Leadership Studies, Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Business Transactions, and LL.M. in Taxation. She completed her graduate degrees while working and raising her five children. In the business world, Jennifer is recognized as an outstanding leader. Jennifer’s broad experience includes working for the federal government, and Fortune 50 Companies such as The Boeing Company and General Electric. Her expertise spans many areas such as legal, sales, marketing, branding, engineering, program management, and strategic planning. In December 2012, Jennifer received the GE Women’s Network Hall of Fame “Real Life Hero” Award.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Writing a book about football
  • The secret to living a busy life
  • Growing up a football fan
  • Facing your fears
  • Setting goals and implementing new habits
  • … and so much more!!!

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Teacher’s Pet

Believe it or not, I was voted “Teacher’s Pet” in my graduating class. To this day, I don’t know how that was the case. Regardless of whether I agreed with it, I had to take a yearbook picture with Judith Shannon, my dreaded English teacher. 

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Episode 134: Coach Bill Curry

Bill Curry has been the head football coach at Alabama, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, and Georgia State. He was a 2x SEC Coach of the Year, ACC Coach of the Year, as well as the National Coach of the Year in 1989 for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Before embarking upon a coaching career, he played 10 years in the NFL as a Center. He played in Super Bowls I, III, and V, winning two Super Bowl rings with the Packers and the Colts. 

Click here to read Coach Curry’s complete resume and biography.

You can find out more about Coach Bill Curry, his motivational speaking opportunities, and his book “Ten Men You Meet In The Huddle” by visiting www.BillCurry.net. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • What the best teams have in common
  • Playing for Vince Lombardi and Don Shula
  • Attending Martin Luther King’s funeral
  • Why Johnny Unitas and Bart Star were so great
  • … and so much more!!!

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20 Books to Read in 2020

I once read 30 books in an entire summer, including 10 John Grisham novels. Reading is something that I enjoy doing. I am a paperback kind of guy as I will dog-ear pages, highlight passages, and make notes in the margins. My wife, on the other hand, only reads Kindle books or listens to audio books. 

Whatever your preference, it is important that you read. Readers are leaders. As Dr. Seuss said, “The more that you read, the more things that you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

What follows is my recommended list of books in various categories that were published during the last two years. I have previously made recommended book lists of “19 Books to Read in 2019”, “18 Books to Read in 2018”, “15 Best Books for Coaches”, “15 Best Books for Leaders”, and “7 Underrated Books for Leaders”.

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Team-Building During Covid

“Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.” (John Wooden)

Since March 2020, sports have been different. Covid-19 has made coaches and athletes adjust, adapt, and change the way they approach their sport. I have done countless zoom calls and consultations with teams on how to make the best of these unprecedented and challenging times we are all experiencing.

There is no doubt this pandemic has affected your team in some way – from games or the season being canceled, to quarantining and experiencing isolation, to wearing masks and staying six-feet away from teammates. No matter who you are, you’ve been affected in some way to some extreme.

Here are some ideas for making the best of a bad situation and trying to have a healthy and strong culture throughout this pandemic.

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Episode 133: Jim Johnson, A Coach and a Miracle

Jim Johnson won more than 400 games as a high high school basketball coach. He only had one losing record in his 30 years of being a head coach. However, he is probably best known for what he did in 2006.  His kindhearted gesture of giving an autistic student (now known affectionately as “J-Mac”) on his team the chance to make his dream come true has captivated the hearts of millions of Americans. How could it not? With the help of his teammates, J-Mac scored twenty points (including six three-point baskets) in just over four minutes, becoming an instant national celebrity.

Coach Johnson has been featured in major news outlets around the country, making a number of radio and television appearances, including the Oprah Winfrey and Jim Rome shows. He has met President George W. Bush, Governor George Pataki, and Senator Hillary Clinton, to name just a few luminaries. His team was paid a visit at school by NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and J-Mac’s magical moment won the ESPY for “Best Sports Moment” at the ESPN awards show later that year.

You can find out more about Coach Jim Johnson and his book “A Coach and a Miracle” by visiting www.CoachJimJohnson.com

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • The inspirational story of J-Mac
  • Getting fired after his first year of coaching
  • Building a culture & turning programs around
  • … and so much more!!!

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