Jamy Bechler

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

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Dec 17 2018

Episode 107: NJCAA Executive Director Christopher Parker

Christopher Parker is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Dr. Parker is responsible for all oversight of the country’s second largest athletic association. He is charged with leading all aspects of the association and its 512 member colleges, while enhancing the opportunities for student-athletes and member institutions. His daily duties are to provide overarching leadership of all aspects with special concentration on membership growth, financial stability, and organizational growth. Dr. Parker gives national presentations throughout the country and works hard to represent every single region across the nation. He has coached Division I baseball, while also starting the first ever NJCAA athletic program in the Virginia Community College System where he served as both the athletic director and head baseball coach.  Dr. Parker also served PHCC in a number of other capacities to include: Director of Student Life, Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences, Dean of Academics, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Campus Life, and Athletics, Executive Director of the PHCC Foundation and Real Estate Foundation, as well as adjunct instructor.  He also went on to serve Pfeiffer University as Vice President where he was in charge of enrollment at all levels, financial aid, marketing, and public Relations.  During his time at Pfeiffer, the university experienced the largest incoming freshmen class in more than 30 years. Dr. Parker has taught adjunct for more than 7 different institutions nationally, while specializing in sports management, leadership, and exercise.   Christopher also served as the assistant men’s director and the women’s director of Region 10 of the NJCAA for seven years, while also overseeing the treasury duties.  In addition, Dr. Parker served as the Executive Director of the Patrick County Education Foundation under former Virginia Governor Gerald Baliles.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • The benefits of going to a community college
  • Leadership initiatives and programs that make the NJCAA special
  • Former athletes such as Jimmy Butler and Cam Newton, who started off at the NJCAA level
  • Recruiting advice for parents
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes · Tagged: executive director, NJCAA

Dec 16 2018

Leaders Growing Leaders

Last week, I attended the John Maxwell Team Live Event in Orlando and received my certification in coaching, speaking and leadership from the #1 Leadership Expert in the world (editor’s note – originally published on March 21, 2016).  After 5 months of online training, these three days of workshops and live training were beyond insightful.  I have always been a John Maxwell fan and have read many of his 100+ books.  Now, I am licensed to teach his materials and add value to others.

The title on the front cover of our workbooks said “Leaders Growing Leaders”.  That seems appropriate.  As iron sharpens iron, we add value to others and help others lead significant lives.  Leadership really is influence, as John teaches. Here ere are my seven favorite thoughts from last week’s conference.

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Personal Growth · Tagged: Christian Simpson, Culture, Ed DeCosta, Expectations, John Maxwell, Nick Vujicic, Paul Martinelli, Roddy Galbraith, Sun Tzu, ULeadership, Vision

Dec 13 2018

Episode 106: Greg Tonagel, Indiana Wesleyan University Basketball Coach

Greg Tonagel is the head men’s basketball coach at Indiana Wesleyan University. Tonagel and the Wildcats have won three NAIA Division II National Championships in a five year spans with titles in 2014, 2016, and 2018. Since Tonagel took over the program in 2005, he has become the winningest coach in program history both in total wins and winning percentage. Prior to coming to IWU, Tonagel served as Director of Basketball Operations at Valparaiso University, where he also played for legendary Homer Drew and appeared in four NCAA Tournaments as the starting point guard. He also led his LaPorte High School team to the last single class state finals in 1997. Much of the unprecedented success of the Wildcats can be attributed to the culture Tonagel built at IWU.  The IWU culture is built around two Biblically transforming principles; I am Third and Fearless. This has helped the influence of IWU basketball to extend far beyond the court. Tonagel and his staff have been committed to using basketball as a platform for discipleship.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • What any coach can do to create a better culture
  • Why IWU is so good year in and year out
  • How he convinces great players (including DI transfers from IU and Kansas) to come to IWU
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Basketball, Bryce Drew, Chad Briscoe, Chris Oliver, Christian, Coaching, Culture, dwane casey, Homer Drew, Indiana, Indiana Wesleyan, Indiana Wesleyan University, IWU, jason romano, Jesus Christ, Jon Gordon, larry desimpelare, Leadership, Marion, Marion Giants, Marion High School, NAIA, Todd Gongwer, travis daugherty, Valparaiso University

Dec 11 2018

3 Things You Can Do with the Past

Everyone has a past.  Often times, the things that have happened to us shape our future.  We can do three things with our past.  We can LIVE in the past, we can DWELL on the past or we can LEARN from the past.  Whichever category you fall into may go a long way toward determining your future.

Just be careful not to end up like Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite in the following video clip . . .

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Personal Growth · Tagged: Anger, Buddha, Coach K, Fail Forward, Forgive, Forgiveness, future, Growth, jason romano, John C. Maxwell, Leadership, Learning, Napoleon Dynamite, Past, Uncle Rico

Dec 10 2018

Episode 105: 2x Super Bowl Champion Gary Reasons


Gary Reasons spent nine years as a linebacker in the National Football League.  He was a fourth round draft pick in 1984 by the New York Giants and was instrumental in helping the team win two Championships, Super Bowl XXI & XXV.  As a team leader, he was elected by his teammates to the NFLPA Board of Directors and was further elected by the Board and served 6 years as Vice President on the NFLPA Executive Committee. He is also an inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Following his playing days, Gary has enjoyed a 23 year television broadcast career as a college football analyst with ABC Sports, ESPN, and FOX Sports. Concurrent to his broadcast work, Gary has utilized natural leadership, expert communication skills, and technology expertise to lead several prosperous businesses. Gary’s technology background includes solution strategy and development for global technology firms such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise Services and NTT Data. 

Reasons is now a motivational speaker and consultant to businesses. He is the Co-Founder of PRO ATHLETES TEAM, where he serves as President and oversees all aspects of the organization.  As a senior business executive, Gary has more than 20 years of experience within the IT industry and over 30 years of experience within the Sports, Media, and Entertainment industry.  

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Being a fellow linebacker with Lawrence Taylor
  • Whether he knew Bill Belichick would be a great head coach
  • The great athletes that have come out of his college
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Sports · Tagged: Bill Belichick, Bill Parcels, Champions, Culture, Ed Oregeron, Football, Fox Sports, Gary Reasons, golf, Hall of Fame, joe delaney, Lawrence Taylor, Motivational Speaker, New York Giants, northwestern state university, paul tesori, Success, Super Bowl, tony finau

Dec 01 2018

Two Types of Leaders

I was in high school band but I didn’t enjoy being in the class because I was an athlete and thought band was not cool. My attitude was bad and my actions reflected that.

My friend and I decided to make up a game to alleviate some of our boredom.

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Personal Growth · Tagged: Backwards, Bad Attitude, Band, band class. Mr. Jose, bored, Cool, Disruption, Distraction, Forward, Influence, Jamy Bechler, Jonesville, Lead by Example, Leadership, role model, Too Cool, Trumpet, Types of Leaders

Nov 30 2018

Episode 104: Chris Oliver, Founder of Basketballimmersion.com

Chris Oliver is the founder of Basketballimmersion.com and is one of the most respected basketball coaches and clinicians in North America. He regularly speaks at top coaching conferences and clinics, including CoachingU in Las Vegas. Chris is also currently the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Windsor, a position he has held since 2005. He is a 3x recipient of the Ontario University Athletic Conference’s Coach of the Year award. Chris graduated with a Bachelor of Kinesiology from McMaster University, a Bachelor of Education degree from Brock University, and a Master’s in Physical Education and Coaching Studies from the University of Victoria. Oliver is also an NCCP Level Four coach.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Having “less boring” practices
  • Building a better culture in your program
  • Ways that players can make better decisions on the basketball court
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Alan Stein, Basketball, basketball coach, Brendan Suhr, canada, Choices, Chris Oliver, Coaches, Coaching, CoachingU, Dan Tudor, Dana Cavalea, decision making, Drills, dwane casey, Jen Oliver, Leadership, Lorenzo Brown, Love Fit Mama, LoveFitMama, Miami Heat, NBA, Practices, Rising Coaches Elite, travis daugherty, University of Florida, University of Windsor

Nov 29 2018

A Letter to My Freshman Self

Dear Freshman,

You should be proud. You are in select company. Not everyone can be a student-athlete. Not everyone will finish their four years as a student-athlete. It’s hard. It’s hard to find the balance between your studies and your sports. It’s hard to commit so much time to your sport, meet new people, make new friends, and take care of all of your responsibilities. It’s hard to challenge yourself every day and not take a second for granted. Here are a few pieces of simple, yet very important advice to help you out as you start out on this wonderful journey.

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Sports, Teams & Organizations

Nov 27 2018

Episode 103: “Evidence That Demands a Verdict” with Josh McDowell

Josh McDowell has spoken to approximately 35 million people, in 140 countries. Josh has written or co-authored more than 150 books in over 100 languages including More Than a Carpenter with over 27 million copies distributed and Evidence That Demands a Verdict, named one of the twentieth century’s top 40 books and one of the thirteen most influential books of the last 50 years on Christian thought by World Magazine. Evidence That Demands a Verdict also just won the 2018 Evangelical Christian Publishers Association award in the Bible reference book category.

In 1991, Josh founded Operation Carelift to meet the physical and spiritual needs he discovered in orphanages, hospitals, schools, and prisons in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Josh has received two significant honors from the Russian people because of these efforts. He is the only non-Russian to receive an honorary doctor of pediatrics degree from the Russian Academy of Medicine — in recognition of his work among the children of Russia. Also, Josh is the only foreigner to become a member of the prestigious Russian Club of Scientists. Operation Carelift, which has grown into in one of the largest humanitarian aid organizations based in the United States, is now a part of Global Aid Network (GAiN USA). In addition to many other awards, Josh has been nominated 36 times for the Gold Medallion Award and has received that award on four occasions.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Trying to prove that Christians were wrong when he was a college student
  • How Christians should approach politics
  • What it was like to have a movie made about his life
  • Advice when talking to teenagers
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes · Tagged: Athletes in Action, Campus Crusade for Christ, Children, Christianity, Cru Ministry, Evangelism, inspirational, Jesus Christ, Jon Gordon, Josh McDowell, Ken Coleman, Michael Catt, Motivation, pornography, Russia, Shoshanna Gabriel, Speaking, teenagers, Todd Gongwer, Youth

Nov 20 2018

Episode 102: Tracie Hitz, Dating & Branding Strategist

Tracie Hitz is a personal and professional branding strategist with more than 20 years of branding, marketing and sales experience in the sports industry. She launched Hitz & Branding, LLC in June 2018 after twenty years in the sports industry. In this new endeavor she helps people set goals, tell a story, land a date, land a job, or land anything they want. 

Immediately before founding Hitz & Branding, LLC., Tracie was the Director of Championships & Alliances at the NCAA. In her first year, she oversaw the 2014 Women’s Final Four sales efforts that led to a sold-out arena in a first-time host city, and the following year she led the charge to record the largest attendance at a Women’s Final Four since 2010. Tracie came to the national office after working in the C-Suite as the Chief Marketing Officer at Old Hat Creative for 3.5 years where she doubled its annual revenue each year working with over 80 professional and collegiate sports organizations.

She was named to the C-Suite for the NACMA Board of Directors in 2008 and was the Board advisor from 2010-2013. She has been a member of the UNC Center for Research in Intercollegiate Athletics Board of Advisors and the IUPUI Tourism, Conventions and Event Management Advisory Board since 2015. She received her bachelorʼs degree in Communication (Journalism) from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri in 1997 and her masterʼs degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University in 2003.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Different branding and marketing strategies for individuals and businesses
  • Career journey in athletics
  • Using social media to tell a story
  • Dating and relationship advice
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes · Tagged: Advertising, Alicia Jessop, Andy Carter, anton goff, Ask Questions, Branding, Brian Stanchak, Chad Briscoe, Communication, connecting, Dan Migala, Dan Tudor, Dating, Girl Scouts, Jeff Bain, Kevin Deshazo, marketing, NACMA, Nashville, NCAA, Northwestern University, person of interest, PR, Questions, Relationships, Seth Godin, Social Media, Sue Enquist, Tim Hall, tinder, Tracie Hitz

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