Jamy Bechler

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

Episode 175: Sports Stories with Denny Lennon

Denny Lennon is the host of Sports Stories with Denny Lennon, a video and audio podcast that focuses on uplifting stories told through long form interviews with a wide range of sports figures. He was born and raised in Venice, California as part of a family known for music but also highly passionate about sports. His true love for sports started in his own backyard. It was games in that yard that led to 40 years of jobs in coaching, announcing, promoting, and administrating sports at different levels throughout Los Angeles and the country. Coaching children, especially his own, cemented in his mind what a great gift sports can be. Joining the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) in 1994 to develop programs has provided him an opportunity to meet many interesting people in the world of sports including NBA Legend Jerry West

Click here for Denny’s complete bio

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • The greatest L.A. Laker ever
  • What made John Wooden such a good leader
  • Pioneering beach volleyball tournaments and TV coverage
  • … and much more!!!

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How to Take a Team from First to Worst

“Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing that it doesn’t go into a fruit salad.” (Miles Kington)

After two different head coaching stints, I was presented an opportunity to coach at a dream job. It was the same type of school I was currently at but had more resources, more stability, a much nicer campus, and nearly every key player was returning from the prior year’s Top-25 team. The coach had left to take a big-time Division I head coaching job and they wanted me to replace him.

When you listen to coaches speak at clinics and conferences, they are quick to outline what they’ve done to rebuild a bad program. Most stories present an example to follow or a cautionary tale. In that dream job, I took the program from first to worst. That’s right, I ruined that team in just one year.

Not only did we have one of the worst seasons in school history and a 16-win DECREASE but we also lost twice to the team that I had just left.

#Oops.

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The Coachable Coach: Jackie Carson

Today’s guest on “The Coachable Coach” series is Jackie Carson, head women’s basketball coach at Furman University.

“The Coachable Coach” series on the Success is a Choice Podcast Network goes beyond the X’s and O’s as Jamy Bechler talks with some of the best sports coaches.

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Leaders Growing Leaders: Kelly Wells

Today’s guest on the “Leaders Developing Leaders” series is Kelly Wells, the Director of Athletics at the University of Pikeville. 

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Episode 173: National Association of Collegiate Esports Founder Michael Brooks

Michael Brooks is the Executive Director of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE).  NACE is a nonprofit membership association organized by and on behalf of member institutions and the largest varsity organization in North America.  NACE’s members are developing the structure and tools needed to advance collegiate esports in the varsity space. Areas of collaboration include: Eligibility, Path to Graduation, Competition & Scholarships, IP Rights, and Program Implementation. NACE currently has over 200 varsity esports programs as members, accounting for nearly all varsity programs across North America.  Michael and his work with NACE has been featured on ABC’s Good Morning America, ESPN, Forbes, Fortune, NBC, SBJ and many others.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • What are Esports
  • Why Esports should matter to you
  • How Esports teams are similar to traditional sports teams
  • … and much more!!!

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