Jamy Bechler

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

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!!!

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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 . . .

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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!!!

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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.

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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!!!

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