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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DeAnna Price Sets an American Record

The 2021 Tokyo Olympics are just around the corner and athletes everywhere are seeing the rewards and fruit of their years of sacrifice and hard work.

This is especially true in the individual sports – gymnastics, swimming and diving, and track and field come to mind immediately. As Americans, Track and field is a sport that has long held our fascination.

We love powerful athletes. We love fast athletes.  We love the fact that the best can be measured by objective means.

There are no playing time issues. If you think you are better than someone else, then this can be proven by throwing farther, jumping higher, or running faster.

That is why what happened in the hammer throw competition at the U.S. Track and Field Trials is so awesome and so impressive.

DeAnna Price set an American record with her throw, which also happened to be the second-best in history.

Don’t want to read? Then listen or download this article’s audio . . .

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The Coachable Coach: Dr. Barry Davis

Today’s guest on “The Coachable Coach” series is Dr. Barry Davis, head baseball coach at Rider University, the 2021 MAAC Champions and NCAA Tournament team. 

“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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America’s Fastest Woman Banned from the Olympics

Just one month after the death of her biological mother, Sha’Carri Richardson accomplished a lifelong dream of winning the 100-meter dash at the U.S. Olympic trials in Oregon.

However it would soon come crashing down and her lifelong dream would become a nightmare as Richardson tested positive for a chemical found in marijuana.

The 21-year old was disqualified and received a one-month ban. America’s fastest woman would not be participating in the upcoming Olympics.

Don’t want to read? Then listen or download this article’s audio . . .

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The Coachable Coach: Missy Bilderback

Today’s guest on “The Coachable Coach” series is Missy Bilderback, the highly successful women’s basketball coach at Jones College in Mississippi. 

“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 coaches who value growth, improvement, and leadership – not just with their athletes but for themselves, as well. They believe that a strong culture doesn’t just happen by accident.

Good coaches may know the X’s and O’s, the tactics, and strategies that should lead to winning BUT great coaches know their athletes. Great coaches go beyond the X’s and O’s. Great coaches know how to inspire their athletes to do their best and maximize their chances for success.

Missy Bilderback and her Jones College team ended the last season 20-1 and were ranked No. 1 in the final NJCAA Division I regular-season poll.

No junior college program in Mississippi has been able to develop and produce four-year talent like Bilderback and the Bobcats. Thirty-three players have moved on to four-year programs, including 28 of those to Division I schools.

Bilderback has led Jones to an outstanding 147-21 (.875) overall record in her six seasons. She has earned NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year five different times. 

Follow Coach Bilderback on Twitter @MissyBilderback or visit the Jones College website at JCBobcats.com

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Episode 172: Leadership that Rocks with Jim Knight

Jim Knight is a keynote speaker, author, podcaster, and entrepreneur, Jim Knight teaches organizations of all sizes how to attain their own “rock star” status.

Although his illustrious career started at Gatorland Zoo (he has the scars to prove it), Jim cut his teeth in the hospitality industry and eventually led Global Training for Hard Rock International for two decades. His customized programs show how to amp up organizational culture, deliver world-class differentiated service, and build rock star teams and leaders.

Known for his edu-taining programs (in person, virtually and in print), Jim is the best-selling author of Culture That Rocks: How to Revolutionize Your Company’s Culture and was featured in Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the “5 Books That Will Help You Transform How Your Do Business”.

Jim’s newest book, Leadership That Rocks  (May 2021), is the first in the 3-part “Culture That Rocks” series.

A portion of Jim’s book sales, podcast revenue, speaking fees and training program proceeds goes to No Kid Hungry and Cannonball Kids’ cancer.

Click here to read Jim’s bio.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • The best and most underrated bands of all-time
  • A musician that is overlooked for his talent
  • Building strong teams
  • Creating cultures that rock
  • … and much more!!!

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Profile in Leadership: Pat Summitt

Five years ago (June 28, 2016) we lost one of the greatest leaders I have known when Pat Summitt died. She was more than just a legendary basketball coach. She probably could have run for governor in the state of Tennessee.  You never heard a negative word uttered about her.

I’ve previously published two articles about Pat Summitt that you might be interested in reading. One is from the day she retired from coaching entitled “Why Pat Summitt is the Best” and the other was from the day she died entitled “Will You Reach for the Summitt with your Legacy?”. 

Additionally, here is a piece I wrote for a newsletter back in 2011 called “Profile in Leadership: Pat Summitt”. I thought the quotes and thoughts about her might elicit good memories about her or inspire you today to make a difference in the lives of those around you.

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