Jamy Bechler

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

College of Saint Mary Partners with Bechler Leadership for Basketball Search

The College of Saint Mary athletic director Robbie Shay has announced they are partnering with Bechler Leadership in its’ search for a new women’s basketball coach.

“We believe there’s a lot of potential here,” said Shay. “With our revamped scholarships, first-class facilities, and beautiful location we wanted to maximize the opportunities available to us to get the right coach in place. Bechler Leadership has had great results filling positions at other schools and we’re excited to work with their team.”

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3 Types of Teams During March

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As a former college basketball coach, March Madness is my favorite “holiday” (insert eye roll from my wife).

I love the intrigue, excitement, and storylines. My wife always shakes her head when I plop down on the couch for days at a time.

There are really three kinds of basketball teams when March rolls around… 

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5 Ways to Create More Trust Within Your Coaching Staff

A strong culture requires trust and chemistry among all the team members. As coaches, we usually think of this in terms of our athletes. We look at team-building as something they do, as opposed to something we do.

If you’re trying to maximize the potential of your athletes, the coaching staff must be a cohesive unit that’s on the same page. You can’t expect our athletes to trust one another, communicate effectively with one another, or support one another if you’re not doing that as well.

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Roger Penske and My Dad

As a youngster, my dad would serve as a firefighter for the races run at Michigan International Speedway.

Please click here to listen to the 2-minute audio version of this email.

M.I.S. was less than 10 miles from my house. My brother and I plus one lucky friend would look forward to the four or five races each summer we’d attend.

This was before the era of luxury boxes and suites, so we’d sit behind pit row with the racer and pit crew families. I got to meet a lot of cool people and collect my share of autographs.

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4 Ways to Change How Your Athletes Serve Each Other

Great teams have great teammates. No disagreements there, but it isn’t easy to find great teammates. Not everybody that makes your team will come in as a great teammate — and that is where your presence and team culture kicks in.

The clearest signal that you have an athlete that is a great teammate is their desire to serve others. When athletes have the mindset of serving other team members, the entire program benefits. Legendary basketball coach John Wooden put it well when he said, “It’s amazing what you can achieve when you don’t care who gets the credit.”

Serving others is at the very core of sports — and it’s paramount to your team’s success.

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6 Things Coaches Do On High Performance Teams

As a coach, you’re constantly trying to lead your team as far as you can each season. This is true regardless of your resources or talent.

However, some coaches are blessed to be a part of programs that have high-performing individuals. High-performing teams usually have individuals that are more talented than most, but as coach, your role is to get the most out of them.

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Hall of Fame Reliability

“The greatest ability is your dependability.” (Bobby Jones)

🔊 Click here to listen to a 2-minute audio version of this email.

You’ve no doubt heard of NFL players like Barry Sanders and Tom Brady. They are all-time greats.

But have you heard of Joe Thomas? He is also an all-time great. In 2023, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In football, the guys who score touchdowns are recognized and rewarded. However, it’s important to remember the guys who make those touchdowns possible. Those big guys up front in the trenches protecting the quarterback and creating holes for the running backs are vital to the success of a team.

Joe Thomas was one of those guys.

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2003 British Open Champion Ben Curtis

Ben Curtis won the 2003 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s as a rookie in only his 16th start on the PGA Tour. He became the first golfer in 90 years to win a major championship in his first try. He would go on to win a total of four PGA events. Curtis also was the runnerup at the 2012 PLAYERS Championship and a member of the 2008 Ryder Cup Championship Team. Prior to his professional career, he was formerly the world’s number one ranked amateur after winning three Ohio Amateur titles, earning NCAA All-American honors three times at Kent State University, and reaching the semifinals of the 1999 of the prestigious U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach. He retired from professional golf in 2017.  He now leads the Ben Curtis Golf Academy, as well as the Ben Curtis Family Foundation which seeks to alleviate childhood hunger in Northeast Ohio.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Winning The Open Championship as a rookie
  • Getting married and playing a PGA event on the same day
  • The mental approach to golf
  • Starting a foundation to help alleviate child hunger
  • … and so much more!!!

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The Story of KC Chief Joe Delaney

Long before Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce excited the fans at Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas City Chiefs had another rising star.

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In 1981, running back Joe Delaney would earn AFC Rookie of the Year honors rushing for more than 1100 yards despite only starting 10 games.

Unfortunately, he would go on to play only two seasons in the NFL.

But Joe didn’t have a contract dispute. He didn’t get arrested for domestic assault. He didn’t have a sideline blowup with teammates or coaches. He didn’t get lazy and lose his explosiveness.

You may never have heard of the former second-round draft pick out of Northwestern State University in Louisiana since he only played two seasons … but it wasn’t because he was a bust.

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