Jamy Bechler

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

Episode 145: Joanna Bernabei-McNamee, ACC Coach of the Year

Joanna Bernabei-McNamee is the head women’s basketball coach at Boston College. In only her second season at BC, she was honored as the 2020 Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coach of the Year. She led BC to an impressive 20-12 overall record and a fourth place finish in the conference with an 11-7 record. The 20 victories were the most in program history since the 2010-11 season. The team also set a new program record for the most ACC victories with 11. She has previously coached at Albany University, Pikeville College, and West Virginia Wesleyan. She also was an assistant on the 2006 Maryland Terrapins squad that won the national championship.

Click here to read her entire bio.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • “Secret sauce” to turning around a program
  • First steps after taking over a new job
  • Football tailgating tips
  • Balancing a high-level job and family life
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Episode 143: Nate Bain, Tennessee Titans Social Media Manager

Nate Bain is the social media manager for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. He joined the club in 2017 after three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, where he was the team’s digital media manager. As social media manager, he is responsible for all the club’s social media accounts, strategy and content ideation. Bain has also worked in the athletic departments at the University of Tennessee and the University of Oregon.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Tips for getting into the sports industry
  • Engaging with fans on social media
  • Social media personalities he follows
  • Breaking news
  • … and so much more!!!

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Episode 142: Karissa Niehoff, NFHS Executive Director

Dr. Karissa L. Niehoff is the executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is the first female to head the national leadership organization for high school athletics and performing arts activities and the sixth full-time executive director of the NFHS, which celebrated its 100th year of service during the 2018-19 school year. She previously was executive director of the Connecticut Association of Schools-Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference for seven years.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • The state of high school athletics (recorded prior to Covid-19)
  • Advice for how parents can help their kids best
  • Challenges & opportunities facing high school athletics
  • Qualities of great coaches
  • … and so much more!!!

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Episode 141: Adrian Griffin, Toronto Raptors Assistant Coach

Available on 4/6/20

Adrian Griffin won a World Championship as the lead assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors in 2020. He played in the NBA from 1999-2008 after a stellar career at Seton Hall University. In 2010 he was inducted into the Seton Hall athletic Hall of Fame. Prior to serving as the Raptors lead assistant coach, he also spent time on the sidelines for Oklahoma City, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, and the Milwaukee Bucks. Next year he’ll have each of his three children playing Division I basketball (Duke, UConn WBB, and Syracuse).

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Winning the NBA Championship
  • Integrating a superstar into an existing team
  • How he got his start in coaching
  • Building a team that meshes and accepts their roles
  • What makes Coach K such a good coach
  • … and so much more!!!

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Episode 139: Rising Coaches Elite CEO Adam Gordon

Adam Gordon spent 17 years in the coaching industry, making stops from the JUCO level to High-major Power 5 basketball. In 2010, along with Andy Farrell, he co-founded a company called Rising Coaches with the mission of servicing the coaching industry. In June of 2019, he stepped away from his coaching career and decided to run Rising Coaches full-time. He is now growing his passion project which has an incredible following, support and brand awareness into a profitable business that helps basketball coaches all across the country. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • What qualities the best coaches possess
  • How Rising Coaches helps young coaches develop
  • Tips for young coaches
  • The Rising Coaches conference in Phoenix and Atlanta
  • … and so much more!!!

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Episode 138: Mike Lombardi, former NFL General Manager

Available March 17th

Michael Lombardi spent three decades in the NFL as an executive with the 49ers, Browns, Eagles and Raiders. From 2014-16 he was also an assistant to the coaching staff of the Patriots. In addition to his current work with The Athletic, he’s also worked for other media outlets, including Sports Illustrated, the NFL Network, NFL.com and The Ringer. He is a frequent guest on talk shows, podcasts, and NFL shows. Lombardi worked alongside such NFL legends as Bill Belichick, Bill Walsh, and Al Davis. He and basketball coaching legend, George Raveling, provide daily insights through their site The Daily Coach. The former Cleveland Browns General Manager also hosts his own podcast “The GM Shuffle” with Adnan Virk, and co-hosts a Saturday morning sports betting program on Sirius XM for Vegas Stats & Information Network. In late 2018, Lombardi released Gridiron Genius: A Master Class in Winning Championships and Building Dynasties in the NFL, featuring a foreword by Bill Belichick.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Bill Belichick’s secret sauce with the Patriots
  • What the best coaches do better than anyone else
  • How championship cultures are built
  • Whether a coach will be successful or not
  • Why teams like the Cleveland Browns are not successful
  • … and so much more!!!

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BORED Yet?

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” (Albert Einstein)

You’ve stocked up on more toilet paper than one person should own at one time.

You’re starting to wonder if your hands will ever smell like something other than hand sanitizer.

You’re binge-watching shows you would never be caught dead admitting to viewing.

You’re watching all of ESPN’s 30 for 30’s again.

Sound familiar?

BORED yet?

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Episode 135: Move the Ball with Jennifer Garrett

Jennifer A. Garrett is an internationally recognized author, life coach, and motivational speaker. She is the host of the “Move The Ball” podcast and the author of “Move The Ball”. Jennifer currently works as an executive coach, corporate consultant, and Judge Advocate in the Army National Guard. She has seven college degrees: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Electrical Engineering, B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Master of Arts (M.A.) in Communication and Leadership Studies, Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Business Transactions, and LL.M. in Taxation. She completed her graduate degrees while working and raising her five children. In the business world, Jennifer is recognized as an outstanding leader. Jennifer’s broad experience includes working for the federal government, and Fortune 50 Companies such as The Boeing Company and General Electric. Her expertise spans many areas such as legal, sales, marketing, branding, engineering, program management, and strategic planning. In December 2012, Jennifer received the GE Women’s Network Hall of Fame “Real Life Hero” Award.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Writing a book about football
  • The secret to living a busy life
  • Growing up a football fan
  • Facing your fears
  • Setting goals and implementing new habits
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Episode 134: Coach Bill Curry

Bill Curry has been the head football coach at Alabama, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, and Georgia State. He was a 2x SEC Coach of the Year, ACC Coach of the Year, as well as the National Coach of the Year in 1989 for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Before embarking upon a coaching career, he played 10 years in the NFL as a Center. He played in Super Bowls I, III, and V, winning two Super Bowl rings with the Packers and the Colts. 

Click here to read Coach Curry’s complete resume and biography.

You can find out more about Coach Bill Curry, his motivational speaking opportunities, and his book “Ten Men You Meet In The Huddle” by visiting www.BillCurry.net. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • What the best teams have in common
  • Playing for Vince Lombardi and Don Shula
  • Attending Martin Luther King’s funeral
  • Why Johnny Unitas and Bart Star were so great
  • … and so much more!!!

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Team-Building During Covid

“Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.” (John Wooden)

Since March 2020, sports have been different. Covid-19 has made coaches and athletes adjust, adapt, and change the way they approach their sport. I have done countless zoom calls and consultations with teams on how to make the best of these unprecedented and challenging times we are all experiencing.

There is no doubt this pandemic has affected your team in some way – from games or the season being canceled, to quarantining and experiencing isolation, to wearing masks and staying six-feet away from teammates. No matter who you are, you’ve been affected in some way to some extreme.

Here are some ideas for making the best of a bad situation and trying to have a healthy and strong culture throughout this pandemic.

[Read more…]

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