Jamy Bechler

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

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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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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Episode 167: Hugh Freeze, Liberty Football Coach

Hugh Freeze is the head football coach at Liberty University. He has won an astounding 18 games in his first two years at Liberty. Prior to his time at Liberty University, he was the head coach at Ole Miss in the SEC. During his time at Ole Miss, they were the only team to beat Alabama in the regular season in both 2014 and 2015. His teams finished with a winning record in four of his five years. He is one of the only college coaches in history to win at least 10 games at four different colleges (Lambuth, Arkansas State, Ole Miss, and Liberty).

Click here for Coach’s complete bio.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • How to build a winning culture regardless of the school
  • Beating Nick Saban in back-to-back years
  • His role in the story of Michael Oher and “The Blindside”
  • Ways that he has improved as a coach

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3 Ways to be a Verbal Leader

They may take our lives . . . BUT THEY’LL NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM!!!

Most of the time when we think of verbal leadership, we think of Hollywood speeches with the hero inspiring countless individuals to follow him into battle like the movies Braveheart, Gladiator, or 300.

We also might think of Tim Tebow giving the “Promise” speech and then backing it up on the way to a national championship.

We may not be Michael Jordan, Tim Tebow, Kobe Bryant, or William Wallace in Braveheart, but we all can be verbal leaders.

In fact, as long as we have a tongue, we should be verbal leaders.

Let me say that again for the people in the back…

Not only can we all be verbal leaders but we all should be verbal leaders.

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Help Your Athletes Deal with the Haters

Tom Brady dismantled the defending champs and Vegas favorites in Super Bowl 55 to become a seven-time champion. Even though he is my guy, I am afraid I picked the Kansas City Chiefs to repeat and defeat Brady’s Buccaneers.

He had no idea I had picked against him, nor would he have cared.

However, he is no stranger to doubters.

It definitely is strange to see so many haters, doubters, and critics of Tom Brady when he is essentially the unquestioned GOAT – greatest of all time.

We as adults definitely don’t deal with doubters and haters as well as we should sometimes, so there is no question that our athletes will struggle with it.

Since the GOAT has haters, we all will have haters and those who doubt us.

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Episode 163: Bret Burchard, former G-League Coach

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Bret Burchard is the co-founder of the mindset development company ChampionShift and co-author of “Catching Confetti: Developing the Mindset of a Champion.” He helps athletes and coaches tap into mental states to improve their confidence and resilience. He coached in the NBA for 10 seasons, all with the Phoenix Suns, most recently as the head coach of their minor league affiliate. 

Click here for Bret’s Wikipedia page.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Ignoring Justin Timberlake
  • Why some players are in the NBA and some aren’t
  • What makes a great coach
  • How athletes can have a championship mindset
  • What “catching confetti” means
  • … and so much more!!!

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Good-to-G.O.A.T.

Tom Brady just helped lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl championship. This was his first year with the Buccaneers. He nows has seven Super Bowl wins and has appeared in the big game an amazing 10 times during his 21-year career.

He has more championships than any TEAM in NFL history. Most people consider him the GOAT – the greatest of all time.

However, it is easy to forget that he wasn’t always the greatest. He didn’t just pop out of the womb and it was all rainbows and butterflies after that. He had to work to get to where he is at.

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Episode 162: Paige Tonz, Athlete Mindset Mentor

Paige Tonz takes pride in building athletes into the best they can be as an athlete mindset mentor. She is also a former star catcher at the University of Northwestern in the Big 10. 

Click here for Paige’s bio.

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Bet on Yourself

Fred VanVleet got paid. I mean HE GOT PAID!

FVV’s contract of 4-years $85 million might not be the largest contract in NBA history but it is the largest contract ever for an undrafted free agent.

Bet on yourself. That has been Fred’s mantra – his philosophy – for a long time. 

In fact, he even has his own Bet on Yourself apparel line.

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MLK Day Leadership Marathon

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day will be a busy day for Jamy Bechler.

The former college basketball coach is now considered one of the nation’s top experts in the area of athletic leadership and culture.

On the day Americans celebrate one of their greatest leaders, Martin Luther King, Jr., Bechler will be conducting five different leadership webinars on Monday, January 18th in honor of his legacy.

All of the virtual webinars are free to attend but registration is required since spots are limited.

Here is the schedule for Monday’s webinars (click on topic to register)

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