Jamy Bechler

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

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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LOL Chicago Bulls Part 2

“Discipline yourself and others won’t need to.” (John Wooden)
“He who angers you, controls you.” (Elizabeth Kenny)

The 2017-18 NBA Season is still a day away for the Chicago Bulls but you are probably already laughing out loud and shaking your head about ‘da Bulls. 

But the LOL I am referring to is a LACK OF LEADERSHIP.  

It’s deja vu all over again. I wrote about the Chicago Bulls last season and their lack of leadership. I pointed out how the star players were not leading like they should. I still believe 100% that was the case.

Now we have a Chicago Bulls power forward punching another Chicago Bulls power forward. Nikola Mirotic is in the hospital with a concussion and a broken face as a result of teammate Bobby Portis’ punch. 

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Defense Still Wins Championships

It has often been said that “Defense Wins Championships”.  In fact, I previously wrote a post that talked about it. As a college basketball coach, I am certainly aware that there are a lot of factors that work together to contribute to a team winning a game and eventually a championship.  However, I am convinced that defense is the most prevalent common denominator when it comes to successful teams. As I recently served on the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Women’s Basketball Tournament Committee, I got a first-hand view of the importance of defense (originally posted on March 30, 2013).

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Change for the Better

Big Blue Nation and the University of Kentucky recently won its’ 8th NCAA men’s basketball national championship (editor’s note:  originally published on April 26, 2012).  Head coach John Calipari and his much-publicized dribble drive offense finally got his first national title after a near miss with the University of Memphis in 2008 against the Kansas Jayhawks.  Though Coach Cal added to his already spectacular career, the dribble drive did not really add a national championship to its resume.

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Why Pat Summitt is the Best

(editor’s note:  published on April 18, 2012)

Today is a sad day not only in the state of Tennessee but across the nation.  Pat Summitt, all of 59 years young, 8 national championships, nearly 1,100 wins (most all-time, men or women) and countless branches on her coaching tree, stepped down from being the Lady Vol head coach.  Coach Summitt’s associate head coach, Holly Warlick, will take over the reigns full-time.  Head Coach Emeritus is the new title that Coach Summitt has earned.  Just like everything else she has done in her career, I am sure that she’ll be the best at this position.  [Read more…]

Championship Lessons Learned at NAIA National Tournament

(originally published on March 27, 2012)

From March 10-20, I spent time serving on the NAIA National Tournament Committee.  It was a bittersweet experience.  Meeting all the coaches, watching all the games, observing many practices and helping the tournament run smoothly was great.  However, it was difficult watching the teams play knowing that we had been fairly close to qualifying ourselves.  If only we’d won 1-2 more games, we might have been one of the 32-teams that earned a bid.  I must say that Rob Edmission’s Oklahoma City University team was extremely impressive throughout the entire tournament.  They beat Union University in the championship game, which is no small feat.  As I watched the games and thought about how to get my team to the tournament, I came up with some observations. In no particular order, I have listed them below.

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