Jamy Bechler

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

  • Home
  • About
  • Store
  • Blog
  • SEARCH FIRM
  • Podcast
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Speaking
  • Training

Feb 28 2022

Leaders Growing Leaders: Mark DeMichael

Today’s guest on the “Leaders Growing Leaders” series is Mark DeMichael, the VP of Student Life and Athletics at Indiana Wesleyan University.

During the “Leaders Growing Leaders” series on the Success is a Choice Podcast Network, Jamy Bechler talks with leaders on how they are growing and developing other leaders.

The series tries to examine how various leaders are making the people around them better and building a stronger, healthier culture.

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Administration, Athlete Leadership, Athletic Department, Athletic Director, Athletic Directors, Chad Briscoe, Covid, crossroads league, Culture, Greg Tonagel, Indiana Wesleyan, IWU, larry desimpelare, leaders growing leaders, Leadership, Marion, Mark Fauser, NAIA, Podcast

Oct 05 2021

The Coachable Coach: Jared Ronai

Today’s guest on “The Coachable Coach” series is Jared Ronai, head men’s basketball coach at Mount Vernon Nazarene 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.

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: basketball coach, Basketball Coaching, Brent Ellis, crossroads league, Culture Matters, Culture Wins, Developing Leaders, larry desimpelare, Lead by Example, men's basketball, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, NAIA, Ryan Cottingham, Team Captains, Team Leadership, Team Retreat, The Coachable Coach, The Leadership Playbook

Dec 13 2017

Episode 036: Spring Arbor University President Brent Ellis

Dr. Brent Ellis became the 30th president of Spring Arbor University when he took over the top position in 2013. During his presidency SAU has been ranked by The Economist as the No. 1 in economic value among Christian universities in Michigan and No 2. among all universities in Michigan. Dr. Ellis has also played a pivotal role in key growth initiatives including the accreditation received by the Master of Social Work program and growing expectancies for the SAU Endowment from $30 million to $60 million. Before becoming President, Dr. Ellis served as a vice president at Spring Arbor University. He also worked at LeTourneau University where he served as dean for the Center for the Development of Christian Leadership. Prior to working at LeTourneau, Dr. Ellis spent four years as the director of leadership development and student programs at Taylor University (Ind.).

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • What the difference is between being in the classroom and being the president
  • The importance of Christian higher education
  • Why Spring Arbor isn’t for everyone
  • The difference between wisdom and knowledge

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes · Tagged: Brent Ellis, Chad Briscoe, Christian education, crossroads league, episode 014, episode 016, episode 017, Itunes, larry desimpelare, LeTourneau University, NAIA, NCCAA, Play NAIA, Rob Miller, Spring Arbor University

Jul 25 2017

Episode 014: Grace College Athletic Director Chad Briscoe

Chad Briscoe is the athletic director at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana.  He earned the 2017 Crossroads League Athletic Director of the Year award.  He also won the award in 2010.  At the NAIA level, he has helped initiate several “Champions of Character” initiatives, starting various sportsmanship summits for the league and local high school conferences. He currently is the league’s representative on the NAIA National Administrative Council and is the vice chair of the Championship Committee on the NAIA-NAC.  Briscoe’s energetic vision of the future has guided Grace Athletics to unparalled success across the school’s varsity programs. His desire to pursue Christ-like excellence through the realm of athletics has led many of Grace’s teams to some of their best seasons ever. In addition to being a collegiate athletic director, Briscoe has also been a professional basketball player in Sweden, a minor league baseball general manager, and a college basketball coach.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • Mistakes leaders make
  • Traits that successful leaders have
  • How he develops his coaches and student-athletes
  • The importance of having a positive culture

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes · Tagged: Chad Briscoe, Coaching, crossroads league, Denny Lehnus, Itunes, Jamy Bechler, larry desimpelare, Leadership, NAIA, podcast episode, sportsmanship, sportsmanship summit, TELL Summit, The Leadership Playbook, Tim Buckley

Jun 10 2017

Episode 016: Crossroads League Commissioner Larry DeSimpelare

Larry DeSimpelare is the commissioner of the Crossroads League, which is arguably the best NAIA conference in the country when it comes to combining national-level competition and an emphasis on character-building. The Crossroads League has schools from the state of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Before becoming a commissioner, Larry served as a collegiate men’s basketball coach at Cleveland State University, Rutgers University, Kent State University, Eastern Michigan University and Concordia University. Along the way, DeSimpelare helped guide those programs to three league titles, eight NIT berths and four NCAA bids, where he helped Eastern Michigan take out Duke and Cleveland State upend Wake Forest in a pair of opening round upsets.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • The importance of loyalty and how he stayed with head coach Gary Waters for more than 20 years and at 3 different jobs
  • His journey to becoming a collegiate conference commissioner
  • Future Hall of Fame football player Antonio Gates playing basketball at Kent State University

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes · Tagged: Antonio Gates, Basketball, Champions of Character, Cleveland State University, coach, Coaching, Concordia University, conference commissioner, crossroads league, Gary Waters, Itunes, Kent State University, larry desimpelare, Loyalty, NAIA, Play NAIA, podcast episode, Rutgers University, Spring Arbor University, Stan Heath

Tweets by CoachBechler

Featured Blog Posts

  • 3 Types of Teams During March
  • Storming the Court
  • Content of Our Character
  • 2 Flat Tires
  • Only Thankful Person
  • 9 Things to Avoid as a New Coach
  • Honoring Fallen Teammates
  • Labor Day
  • Bay College Partners with Bechler Leadership for Softball Search
  • Halfway Point

Blog Categories

  • Business
  • Job Search
  • Leadership
  • News
  • Personal Growth
  • Podcast Episodes
  • Sports
  • Teams & Organizations

Sign Up For Leadership Insights

Join Thousands Of Others Who Follow Jamy On These Platforms:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 · Jamy Bechler · Providing Insights on Leadership and Success · site design: red letter design