Jamy Bechler

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

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Feb 13 2018

Episode 069: NFHS Executive Director Bob Gardner

Bob Gardner has been the executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations since May of 2010. He will be retiring from this position in August of 2018 after nearly 50 years of serving in secondary education. Gardner was only the fifth full-time executive director for the NFHS since 1940.

During his 18 years on the NFHS staff in Indianapolis, participation in high school sports has increased by almost 400,000, including the expanded opportunity for students with disabilities in high school sports. Gardner has led the organization’s focus on risk minimization in high school sports, with particular emphasis on concussion awareness, and has brought a heightened national presence to the work of the NFHS and its member state associations.

In addition to the continual expansion of the NFHS Learning Center during his tenure, Gardner is credited with starting the NFHS Network, the first-of-its-kind digital coverage of high school sports with more than 25,000 events covered during the 2016-17 school year.

He spent his career in Indiana as a teacher and coach at three schools for eight years and as an athletic director. In 1978, Gardner became principal of Milan Junior-Senior High School, followed by a stint as superintendent of the Milan Community Schools.

After serving on the Indiana High School Athletic Association board of directors during his time at Milan, Gardner joined the IHSAA staff in 1985 as assistant commissioner. He served 10 years in that role prior to becoming commissioner in 1995.

Gardner joined the NFHS staff in 2000 as chief operating officer and served in that position for 10 years prior to becoming executive director. During this time, he chaired the NFHS Rules Review Committee and was responsible for day-to-day operations of the organization. He has served on the board of directors for USA Football, USA Basketball and the Indiana Sports Corp. He is a member of the Indiana High School Wrestling Hall of Fame.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • His career serving student-athletes
  • The movie Hoosiers and the real-life story
  • The future of High School sports

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes · Tagged: Athletic Director, athletics, Bob Gardner, Bobby Cox, Curtis Hollomon, Darrin Gray, dwane casey, High School, IHSAA, Kevin Harrington, Leadership, National Federation of State High SChool Associations, NCAA, NFHS, Podcast, Todd Gongwer

Feb 02 2018

Episode 064: NCAA Director of Leadership Development Curtis Hollomon

Curtis J. Hollomon is the director of leadership development at the NCAA. His primary duties include strategic advancement of the department, marketing and branding efforts, and program oversight of Resolution Initiatives, NCAA Champion Forum for Football, and Pathway Program (DI). Before coming to the NCAA in 2005, Hollomon was the assistant athletics director for operations and development at St. Cloud (Minnesota) State University. Prior to his duties at SCSU, Hollomon served as assistant to the directors at the Georgia Tech Athletic Association, a nonprofit organization responsible for maintaining the intercollegiate athletics program at Tech. A 1999 graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Hollomon was a three-year letterman in football and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in history, technology and society. He holds a master’s degree in sports administration, which he obtained while at St. Cloud State.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • The great work that the NCAA is doing in the area of leadership
  • Knowing your “why” and what your passions are
  • Developing student-athletes to turn pro in something other than sports
  • Winning an ACC Football Championship while at Georgia Tech

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes · Tagged: Alicia Jessop, anton goff, Bobby Cox, Celia Slater, Curtis Hollomon, Football, George O'Leary, Georgia Tech, Jamy Bechler, Leadership, Mike Hamilton, NCAA, Social Media, Tim Selgo

Dec 26 2017

Episode 043: Mike Hamilton, Executive Director of Show Hope

Mike Hamilton is the Executive Director of Show Hope, a position that he has held since December 2014. Show Hope is an orphan care and adoption ministry started by Christian music entertainer Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth. A man of deep faith, Mike has extensive experience in leadership and development, serving 26 years in intercollegiate athletics at Clemson University, Wake Forest University. Most notably, he was the athletic director at the University of Tennessee and their $105 million budget.  Mike also served on the board for Show Hope, as well as other local, regional, and national nonprofits. Mike is also the CEO and Founder of Winfred-Henry Partners, LLC, which provides athletic consulting. Mike and his wife, Beth, live in the Nashville area and have five children through adoption.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • The environment and pressures of big-time SEC athletics
  • Job search advise, including why many coaches get hired or fired
  • Ways that Show Hope is impacting lives and making a difference in the world
  • The interesting story of Bruce Pearl getting hired at the University of Tennessee

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes · Tagged: Adoption, Alan Stein, anton goff, Athletic Consulting, Bethany Christian Services, Brian Stanchak, Bruce Pearl, Chad Briscoe, Charity, College Athletics, consulting, Curtis Hollomon, Dan Wood, Daniel Hare, Hiring Process, jason romano, Job Search, Lane Kiffin, larry desimpelare, Management by walking around, NCAA, Pat Williams, Rick A. Morris, Rob Miller, Shemy Schembechler, Show Hope, Steven Curtis chapman, Tennessee, Tennessee volunteers, Tim Selgo, Tom Peters, Tracie Hitz, troy kirby, University of Tennessee, Winfred-Henry Partners

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