Jamy Bechler

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

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Jan 12 2023

Emmy Award Winning Broadcaster Michele Tafoya

Michele Tafoya is a former American sportscaster winning four Emmy Awards. From 2011 to 2022, she was a reporter for NBC Sports, primarily as a sideline reporter for NBC Sunday Night Football. Today, she hosts the “Sideline Sanity” Podcast and makes television appearances on talk shows discussing the state of American politics and culture.

Click here to see more about Michele

Click here to watch the interview on YouTube

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Broadcasting big events
  • Asking the right questions
  • Her “Sideline Sanity” podcast
  • What makes Al Michaels so good
  • Qualities that the best coaches share
  • How athletes should use their platforms
  • … and much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Personal Growth, Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: CBS sports, Clark Kellogg, Dan Patrick, Emmy, ESPN, Jeff Hoffman, Kara Lawson, Kaya Jones, Mike Lombardi, MLK, Monday NIght Football, NBA, NFL, Nicole Arbour, Olympics, Rachel Cruze, Sports Broadcaster, Sue Enquist

May 31 2022

The Coachable Coach: Ed Schilling

Today’s guest on “The Coachable Coach” series is Ed Schilling, the assistant basketball coach at Grand Canyon 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.

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Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Adoption, Brian Stanchak, Chris Parker, Coachable Coach, College Basketball, Culture, Eastern Florida State College, Elite Eight, enneagrams, ESPN, Ganon Baker, Head Coaching, Juco, Leadership, Missy Bilderback, NJCAA, Personality Tests

May 05 2022

The Coachable Coach: MJ Baker

Today’s guest on “The Coachable Coach” series is MJ Baker, the head women’s basketball coach at Eastern Florida State College.

“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: Adoption, Brian Stanchak, Chris Parker, Coachable Coach, College Basketball, Culture, Eastern Florida State College, Elite Eight, enneagrams, ESPN, Ganon Baker, Head Coaching, Juco, Leadership, Missy Bilderback, NJCAA, Personality Tests

Oct 26 2020

Episode 156: Outkick’s Jason Whitlock

 

Jason Whitlock is a longtime TV personality on both Fox and ESPN. He is now a partner with Outkick.com. The former Ball State University football player has been a fearless journalist throughout his career in sports media. He has written for such papers as the Kansas City Star and the Ann Arbor News, where he covered the University of Michigan. 

Click here for Jason’s bio on Outkick.com

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • The state of sports media
  • Athletes using their platforms
  • Joining Outkick.com
  • Dealing with trolls online
  • … and so much more!!!

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Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Sports · Tagged: Black Lives Matter, BLM, Clark Kellogg, Clay Travis, Colin Cowherd, Colin Kaepernick, Controversial, ESPN, Fox News, Fox Sports, Kaya Jones, Lebron James, NBA, NFL, Nicole Arbour, Outkick, OutKick the Coverage, Outkick.com, Protests, Social Justice, Social Media, Student-Athletes, Tucker Carlson, TV Personality

Jul 28 2020

Episode 151: ESPN’s Paul Biancardi

Paul Biancardi is ESPN’s national recruiting director for boys high school basketball. Prior to joining ESPN, he was a long-time college basketball coach culminating with Horizon League Coach of the Year honors when he was at Wright State University. 

Click here for Coach Biancardi’s complete bio

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Being cut as a D3 athlete to being captain of the team
  • Playing for future NBA coach Tom Thibodeau
  • Transitioning from assistant to head coach
  • Recruiting advice for players and parents
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Basketball, Clark Kellogg, Coaching, College Coaching, Dan Hughes, Dan Tudor, dwane casey, ESPN, Horizon League, Kara Lawson, recruiting, Tom Thibodeau

Mar 17 2020

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!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: al davis, Bill Belichick, Bill Walsh, Cleveland Browns, Culture, Culture Wins, delegating, ESPN, Football, General manager, Job Search, Leadership, Management, Mike Lombardi, New England Patriots, NFL, nfl network, ownership, Podcast, Teamwork, Tom Brady

Jan 27 2020

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!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Alabama, Bart Starr, Bill Belichick, Bill Curry, Bo Schembechler, Bobby Dowd, Bowl Game, Crimson Tide, Don Shula, ESPN, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Green Bay Packers, jason romano, Joe Namath, Johnny Unitas, Keith Grabowski, Kentucky, Kindness, Leadership, Martin Luther King, Michael Catt, MLK, NCAA, NFL, Nick Saban, Race Relations, Racism, Roll Tide, Shemy Schembechler, Super Bowl

Jan 03 2020

Episode 133: Jim Johnson, A Coach and a Miracle

Jim Johnson won more than 400 games as a high high school basketball coach. He only had one losing record in his 30 years of being a head coach. However, he is probably best known for what he did in 2006.  His kindhearted gesture of giving an autistic student (now known affectionately as “J-Mac”) on his team the chance to make his dream come true has captivated the hearts of millions of Americans. How could it not? With the help of his teammates, J-Mac scored twenty points (including six three-point baskets) in just over four minutes, becoming an instant national celebrity.

Coach Johnson has been featured in major news outlets around the country, making a number of radio and television appearances, including the Oprah Winfrey and Jim Rome shows. He has met President George W. Bush, Governor George Pataki, and Senator Hillary Clinton, to name just a few luminaries. His team was paid a visit at school by NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and J-Mac’s magical moment won the ESPY for “Best Sports Moment” at the ESPN awards show later that year.

You can find out more about Coach Jim Johnson and his book “A Coach and a Miracle” by visiting www.CoachJimJohnson.com

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • The inspirational story of J-Mac
  • Getting fired after his first year of coaching
  • Building a culture & turning programs around
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Autism, Autistic, basketball coach, Coach and a Miracle, ESPN, ESPY, ESPY's, High School, inspirational, J-Mac, Jason Mcelwain, Jim Johnson, Kindness, Leadership, Manager, Motivational Speaker, Opportunity

Jul 01 2019

Live to Forgive

Gandhi once said that “an eye for an eye makes the world world blind.” 18-year old Brandt Jean applied this principle in his life when he made headlines for what he did in a Dallas courtroom in October of 2019.

After Amber Guyger was sentenced in the 2018 murder of Brandt’s brother Botham, he said that he forgave her and asked the judge if he could give her a hug.

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Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Personal Growth · Tagged: ACLU, Amber Guyger, Attitude, Botham Jean, Brandt Jean, Buddha, Burden, ESPN, Forget, Forgive, Forgiveness, Gandhi, Hatred, Hurt, jason romano, Live to Forgive, Love, Martin Luther King, MLK, NAACP, Police, Right and Wrong, Wronged

Jan 16 2019

Episode 113: Kara Lawson, WNBA Champion & Basketball Analyst

Kara Lawson is the Washington Wizards’ TV analyst and former star player at the University of Tennessee, as well as in the WNBA. She first joined ESPN in 2004 as a women’s college basketball analyst while playing point guard for the Sacramento Monarchs of the WNBA. She has served in a variety of capacities – game and studio analyst, play-by-play and sideline reporter while covering men’s and women’s college basketball as well as the NBA. Lawson was a member of the Women’s Basketball Olympic Team, which won a gold medal in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and she captained the US Team to a gold medal in the 2011 World University Games. Overall,  in addition to winning an Olympic Gold Medal, she has won a WNBA title, been a WNBA all-star, won two high school state championships while also competing in the NCAA Final Four as a member of the Lady Vols. Off the court, Lawson is a passionate advocate for fitness and personal health. She is a member of the Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Campaign, is active with Race for the Cure and also volunteers for the American Cancer Society. In 2010, Lawson began working with various chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association.

In Today’s Episode We Discuss: 

  • Playing for Pat Summitt at Tennessee
  • How athletes can be better leaders
  • What qualities make up a great coach
  • . . . and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes · Tagged: Alan Stein, Athlete Leadership, dwane casey, Eric Platte, ESPN, Geno Auriemma, Kara Lawson, Lady Vols, Lorenzo Brown, Mike Hamilton, NBA, Pat Summitt, Tennessee, Washington Wizards, Women's Basketball

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