Jamy Bechler

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

Honoring Fallen Teammates

“Did you ever know that you’re my hero and everything I’d like to be? I can fly higher than an eagle for you are the wind beneath my wings.” (Bette Midler, Wind Beneath My Wings)

Click here to listen to the 2-minute audio version of this story

Dustin Hale was only a year older than me, but I thought the sophomore basketball player was a pretty cool guy. We didn’t really hang out away from the basketball court, but he meant a lot to me.​

That summer he passed away as the result of a freakish accident.

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2021-2022 Student-Athletes of the Year

 

Student-Athlete of the Year Award Winners Announced

The Leadership Playbook announces the 2021-2022 Student-Athlete of the Year Award Winners

Akron, OH:  TheLeadershipPlaybook.com has announced their 2021-2022 Student-Athlete of the Year recipients. The award honors those individuals who exemplify sportsmanship, positive leadership, or good teamwork.

The 2021-2022 Student-Athlete of the Year recipients are …

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Piles of Mail

“First get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats, and then they can figure out where to drive it.” (Jim Collins, Good to Great)

During the summer of my first year as an AD, we hired a brand new secretary. On her first day, she put all the mail that had been piling up for the last month into a big black trash bag and threw it in the dumpster.

In all fairness, it looked like a big pile of trash with all of the catalogs from equipment, award, and apparel businesses. But there were a few letters and other important stuff mixed in.

Obviously, I was not happy. However, she was just trying to help out and we were in the midst of redecoration and redesign of the athletic department so she thought this was right in line with what we were trying to do.

Regardless, I went dumpster diving and also learned a great lesson.

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Episode 147: Kurt Hines, Football Coach & Thought Leader

Kurt Hines is a well-respected football coach at Coronado High School in San Diego. His social media insights are top-notch. You will want to follow him even if you aren’t a football coach. He is a motivational speaker that provides great thoughts and energy to audiences across the country. Coach Hines is also the host of the “For What It Is Worth Coaching” podcast.

Click here for Coach Hines’ complete bio

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Why he coaches
  • How teaching helps his coaching
  • Playing favorites as a coach
  • Working with special needs kids
  • Advice for coaches – both head coaches and assistants
  • … and so much more!!!

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Teacher’s Pet

Believe it or not, I was voted “Teacher’s Pet” in my graduating class. To this day, I don’t know how that was the case. Regardless of whether I agreed with it, I had to take a yearbook picture with Judith Shannon, my dreaded English teacher. 

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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!!!

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Episode 070: Tim Elmore, President of Growing Leaders

Dr. Tim Elmore is the founder and president of “Growing Leaders”.  He founded it in 2003. Growing Leaders is a global nonprofit that encourages and equips young adults to take on real-life opportunities and challenges in the classroom, in their careers, and in the community.

Growing Leaders does this by partnering with organizations to teach practical life and leadership skills using real stories, intriguing images, and engaging experiences that are relatable and memorable. The process and resources are grounded in research and a unique understanding of the emerging generations, and recognize that leading others at any level begins with learning how to lead yourself.

Tim spends his time teaching leadership courses and speaks at schools, universities, business, and athletic programs. He has trained thousands of leaders in partnership with nationally renowned schools and organizations like the San Francisco Giants, Stanford University, Virginia Tech, University of Alabama Athletics, Duke University, University of Texas, Chick-fil-a, Cici’s Pizza, Delta, and more.

Dr. Elmore has also authored more than 30 books including: Habitudes®: Images that Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes, Artificial Maturity: Helping Kids Meet the Challenge of Becoming Authentic Adults, Generation iY: Secrets to Connecting With Today’s Teens & Young Adults in the Digital Age, 12 Huge Mistakes Parents Can Avoid, Life Giving Mentors, and Nurturing the Leader Within Your Child. His newest book is Marching Off The Map: Inspire Students to Navigate a Brand New World

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • How to reach this current generation of students
  • What does the phrase “habitudes” mean
  • What is the differences between generations
  • Stories about James Bond and Jim Harbaugh

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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

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Episode 019: IHSAA Commissioner Bobby Cox

Bobby Cox is the Commissioner of the Indiana High School Athletic Association. He became the 8th commissioner in Indiana history when he took the reigns in 2011. Prior to that appointment, he had served as assistant commissioner since 2000 administering the sports of football, boys’ golf, boys’ and girls’ track and field, and wrestling.  Previously, Cox was a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee serving as the Chairman of the Research subcommittee from 2008-2011. Additionally, Cox served as a member of the NFHS Coaches’ Education committee from 2002-2006 and as an advisor to the Commission on Sports Medicine of the Indiana State Medical Association. Prior to joining the IHSAA, Cox had spent the previous 21 years as a teacher, coach, and athletic administrator in the Carmel Clay Schools.
In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • What parents can do to help develop their kids
  • Common traits that the best coaches share
  • The future of high school sports

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Bechler Speaks to Mississippi High School Athletic Directors

Leadership speaker and coach Jamy Bechler was a keynote speaker at the Mississippi Association of Athletics Administration conference held on January 10-13 at the IP Casino and Resort in Biloxi, Mississippi.  Bechler spoke to coaches, athletic administrators, principals and superintendents about the qualities that it takes to be a successful leader.  As a longtime college basketball coach and high school athletic director, Bechler provided the audience with positive strategies to develop leadership among their staffs and student-athletes.

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