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 08 2022

Willing to Adapt?

Despite breaking the school record for total offense during his senior year with the Kent State Golden Flashes, Julian Edelman was not invited to the NFL combine. 

Click here to listen to the 2-minute version of this article on the “Success is a Choice” podcast network.

He was a successful college quarterback but NFL scouts did not see much of a future for him. It was looking bleak for this college star but then hope.

At the end of 7th and final round of the NFL draft, he received a phone call. 

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Personal Growth, Sports · Tagged: adapting, Bill Belichick, Brandon Bostick, Change, Football, Improvement, JJ Birden, julian edelman, Kent State, Kent State University, New England Patriots, NFL, Shemy Schembechler, SuperBowl, Tom Brady

Oct 29 2018

Episode 095: Tim Hall, UMBC Athletic Director

Tim Hall is the Director of Athletics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). He was also appointed President of the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (ADA) in the summer of 2017 and has served as the chairman of the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics. During the 2018 NCAA Tournament, the UMBC Retrievers Men’s Basketball team made history when they became the first ever No. 16 seed to beat the No. 1 seed when they beat Virginia by 20 points, 74-54. Tim has previously served as the Athletic Director at the University of Missouri at Kansas City.  Before heading up his own departments, he was the assistant A.D. at Eastern Kentucky University, Saint Xavier University, Youngstown State University, and Kent State University. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • The historic upset that the men’s basketball team had in the 2018 NCAA Tournament
  • Social media creativity of UMBC athletic communication staff during the tournament
  • Ways to build a mid-major athletic program
  • Hiring and keeping good team members
  • What makes UMBC so special

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Alan Stein, anton goff, Athletic Director, Brian Stanchak, Chad Briscoe, College Athletics, dwane casey, Glen Wright, head coach training center, Hiring, Human Resources, Jay Korff, Jr., Kent State, Kent State University, Laing Kennedy, larry desimpelare, Leadership, Maryland Baltimore County, men's basketball, Mid-Major, Mike Hamilton, NCAA, NCAA Tournament, Ryan Odom, Teamwork, Tim Hall, Tony Bennett, UMBC, Virginia

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