Jamy Bechler

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

Episode 167: Hugh Freeze, Liberty Football Coach

Hugh Freeze is the head football coach at Liberty University. He has won an astounding 18 games in his first two years at Liberty. Prior to his time at Liberty University, he was the head coach at Ole Miss in the SEC. During his time at Ole Miss, they were the only team to beat Alabama in the regular season in both 2014 and 2015. His teams finished with a winning record in four of his five years. He is one of the only college coaches in history to win at least 10 games at four different colleges (Lambuth, Arkansas State, Ole Miss, and Liberty).

Click here for Coach’s complete bio.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • How to build a winning culture regardless of the school
  • Beating Nick Saban in back-to-back years
  • His role in the story of Michael Oher and “The Blindside”
  • Ways that he has improved as a coach

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Episode 148: Dr. Bhrett McCabe, Sports Pyschologist

Dr. Bhrett McCabe is one of the leading experts in the area of sports pyschology. The best of the best turn to him when they need help with performance and mindset. He is the founder of The MindSide and is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with Clinical Psychology PhD from Louisiana State University (LSU). He is also a practicing Sports Psychologist and he works with a number of PGA TOUR professionals, including Jon Rahm and Billy Horschel. Dr. McCabe has also worked extensively with the University of Alabama athletic department. His podcast “The Secrets to Winning” comes highly recommended and is one of our favorites.

Click here for Dr. McCabe’s complete bio

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • What makes Nick Saban so good
  • Mental toughness
  • Getting the most out of athletes
  • Building a championship culture
  • … and so much more!!!

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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!!!

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Episode 052: Tim Selgo, 3x National A.D. of the Year

Tim Selgo is the author of the book “Anchor Up: Competitive Greatness the Grand Valley Way”.  He was the athletic director at Grand Valley State University for 20 years. During that time, the Lakers won the Director’s Cup as the top collegiate athletic department an astounding 10 times. Lakers teams won 18 national championships. He was named the national A.D. of the Year three times. He is now teaching part-time at Davenport University and is a Senior Consultant with Athletics Staffing and Consultants.

In addition, GVSU won 18 straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Presidents’ Cup titles as the top athletic program in the 16-team GLIAC. The Lakers’ 23 all-time Presidents’ Cup titles top all GLIAC institutions. Grand Valley State, which won 45 GLIAC titles prior to Tim’s arrival, has won 174 GLIAC titles since he was appointed Athletic Director in 1996.

A well respected leader in college athletics throughout his career, Tim served on the NCAA DII Management Council for four years (2007-11), including serving as Chair of the Management Council in 2009. A term on the NCAA DII Management Council is the highest position is DII athletics. He was named the NACDA Division II AD of the Year for the Central Region (2012-13), while also being named the Division II Central Region Astroturf AD of the Year (2006-07). He was also honored as the Central Region AD of the Year in 2002-03. In addition, Tim was President of NACDA for the 2015-16 year. Before getting into administration, Tim served as the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Toledo for three years.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • The “secret sauce” of building culture
  • Working with great coaches like Nick Saban, Brian Kelly, and Gary Pinkel
  • His new book and why all business leaders need to read it
  • How to surround yourself with the right people

[Read more…]

Episode 048: Steve Nudelberg, “Confessions of a Serial Salesman”

Steve Nudelberg is a serial salesman & entrepreneur. As a product of his entrepreneurial spirit, he developed On the Ball – a company that focuses exclusively on sales & business development. Inspiration for the company name was derived from the feedback Steve received from business associates, claiming that he was always ‘on the ball’. The core philosophy is rooted in that what we know and who we know can help your business grow. On The Ball’s list of clients include Toshiba, BankUnited, AIG, Transworld Business Advisors., and Getaway2Give

Steve’s book “Confessions of a Serial Salesman” is a best-seller and is a very practical and easy-to-read book. He is a mover and a shaker as he partners with some of the biggest names in sports, business, and entertainment. Steve is high-energy and truly a motivating guy.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • Why Steve gets up between 3-3:30 each morning
  • What makes his philosophy on sales different and so successful
  • How to connect and build great relationships

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The Best College Football Coach

This past Saturday (originally published on December 20, 2012), did you watch ESPN and see the best college football coach in the country lead his team to another National Championship?  What, you say?  Nick Saban had the weekend off . . . Alabama didn’t play.  I am not talking about the Crimson Tide or the Notre Dame Fighting Irish or any other BCS team.

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15 Best Books for Coaches

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”
(John Wooden)

In a previous post, I talked about some of the best books for leaders, whether you are a coach or not.  Today, I will recommend the books that will help a coach in nearly any sport at any level.  A couple of the books may seem sport specific, but contain information and insight that can help you regardless of what you coach.  Even if you are not an avid reader, flip through some of these books and steal one or two ideas to implement with your teams or to strengthen your coaching philosophy.  These are 15 books that are different than my list for leaders.  However, I would definitely suggest looking at those books as well.

[Read more…]

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