It’s very exciting to join a new program and start fresh.
Whether we’re a young coach or a wily veteran, head coach or assistant, there are still some important things to remember as we begin this new job.
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
Episode 150: Robyn Fralick, College Basketball Coach
Robyn Fralick was named the head women’s basketball coach at NCAA Division I Bowling Green State University in spring of 2018. Fralick was the architect of the two greatest offensive seasons in NCAA Division II women’s basketball history when she was at Ashland University. She was at Ashland for a total of 10 years. The last three years, she was Ashland’s head coach and had a record of 104-3, for an incredible winning percentage of .972. The Eagles won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2016-17 before returning to the national championship game and earning a runner-up finish in ’17-18. She earned national coach of the year honors twice while at Ashland University.
Click here for Coach Fralick’s complete bio
In today’s episode, we discuss:
- Losing only 3 games in 3 years as a Division II head coach
- Making the transition from DII to DI
- Taking over a winning program vs. taking over a struggling program
- Putting together a new staff of coaches
- Work-life integration with a career and family
- … and so much more!!!
Episode 145: Joanna Bernabei-McNamee, ACC Coach of the Year
Joanna Bernabei-McNamee is the head women’s basketball coach at Boston College. In only her second season at BC, she was honored as the 2020 Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coach of the Year. She led BC to an impressive 20-12 overall record and a fourth place finish in the conference with an 11-7 record. The 20 victories were the most in program history since the 2010-11 season. The team also set a new program record for the most ACC victories with 11. She has previously coached at Albany University, Pikeville College, and West Virginia Wesleyan. She also was an assistant on the 2006 Maryland Terrapins squad that won the national championship.
Click here to read her entire bio.
In today’s episode, we discuss:
- “Secret sauce” to turning around a program
- First steps after taking over a new job
- Football tailgating tips
- Balancing a high-level job and family life
- … and so much more!!!