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

Nov 30 2022

Episode 185: National Fastpitch Coaches Association Executive Director

Carol Bruggeman was a long-time Division I coach at Michigan, Purdue, and Louisville. In fact, she was tasked with starting the Purdue softball program from scratch when she was just 28 years old. She’s been the Executive Director of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) since February 2016 and has done great things to grow the game of softball. In addition to her role with the NFCA, Carol is also a TV analyst.

Click here to see more about Carol

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Team-building ideas
  • How to grow the game
  • Mistakes coaches make
  • Qualities of a good coach
  • Advice for younger coaches
  • NFCA Educational Initiatives
  • National Convention in San Antonio on Dec. 7-10
  • … and much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Personal Growth, Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Carol Bruggeman, Coaching, College Coaches, Joanne McCallie, NFCA, paige tonz, Positive leadership, Softball, Softball Coaching, Sue Enquist

Mar 03 2021

Episode 162: Paige Tonz, Athlete Mindset Mentor

Paige Tonz takes pride in building athletes into the best they can be as an athlete mindset mentor. She is also a former star catcher at the University of Northwestern in the Big 10. 

Click here for Paige’s bio.

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Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Adversity, big 10, Confidence, females, girls, girls sports, mental confidence, mental toughness, mental training, Mentorship, Mindset, northwestern wildcats, paige tonz, Softball, Student-Athletes, Sue Enquist, University of northwestern

Oct 09 2019

Episode 128: Swen Nater, Only player to lead ABA & NBA in Rebounding

Swen Nater won two NCAA Championships as a basketball player for the legendary John Wooden at UCLA. He would become the first player to ever be a NBA first round draft choice despite never starting a college game. During the 1973-74 season, Swen would earn ABA Rookie of the Year status. He would go on to play professional basketball for 12 years for the Lakers, Clippers, Bucks, Spurs, and Nets. He is the only player in basketball history to lead the ABA and the NBA in rebounding. At the 2004 NBA All-Star game, he was officially named “Mr. Clipper”. After retiring as a player, he would go on to help start the Christian Heritage athletic department and lead the men’s basketball team to a National Championship. Today, he is a highly sought-after motivational speaker and executive of a Fortune 500 company. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • His unbelievable story of going from an orphanage to finding his parents on an American TV show.
  • Playing for the legendary coach John Wooden
  • What made him such a great rebounder
  • The journey of not playing basketball in high school to being a bench player in college to being selected as a first-round draft pick in the NBA
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Sports · Tagged: Bill Walton, championship rebounding, dwane casey, John Wooden, kareem abdul-jabbar, Leadership, Leadership Development, Leadership Training, NCAA, Overcoming Adversity, rebounding, Sue Enquist, UCLA

May 27 2019

Episode 121: Kevin Eastman, Former NBA Coach & Executive

Kevin Eastman is a corporate speaker and an internationally-known basketball clinician who brings his knowledge and experience in sports to the business world. He speaks on various topics, including championship culture, teamwork, leadership, motivation and individual success.

Over his 40 years in the game, Kevin has coached basketball at all levels, including 13 years in the NBA. He was a top assistant to Doc Rivers with the 2008 NBA World Championship Boston Celtics, and most recently served as an assistant coach and Vice President of Basketball Operations with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kevin was raised in Haddonfield, New Jersey, and attended the University of Richmond, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He was a scholarship student-athlete at Richmond and in recognition of his unique qualities as a basketball player, the University created the Kevin Eastman Award. The award, which has been awarded just five times in program history, is given to a player who exemplifies the qualities of team leadership, dedication, and outstanding play. He was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame at both Haddonfield Memorial High School and the University of Richmond.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • What makes the best the best
  • The absolute most important word needed for success
  • How to be truthful and “keep it real” with team members
  • Being the best assistant or #2 possible
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Alan Stein, alan Stein Jr., Boston Celtics, Championship Culture, Coaching, Coaching U, Culture, Culture Building, Don Yaegar, Don Yaeger, dwane casey, Gary Reasons, Geno Auriemma, Gregg popovich, John Wooden, Jon Gordon, Kara Lawson, Kevin Eastman, Kevin Garnett, Leadership, NBA, NCAA, Pat Williams, Seattle Storm, Sue Enquist, Teamwork, UConn, Why the best are the best, WNBA

May 08 2019

Episode 120: Dan Hughes, WNBA Championship Coach

Dan Hughes is the head coach of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. In just his first year with the Storm, he helped lead them to the 2018 WNBA Championship. Nobody has coached more games in the WNBA than Hughes. He has been the head coach of the Charlotte Sting (1999), Cleveland Rockers (2000-2003), San Antonio Stars (2005-2009, 2011-2016), and the Seattle Storm (2018-current). He has also coached both men and women at various college levels. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Coming out of retirement to coach the Storm to a championship.
  • What makes Gregg Popovich so good as a coach.
  • How to be a great assistant.
  • Creating a championship culture quickly.
  • His non-traditional coaching journey and how it helped him be a better coach.
  • The male and the female player he would have liked to coach.
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Championship Culture, Coaching, Culture, Culture Building, Don Yaegar, Don Yaeger, dwane casey, Gary Reasons, Geno Auriemma, Gregg popovich, John Wooden, Jon Gordon, Kara Lawson, Leadership, NBA, NCAA, Pat Williams, Seattle Storm, Sue Enquist, Teamwork, UConn, WNBA

Mar 18 2019

Episode 118: Don Yaeger, New York Times Best-Selling Author

Don Yaeger is a keynote speaker, corporate business leadership coach, 11-time New York Times Best-selling author and long-time associate editor for Sports Illustrated. As a speaker, he has worked with audiences as diverse as Fortune 500 companies, associations and leadership forums on the subject “What Makes the Great Ones Great.”

He has written 25+ books with, among others, Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, UCLA basketball Coach John Wooden, baseball legend John Smoltz, and football star Warrick Dunn.

Throughout his writing career, Don has developed a reputation as a world-class storyteller and has been invited as a guest to almost every major talk show – from The Oprah Winfrey Show to Nightline, from CNN to Good Morning America.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Living with Walter Payton in the months leading up to his death
  • Being mentored by John Wooden
  • The one book that he’d still like to write
  • What makes the best the best
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: author, CEO, Championship Culture, Culture, Culture Building, Don Yaegar, Don Yaeger, dwane casey, John Brubaker, John Wooden, Jon Gordon, Ken Coleman, Leadership, Michael Jordan, Mike Ganino, NCAA, New york Times, NY Times, Sports Illustrated, Sue Enquist, Teamwork, Walter Payton

Feb 13 2019

Episode 117: Jacqie McWilliams, CIAA Commissioner

Jacqie McWilliams became the first female commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 2012. As the first African American female commissioner in the NCAA, McWilliams is a sought after speaker and is recognized on a local, regional, and national level. She has served on numerous boards, and currently sits on Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards, John B. McLendon Foundation Board, NCAA Board of Governor’s Cultural Diversity Committee, Hampton Nation Advisory Board, M&F Advisory Board and the Black Enterprise Charlotte Convention Steering Committee.  She is active in her church community and chairs the HBCU initiative committee for the Crown Jewel’s LINKS of Charlotte, of which she is a member.

The CIAA conference, based in Charlotte, N.C., consists of 13 Division II institutions. Twelve of those schools are historically black colleges and universities. The annual CIAA basketball tournament, the largest of 16 CIAA championships in a variety of sports, features 22 men’s and women’s games in the same week. It generates more than $55 million in economic impact for the host city. McWilliams earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Hampton University, where she played basketball and volleyball. She earned a master’s in sports management and administration from Temple University and went on to work as a college coach and administrator for the NCAA.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • The importance of Historically Black Colleges & Universities on student’s lives
  • How the CIAA is impacting student-athletes
  • Career advice for the athletic administration path
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Alicia Jessop, Betsy Butterick, CEO, CIAA, larry desimpelare, Leadership, NCAA, R-Jay Barsh, Rob Miller, Rusty Kennedy, Sue Enquist

Feb 12 2019

A Long Time Coming

Adam Long celebrates winning the final round of the Desert Classic at the Stadium Course at PGA West in La Quinta on Sunday, January 20, 2019. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Did you hear about the dramatic duel that Hall of Fame golfer Phil Mickelson recently took part in? No, I am not talking about his one-on-one battle with Tiger Woods out in Las Vegas. I am talking about his final round battle at the 2019 Desert Classic. It looked as if “Lefty” would win his 44th career PGA Tour event because he just had to withstand a challenge from the 417th ranked player in the world. Yes, you heard that right, Phil Mickelson, who earns about $50 million per year was dueling it out with Adam Long.

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Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Personal Growth, Sports · Tagged: Adam Long, Alan Stein, Arizona, Brittany Horschel, dwane casey, golf, Jeff Bezos, paul tesori, PGA, Phil Mickelson, pound the rock, process, RU Darby, Sue Enquist, Trust the Process, Unseen Hours, Webb Simpson

Nov 20 2018

Episode 102: Tracie Hitz, Dating & Branding Strategist

Tracie Hitz is a personal and professional branding strategist with more than 20 years of branding, marketing and sales experience in the sports industry. She launched Hitz & Branding, LLC in June 2018 after twenty years in the sports industry. In this new endeavor she helps people set goals, tell a story, land a date, land a job, or land anything they want. 

Immediately before founding Hitz & Branding, LLC., Tracie was the Director of Championships & Alliances at the NCAA. In her first year, she oversaw the 2014 Women’s Final Four sales efforts that led to a sold-out arena in a first-time host city, and the following year she led the charge to record the largest attendance at a Women’s Final Four since 2010. Tracie came to the national office after working in the C-Suite as the Chief Marketing Officer at Old Hat Creative for 3.5 years where she doubled its annual revenue each year working with over 80 professional and collegiate sports organizations.

She was named to the C-Suite for the NACMA Board of Directors in 2008 and was the Board advisor from 2010-2013. She has been a member of the UNC Center for Research in Intercollegiate Athletics Board of Advisors and the IUPUI Tourism, Conventions and Event Management Advisory Board since 2015. She received her bachelorʼs degree in Communication (Journalism) from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri in 1997 and her masterʼs degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University in 2003.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Different branding and marketing strategies for individuals and businesses
  • Career journey in athletics
  • Using social media to tell a story
  • Dating and relationship advice
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes · Tagged: Advertising, Alicia Jessop, Andy Carter, anton goff, Ask Questions, Branding, Brian Stanchak, Chad Briscoe, Communication, connecting, Dan Migala, Dan Tudor, Dating, Girl Scouts, Jeff Bain, Kevin Deshazo, marketing, NACMA, Nashville, NCAA, Northwestern University, person of interest, PR, Questions, Relationships, Seth Godin, Social Media, Sue Enquist, Tim Hall, tinder, Tracie Hitz

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