In this solo episode, I break down how to separate yourself in the coaching interview process and land your next job. From getting your foot in the door to preparing for Zoom and on-campus interviews, I walk through the strategies that make the process simpler, clearer, and far more effective.
I cover how recruiting, interviewing, and sales are deeply connected, what you should be researching before every interview, and how to communicate your value with confidence. I also explain why every coach should build a Portfolio Packet, what to include, and how to use it as a true separator in the hiring process.
This is a short, practical episode for coaches who want to show up prepared, stand out in interviews, and position themselves as the obvious choice.
EP 7: Phil Baier | Making Career Moves, Acing Interviews, and Developing Interns
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
00:00 Getting Your Foot in the Door
01:31 Building Your Resume
02:31 The Research Phase
03:35 Connection of Recruiting, Interviewing, and Sales
06:08 Zoom Interviews
07:48 Zoom Slides
10:27 Making a Lasting Impression
11:42 Building Your Portfolio Packet
13:02 Preparing for On-Campus Interviews
Julian Lo Casto, Head of Performance and Nutrition at Challenger Strength, joins the show to discuss what actually goes into building elite basketball athletes. Julian recently released his first book, The Foundation: The Proven System for Building Elite Basketball Athletes, and this conversation centers around the principles behind that system.
We dive into the most common mistakes basketball players make, the myths young hoopers often fall for, how athletes should structure their weekly schedules, and how to approach sprint and jump training throughout the year—including why AAU season should be treated like a mini in-season.
Julian also shares lessons from the business side of private-sector training, including how to consistently show parents that their athletes are improving, the sacrifices he’s made along the way, and why he still prioritizes protected time for family and himself, even without perfect work-life balance.
Check out Julian’s book The Foundation: The Proven System for Building Elite Basketball Athletes by [clicking here].
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
06:13 Common Myths in Youth Basketball Training
13:27 In-Season Training: Maintaining Strength and Performance
17:56 Educating Parents: The Importance of Consistency
23:29 Structuring a Balanced Training Schedule
31:35 Maintaining Speed and Strength During the Season
35:25 Communicating Progress to Parents
38:01 Establishing Clear Metrics for Success
41:58 The Importance of Skill Development
45:58 Ruthless Consistency in Business and Training
49:16 Sacrifices on the Path to Success
53:21 The Foundation: A Resource for Young Athletes
Connor Abreu, owner of Thunder N Lightning Performance in New Jersey and winner of the 2024 Gym of the Year award from the Business of Strength group, joins the show to break down the strategies behind running a highly successful and profitable single-location gym.
We dive into what Connor would do if he had to start over in a brand-new city with zero connections, the core principles he would use to rebuild his membership base, and how he identifies true core-value fits when hiring staff.
Connor also shares how he develops employees, builds clear systems and SOPs, and ensures that high-quality individualized programming can still fit inside a scalable, efficient business model.
If you’re a coach or gym owner looking to strengthen your systems, staff, and long-term sustainability—this episode is a must-listen.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Thunder Lightning Performance
06:51 Transitioning from College Coaching to Entrepreneurship
09:29 Advice for Aspiring Coaches and Entrepreneurs
12:02 Building a Business from Scratch
17:41 Establishing Authority and Value in Coaching
20:45 Creating a Vision for Life and Business
23:04 Hiring and Evaluating Employees
31:34 Core Values in Hiring
39:58 Developing New Coaches and Standard Operating Procedures
48:35 Shifting Business Beliefs and Philosophies
54:35 Motivation and Growth in Business
Joey Burton is an NBA player development coach who specializes in shooting development and has worked with more than 20 NBA players.
In this episode, Joey breaks down how he built his career from training youth athletes to becoming a trusted private development coach for multiple players in the NBA. He shares what he would do if he had to start over today with zero clients or connections, and why creating small wins early is the key to long-term buy-in and results.
We also dive into how to use social media for your business non-transactionally, the biggest issues he sees in youth basketball development, and how to navigate the seasonal highs and lows that come with running a basketball training business.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
00:00 The Journey of Becoming a Skills Development Coach
06:28 Overcoming Challenges and Finding Your Niche
09:56 The Importance of Authenticity in Training
13:40 Navigating the Ups and Downs of the Basketball Season
19:02 The State of Youth Basketball Development
30:09 Coaching Philosophy: Macro vs. Micro
33:03 The Importance of Coaching Development
37:14 Building Trust with NBA Players
44:08 Long-Term Commitment in Player Development
54:10 Future Aspirations in Coaching
Tommy Hansen, owner of Perform 4 Life and Director of Sports Performance at Top Flight Volleyball Club, joins the show to break down the realities of volleyball training and athlete development. Best known on Instagram as @freestyle_jump_guy, Tommy has become a go-to resource for jump training and performance insights in the volleyball world.
We dive into what injury prevention actually is, the truth about landing mechanics, and how he approaches sprint and jump training specifically for volleyball athletes. Tommy also shares his perspective on navigating the youth and club sports landscape and what coaches and parents often misunderstand about long-term development.
Beyond the training side, Tommy walks through how he grew his Instagram from 5,000 to 45,000 followers, what has (and hasn’t) led to real business growth, and the vision he’s building toward for the future.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
00:00 The Journey of Self-Experimentation in Training
10:04 Scaling Programming for Big Groups
13:10 Consistency in Training for Youth Athletes
15:49 Balancing Performance and Injury Prevention
24:18 Building Resilience Through Jump Variety
29:21 Balancing Extensive and Intensive Jumps
34:15 Sprint Training for Volleyball Players
38:25 Common Misconceptions in Athletic Development
44:15 Navigating Skill vs. Physical Development Priorities
51:54 Integrating Skills and Conditioning in Coaching
58:06 Growing a Social Media Following
01:07:13 Long-Term Vision and Sustainable Coaching
In this solo episode, I share 12 lessons from 10 elite coaches featured in Strength In Numbers. Each lesson comes from a real passage in the book—insights that have stuck with me and shaped how I think about coaching, leadership, and life.
I unpack ideas like why feedback is a gift, how clarity drives performance, what it really means to teach athletes to fail, and why balance isn’t always the goal early in your career. We also dive into overcoming burnout, recruiting the right families, building your personal Mount Rushmore, creating a pirate map for life, and the balance between character and talent when evaluating players.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
00:00 The Gift of Feedback
04:03 Clarity Equals High Performance
05:22 Teaching Your Athletes to Fail
08:00 Why You Don't Need Balance Starting Your Career
09:24 Passion vs. Burnout
11:00 Overcoming Burnout and Struggles
12:45 Evaluating + Recruiting the Parents
15:33 Building Your Personal Mount Rushmore
17:22 Never Assume Resilience in Others
19:39 Creating a Pirate Map for Life
21:58 Building the Right Staff
24:24 Character vs. Talent in Recruiting
In this solo episode, I break down a framework I use called the Develop vs Display Continuum. When deciding what to do, how much to do, and when to do it, I like to think of a spectrum with “Develop” on one side and “Display” on the other.
Are you trying to develop ability—or display it?
I dive into how this framework shapes decision-making across different phases of the year, how to individualize based on player roles and needs, how to develop low-minute players in-season, and how to adjust between training days within a week.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
After 20 years as a Strength and Conditioning Coach at Seton Hall University, Angelo Gingerelli recently transitioned into a new role as a professor at Kean University. He also serves as the New Jersey State Director for the NSCA and is the author of The Next 4 Years: Compete, Win, and Thrive in College Sports.
In this episode, Angelo shares insights from his book and career, discussing why many athletes arrive at college unprepared—and the habits and actions they need to develop to thrive once they get there. He also offers perspective for high school coaches on how to better equip their athletes for the next level, both physically and personally.
We also dive into his decision to leave collegiate strength and conditioning after two decades, how coaches can navigate major career decisions, and the importance of building multiple streams of income outside of your day job.
Check out Angelo’s new book here: The Next 4 Years: Compete, Win, and Thrive in College Sports.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
03:48 Transitioning from Coaching to Academia
06:41 The Process of Writing a Book
09:18 Understanding College Athletics
12:25 Preparing for College Sports
15:13 The Importance of Physical Development
17:50 Navigating the Recruitment Process
20:47 The Impact of First Impressions in College Sports
27:30 The Reality of College Athletics and Career Preparation
32:11 Transitioning from Coaching to Teaching
34:50 Long-Term Career Planning for Coaches
38:45 Exploring Additional Income Streams
43:29 The Value of Creating and Sharing Knowledge
48:26 Finding Purpose in Coaching and Mentorship
Flow state is one of the most powerful drivers of creativity, productivity, and fulfillment in our work—yet for coaches and others in high-demand careers it can feel impossible to access because of long days, constant distractions, and the feeling of being “on call” 24/7.
In this solo episode, I dive into what Flow State is and how to use “Flow Blocks” and “Flex Time” to access it more consistently. I also share strategies on what to do when you have no time—including Micro-dosing Flow Blocks, how to drop into Flow faster, leveraging Sequencing and Peak Exits, and getting okay with being bored.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
After 20 years as the Director of Performance and Nutrition at Gonzaga University, Mike Nilson joins the show to share why he stepped away from strength and conditioning to begin a new chapter as a financial advisor with Ten Capital. In his new role, Mike helps athletes navigate the world of NIL and how to manage their finances.
We dive into the principles behind his career transition, how to build a personal philosophy and framework, and what studying a wide range of disciplines taught him about skill acquisition. Mike also delivers a masterclass on the power of commitments, how just five minutes a day can change your life, and the value of mapping out your future with clarity and purpose.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Transition to New Beginnings
03:03 From Basketball to Strength Conditioning
06:03 Recognizing the Need for Financial Education
06:57 Transitioning to Financial Coaching
09:49 Overcoming Fears of Starting Anew
13:18 The Power of Daily Commitments
16:24 Principles, Strategies, and Techniques in Coaching
20:53 Connecting Different Fields of Knowledge
25:11 Crafting Personal Principles and Frameworks
27:59 Building Systems for Effective Delivery
30:52 Family First: Prioritizing Relationships Over Career
34:54 The Principle of Retirement: Timing and Decision Making
38:00 Commitment: Transforming Wants into Musts
42:41 Building Momentum: The Power of Small Wins
46:34 Discipline and Freedom: The Balance of Commitment
53:41 Nutrition and Commitment: The Importance of Consistency
Dan Braun, founder of Braun Performance + Rehab and host of the Braun Performance and Rehab Podcast with over 485 episodes, joins the show to share his expertise on bridging the gap between rehab and performance.
We dive into the key factors that can delay the return-to-play process, the skills strength coaches should develop to support athletes during rehab, and how to manage chronic injuries—like tendinopathies—in overworked athletes.
Dan also breaks down the biggest growth levers for his business, how he evaluates success beyond finances, and why he’s focused on scaling for greater impact. This episode is packed with actionable insights for coaches, clinicians, and anyone looking to improve athlete health and long-term performance.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
04:47 Opportunities and Collaboration in Sports
07:34 The Importance of Teamwork in Return to Play
10:23 Understanding Return to Play: A Continuum
12:57 Avoiding Mistakes in Return to Play Assessments
16:06 Managing Chronic Injuries in Young Athletes
18:40 Balancing Workload and Recovery
21:32 Behavior Change in Young Athletes
30:27 Understanding Valgus and Athletic Performance
34:59 The Importance of Servant Leadership
39:02 Effective Communication in Coaching
41:50 Scaling Impact Through Efficiency
46:14 The Journey of Podcasting and Growth
49:57 Exploring the Nervous System and Success
55:51 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions
Founder of Spoken Nutrition, Jordan Bokser, joins the show to share the story behind building a supplement company designed to solve coaches’ problems and deliver products athletes can trust. We dive into how Spoken was created, how they crafted their formulas around transparency and effectiveness, and what it takes to build a brand people believe in.
Jordan also breaks down common mistakes in supplementation and nutrition, how you can improve results without even changing your diet, and strategies for influencing the mindset of resistant athletes—or even resistant staff. Beyond supplements, this episode gives a window into Jordan’s decision-making, his approach to business, and ultimately, his approach to life.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Spoken Nutrition and Jordan Bokser
03:51 Building Trust and Authenticity in Business
06:17 The Importance of Feedback and Collaboration
08:38 Surrounding Yourself with Excellence
11:15 The Role of Education in Sports Nutrition
13:51 Creating a Supportive Community for Coaches
16:31 Mindset and Its Impact on Nutrition and Performance
22:59 Foundations Over Trends
24:27 The Importance of Recovery and Mindset
25:27 Coaching and Individualized Approaches
27:22 The Socratic Method in Coaching
28:29 Negotiation and Mutual Understanding
31:14 Fear of Abandonment in Coaching
32:24 Connecting with Employees and Their Purpose
34:14 The Power of Mission Statements
35:47 Approaching Business with Love
37:42 Aligning Personal and Company Whys
40:06 Educating the Market
43:01 Overcoming Self-Imposed Limitations
Co-founder of Durable Athlete and VP of Performance at Texas Pro Academy, Cristian Plascencia joins the show to share how he’s reshaping basketball development in Central Texas. Alongside Zach Urbanus, Cristian has built Texas Pro Academy into a one-stop environment where players get strength and conditioning, skill development, and competitive pickup runs all under one roof.
Cristian breaks down how to align strength and skill work for basketball players, his number one training priority, and what he looks for when watching athletes play to drive weight room decisions. He also shares how high school athletes with overloaded schedules can structure their weeks and what steps they can take to stay durable.
Beyond coaching, Cristian dives into what it takes to grow a business in the private sector and how to get high school teams to contract you out. This episode is loaded with takeaways for coaches and athletes striving to maximize performance and longevity.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background of Cristian Plascencia
07:27 Collaboration and Team Dynamics in Training
09:48 The Importance of Stress Management in Training
12:41 Coordinating Strength and Skill Work
15:44 Training Strategies for High School Athletes
18:45 Simplifying Training for Optimal Performance
21:25 Analyzing Basketball Movement to Drive Weight Room Decisions
33:21 Building Capacity and Variability in Training
37:41 Crafting the Ideal Training Week
41:58 The Importance of Mental Breaks and Variety in Training
45:21 Growing a Training Business and Building Trust with Schools
58:14 Finding Work-Life Balance as a Coach
In this solo episode, I go behind the scenes on the process of writing the Strength In Numbers book. From the initial idea, to getting 100+ coaches to contribute, to the ins and outs of editing, publishing, and marketing, I share what went into making the book a reality. Whether you’ve thought about writing a book yourself or just want to know the story behind the pages, this episode gives you the full look inside.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
00:00 Inception of an Idea
05:53 The Process of Gathering Insights
08:15 Creating a Comprehensive Resource
10:43 Editing and Structuring the Book
13:13 Marketing and Launching the Book
15:40 Reflections on the Journey
18:13 The Impact of the Book
20:46 Future Aspirations and Closing Thoughts
Second Baptist School (Houston, TX) Director of Athletic Performance Nick Mascioli joins the show to dive into the “2K Score” he created to profile his athletes and drive engagement. He breaks down what tests determine the score, how he sets it up, and the results he has seen using it.
Nick leads the Long-Term Athletic Development from Pre-K 3s all the way through High School, and we dive into what his goal is during each phase of his model. We also talk about the importance of serving the people who want to be served, prioritizing development of the middle school level, and making the weight room a place students can call home.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Athletic Development
03:24 The Importance of Teaching Fundamentals
05:54 Long-Term Athletic Development Phases
08:53 Creating a Fun and Engaging Environment
11:27 Shifting Focus from Winning to Lifelong Skills
14:05 Building Relationships in the Weight Room
17:02 The Role of Middle School in Athletic Development
19:46 Balancing Skill Acquisition and Engagement
22:13 Scaling Movements for Different Ages
25:11 The Evolution of Nick's Role
27:49 Gamifying the Weight Room Experience
33:20 The Evolution of Student-Teacher Dynamics
37:36 Data-Driven Training: The 2K Score
41:39 Balancing Competition and Motivation
45:13 Serving the Present: Coaching Philosophy
50:01 Living with Purpose: Faith and Coaching
54:46 Future Aspirations: Growth and Contentment
Pro basketball player De’Vion Harmon joins the show as the first athlete guest on The Strength in Numbers Podcast. Having played at three Power 5 programs (Oklahoma, Oregon, and Texas Tech) and with two NBA G-League organizations (New York and Indiana), De’Vion brings a unique perspective to the conversation.
We dig into what types of coaching have helped him the most, how coaches can make a lasting impact, and what he would change about his own development if given the chance. De’Vion also shares how he would approach building a college roster and creating team chemistry while navigating the dynamics of NIL.
This episode flips the script, giving us a chance to learn directly from the athletes we coach—and the ones we aim to impact most.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to De'Vion Harmon
04:08 The Importance of Coaching Relationships
06:39 Navigating Feedback and Self-Improvement
09:18 Adapting to the Changing Landscape of College Basketball
11:53 Building a Cohesive Team in a Transfer Portal Era
14:42 Understanding Roles and Expectations
17:19 Advice for High School Recruits
19:50 Reflecting on Recruitment Experiences
22:33 Transitioning from High School to College Basketball
28:05 Lessons from the G League Experience
30:35 The Impact of Structure on Player Development
33:12 Finding Balance: Coaching and Player Autonomy
36:46 The Importance of Work Ethic and Ownership
38:56 Lasting Lessons from Coaches
41:50 Building Strong Foundations for Success
45:17 The Role of Parents in Athlete Development
48:55 The Value of Playing Pickup Basketball
Charlotte Christian Director of Athletic Performance, X2 Baseball Director of Performance, and North Carolina NHSSCA State Director Kyle Jacksic joins the show to share how he balances multiple coaching roles while still delivering at the highest level.
Kyle breaks down his overall training philosophy, why failing fast is critical to his program succeeding, and how he built athlete buy-in and attendance numbers with lessons borrowed from Disney.
We also explore how his own injury background shapes the way he LEADS athletes through Return to Play, and why every coach should be a Dot Connector—not a Dot Collector.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Kyle Jacksic's Journey
04:08 Balancing Multiple Roles in Athletic Performance
06:59 Building a Private Training Business
09:48 The Importance of Support Systems
12:44 Navigating Career Growth and Family Planning
15:35 Creating a High-Quality Training Environment
18:16 The Role of Vulnerability in Coaching
21:00 Return to Play Philosophy and Its Impact
23:43 General Preparedness and Athlete Development
26:09 Adapting Training for Diverse Skill Levels
28:57 Complexity in Programming for Athletes
36:00 Adapting Training for Freshmen Athletes
38:19 The Importance of Failing Fast
42:38 Evolving Perspectives on Strength Training
46:21 Connecting Dots in Coaching Development
55:23 Balancing Information and Practical Application
Missouri State Women’s Basketball and Women’s Golf Strength Coach Nicole Jimenez joins the show to dive into what drives her pursuit of learning and how she filters the flood of coaching info.
We also explore:
- Why she has passed up higher paying jobs throughout her career.
- Why you need a boss that will allow you to fail.
- Why she views the statement “My best lifters sit next to me on the bench” differently than other coaches.
- Chasing both skill and adaption.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
06:28 Pursuing Further Education
11:52 Personal Training and Experimentation
17:09 Balancing Skill and Adaptation
22:55 Holistic Programming in Athletic Training
28:06 Choosing Experience Over Immediate Pay
32:40 Sacrifices in Pursuit of Coaching Excellence
36:55 Seeking Feedback and Continuous Improvement
Strength and Conditioning Coach at Brown University and author of Imposter Syndrome: Mental Health Strategies in Strength and Conditioning, Dave Downey joins the show to dive into the topic of impostor syndrome in coaching.
We explore how impostor syndrome impacts both coaches and athletes, the importance of mental resilience, and practical strategies to overcome self-doubt.
Dave also highlights the need for leadership development, building a supportive environment, and how social media can shape our self-perception.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Dave Downey and His Journey
02:52 The Shift from Physical to Mental Coaching
03:42 Understanding Imposter Syndrome in Coaching
07:04 The Impact of Job Transitions on Imposter Syndrome
09:28 Navigating Overwork and Avoidance
14:42 Strategies to Recognize and Overcome Imposter Syndrome
20:27 The Role of Social Media in Self-Perception
27:02 Supporting Athletes Through Transitions
33:54 Breaking Down Daunting Goals
34:58 The Importance of Career Growth
37:56 Evaluating Job Opportunities
41:54 Creativity During Adversity
45:04 Gratifying Moments in Coaching
47:52 The Impact of Mentorship
55:23 The Need for Leadership Development
Director of Athletic Development at Triple F Elite Sports Training in Knoxville—and creator of the Plyomat—Richard Burnett joins the show to break down his “4 Pillars of Coaching”: what they are, how to develop them, and how to evaluate them.
We also explore:
- The differences between coaching in college, high school, and the private sector
- How to know which environment is the best fit for your personality and goals
- Creating great environments for long-term athletic development
- How to run a business without compromising your values or the people in front of you
Whether you're new to coaching or reevaluating how you show up across roles, Richard brings clarity to what truly matters for long-term impact.
This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.
Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.
👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Impact of Coaching
02:54 The Four Coaching Pillars
11:29 Evaluating Coaching Effectiveness
18:02 Mentorship and Growth in Coaching
20:45 Hiring and Evaluating Coaches
27:37 Differences in Coaching Environments
35:43 Transitioning from College to High School Coaching
37:50 The Disconnect in Strength Conditioning Education
38:59 The Evolving Landscape of Coaching Careers
40:13 The Value of Early Athletic Development
43:06 Finding Satisfaction in Coaching at Different Levels
45:47 Creating Pressure and Avoiding Complacency
50:26 Long-Term Athletic Development and Youth Sports
56:25 Adapting Training to Individual Needs
01:01:28 Balancing Business and Impact in Coaching