Jeff Brink is perhaps the most enthusiastic teacher coach we have ever had on the podcast. From the moment we hit record, we were treated to story after story about what makes this man tick. A passionate and energetic history teacher, Brink inspires students with his boundless charisma and storytelling prowess. He created and planned his own class on Military History and uses metaphors and historical episodes to teach life lessons to his players and students. Henry Johnson, a black soldier durin...
May 09, 2021•1 hr 28 min
Mike Bluey was raised in the tradition-rich area of western PA near Erie. After his high school playing career, a random phone call to Kennedy Catholic changed the trajectory of his career as legendary coach Joe Votino took him for the week and offered him a job as an assistant while still in college at YSU. Instead of the military, he was headed to the hardwood and the bench. Along the way, he met Mike Fuline and became a head coach at Springfield and Tallmadge after roles as an assistant at Ro...
May 01, 2021•1 hr 24 min
B.J. Sanderson grew up in the basketball rich community of the Triway Titans, wearing purple and dreaming big hoop dreams. Today, he is a titan in his own right as a much heralded coach at Norton High School. Sanderson led the Panthers to their first district championship in 31 years and was one step away from the school's first district championship since 1951. Influenced by his father, his coaches Randy Montgomery and Keith Snoddy and by his loyal wife, BJ has navigated the highs and lows of t...
Apr 09, 2021•1 hr 19 min
Matt Goul has spent 20 years honing his craft of journalism, writing and storytelling so that he can capture moments of joys forever. Now a cornerstone of the northeast Ohio sports scene with cleveland.com and the Plain Dealer, Goul's tremendous work ethic and grit started early. As a 240lb freshmen, Goul stuck with football after a freshmen basketball season that he cherished. He then served as the cameraman for both the boys and girls basketball programs at Oberlin and fell in love with captur...
Apr 08, 2021•1 hr 15 min
Kelly Kennedy climbed the coaching ladder faster than her wildest dreams could ever imagine. Going from a Division III assistant to the NCAA Div. 1 bench at power conference schools led to her lifelong dream of becoming a head coach when Mike Thomas offered her a chance to become the University of Akron head coach. But, her dream soon became a nightmare when four years later she was fired by the new AD after the losses piled up. Thinking herself a failure for many years, Kennedy explores the neg...
Dec 13, 2020•57 min
The ultimate teacher in life is a Mom, a spouse, a friend and a coach's wife. Amy is all of these and more. She commands respect with her diligent attention to the details of life. Her pride and joy, without a doubt, are her kids: Allie, Austin, Abby and Andrew. She and her sister, Emily, share a special bond as well. In this episode, which will only be aired for a few days, Amy's cousins, sister, kids, husband [me], aunts, uncles, Dad and extended family members reflect on how Amy has impacted ...
Dec 06, 2020•2 hr 5 min
Kevin Furtado may just be the most intriguing guest we've had on the podcast thus far. A 30-year veteran with well over 400 wins, Furtado grew up in California and attended summer basketball camp (as an 8-year-old via metro bus) with the inventor of the flex offense [Carrol Williams] at Santa Clara University. When they treated him like somebody, he fell in love with game. Fast-forward many years and Furtado has branded himself as a turnaround expert who takes programs with no tradition and turn...
Oct 28, 2020•1 hr 13 min
Chris Hamilton and his parents drifted across more states than an Oklahoma tumbleweed, but his most recent landing spot at Nebraska Wesleyan with head coach Dale Wellman feels like home. With Wellman's acumen, humor and tutelage, Hamilton continues to soak in various lessons and wisdom as he perfects the craft of coaching. The son of an Air Force clinical psychologist father and a Presbyterian minister mother, Hamilton was shown an incredible example of partnership, love and adaptability from hi...
Oct 15, 2020•1 hr 36 min
Dave Close, owner of over 500 wins on the sidelines of the high school basketball world, went from the driveways of Stow as a youth to the sideline of Stow High where he has spent a lifetime impacting lives. Coaching his Stow teams to two Final Fours, national rankings and numerous regional appearance would seem to be his claim to fame. But, it's not. A faith-filled, caring man, Close considered being a minister before his college coach Paul Patterson at Taylor University steered him toward the ...
Sep 11, 2020•1 hr 28 min
Ralph Orsini, who has won more games on the grid iron sidelines at Hoban than any coach in school history, will rejoin the Knights this fall as an assistant with now head coach Tim Tyrrell. Ralph's coaching style was forged in Mingo Junction, OH--near Steubenville-- where a slew of teachers and coaches taught him the values he holds dear. A college football career with great mentors at Youngstown State University persuaded him to study history and education. He started his teaching and coaching ...
Aug 01, 2020•1 hr 27 min
Justin Todd's high school football coach looked to his right and saw then-college-sophomore Justin in the stands back at his alma mater, East Knox High, to watch the football game that night. The hall of fame coach called Justin Todd down to his side, asked him to stand with him on the sidelines that night while he coached, and sparked a lifelong passion for Justin Todd, known today as one of the best high school football coaches in the state. Turning programs into gold at Loudonville, Mt. Verno...
Jul 31, 2020•1 hr 15 min
Cody Calhoun was born and bred a Bulldog. Forged in the Green, Ohio, youth basketball system that his father, Rick, spent a decade running for Coach Mark Kinsley, Cody learned the essentials of the basketball world. Toughness, physicality and defense were the staples he was raised on, and leadership and relationships guided his upbringing as well as his current coaching philosophy. At Rootstown High School, Cody guided the Rovers to a league championship game appearance his first season, and las...
Jul 28, 2020•1 hr 12 min
Danny Young has devoted his life to the young men and women at Shaker Heights School District. As a teacher, counselor, principal, assistant coach and head coach, Danny has always led with class, charisma and heart. This episode speaks to his history, his influences, his six regional appearances, and his views on shaping young men to become leaders in the turbulent societal time. Danny shares a few key ideas from his church pastor as well, and these are precious scripture-based tenants we all sh...
Jun 24, 2020•1 hr 3 min
Tyler Bates was named the head coach of the Loudonville Girls Basketball program in the spring of 2013. Upon his hiring, Bates was the youngest head coach in the state of Ohio at only 22 years old. Under Bates’ guidance, the Redbirds finished with 20+ wins (2016-2017, 2017-2018 and 2018-2019) in back-to-back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history. The success of his teams has helped him earn coach of the year recognition from the Ashland Times Gazette, Wooster Daily Record, Northea...
Jun 20, 2020•1 hr 47 min
Goncalo Marques, from Lisbon, Portugal, shares his incredible insights learned through his clinical psychology and sports psychology background. Marques, a young man who will be working with club teams in the Portugal soccer world as a sports psychologist, believes that coaches must not paint the full picture for their athletes, but should instead provide a palette upon which the players can paint their own masterpiece. He argues that authoritarian coaches only harm the learning process. Coaches...
Jun 15, 2020•1 hr
Dan Kiser has spent more time with legendary coaches than any "normal" high school coach we know. From Don Meyer to Morgan Woooten and Howard Garfinkel, Bob Hurley, Dan Hughes, Steve Fisher, Bob Huggins, Steve Moore and Nate Oates, Dan Kiser has learned the game with the legends by working camps, sharing information and immersing himself in the sport. A stellar high school career at Wadsworth in Ohio sparked a lifelong passion for the game, and at the young age of 26 Dan found himself a college ...
Jun 11, 2020•1 hr 46 min
Josh Jakacki was a well heralded basketball player in the northeast Ohio basketball scene in 1994 starring at Crestwood High School. He went on to have a hall-of-fame career at Hiram College where his mother had worked and he had lived. His coaching career--both at Kenston and at Crestwood-- has been built on toughness, honesty and collaboration. Ever adapting to his teams' strengths, Josh coached both of his sons at Crestwood and formed lifelong memories not only with his family but the Crestwo...
Jun 09, 2020•1 hr 30 min
Kevin Byrne has a much different resume than most high school coaches. Raised in Stow and Silver Lake, OH, Byrne played Stow junior pro basketball, CYO hoops for Holy Family Parish, high school ball for Walsh Jesuit and college ball at Carnegie Mellon. He even added European play to his resume before starting a college coaching journey that saw him win first-ever league championships at Carnegie Mellon and MIT--both as an assistant. He then served four years as the Ohio Northern head coach and t...
Jun 06, 2020•2 hr 12 min
Matthew Koch has demonstrated excellence across the spectrum of his professional life and coaching life. As the hockey coach for the University of Akron club team, Koch recruits boys and teaches them how to become men through unique LIFE U program and his emphasis and responsibility and accountability. Perceived as a task master on the surface, Koch actually teaches his teams to eventually coach themselves through internal leadership structures and offices. Players learn to be accountable for tr...
Jun 05, 2020•1 hr 8 min
Mike Moser has been a lifelong learner and lifelong educator. As a teacher coach in the Wadsworth schools, Mike has had many roles on the sidelines. He left to be the head coach at Medina Highland on the girls' side. He had success, came back to Wadsworth to assist, and now finds himself in a rebuilding project at Wadsworth as the head boys' coach. He has great optimism in the young group currently under his helm, and we know he will do great things as he exudes authenticity, faith and mission i...
Jun 02, 2020•1 hr 6 min
Dave Pilipovich served the last eight years as head basketball coach at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. His teams won 5 Mountain West tourney games over his stint and competed in one of the nation's toughest leagues at a huge recruiting disadvantage. Dave's humble roots started in Pittsburgh where he was raised above a tavern his parents owned and operated. His college career at Theil in western PA started a love affair with basketball that has continued his whole life with stops including Ro...
May 29, 2020•1 hr 45 min
Archbishop Hoban senior Dom DiMascio exudes class and cheerfulness in the face of much adversity. His teachers, coaches and relatives nominated him for the Courage Award at the Beacon Journal Gatehouse Media Gala to be held this June. Dom's courage in the face of adversity has earned him several accolades while in high school at Hoban. His role as a four-year manager on the basketball team allowed him to learn the essence of servant leadership, but his resilience was formed at home in how he han...
May 27, 2020•37 min
Brittany Anderson opted for a career in education after a stellar career at Grove City College where she played three sports. As destiny would have it, she found her way back to Chagrin Falls where she has now has served for ten years as the head coach of the women's basketball program. She has had many successful teams built on the core principles of defense and work ethic. An incredible role model for the young ladies at Chagrin, Brittany has earned a reputation for excellence as a teacher-coa...
May 25, 2020•1 hr 43 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Andy Booth was raised in the small town of Lucas, Ohio in Richland County. His blue collar roots have always stayed with him throughout his heralded coaching career. Listen to this journey that brought him to a state championship in 2010 and allowed him to impact countless lives at his many stops. In addition, we dig into some golden nuggets about his practice plans and basketball coaching details. Support the show
May 22, 2020•2 hr 7 min
Jake Beiting quickly rose to "stardom" as the head strength and conditioning coach for the Houston Astros. In his fifth season with the team, the Astros won the championship. Beiting moved on after a difference of opinions with management the next season and decided to return home to his extended family in northeast Ohio. He is currently finishing up his Doctoral degree in sports science and works as a visiting professor at John Carroll University in Cleveland. He still trains athletes on the si...
May 20, 2020•1 hr 40 min
Rob Senderoff was banished from basketball. Twice. Cut from his college team at Albany, he persisted and hung on as a manager for JV Coach James Jones--now the successful coach at Yale University. Then, he was given NCAA infractions at Indiana University and was out of the business temporarily. Until Kent State AD Laing Kennedy and Coach Geno Ford brought him back as an assistant. The rest is history, as Rob has not only become the leader in coaching wins all time at KSU, but also has an incredi...
May 18, 2020•1 hr 21 min
Mike Fuline carved out a path that few travel: 9th grade coach, Varsity assistant, Rootstown head coach, Jackson state championship head coach, and then a move to become a college head coach. His Mount Union team made a historic tourney run this year and had the momentum to finish strong. Experts predicted that their run could have culminated in a Final Four appearance or even a National Championship. But Covid-19 and circumstances none could have imagined put a halt to it all. Fuline reflects o...
May 16, 2020•1 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Frank Micale has officiated high school and college basketball for nearly over 30 years. As the young guy on the crew in the old days, Micale was not afraid to assert himself by doling out a technical foul if one was deserved. Today, he talks it out with coaches and is much more inclined to help a player learn a life lesson out of the moment. In addition, he helps tutor and train the younger refs who ask for help and guidance. A youth baseball coach as well, Frank's son Andrew was a player on th...
May 14, 2020•1 hr 13 min
Tom Heil, who became a head Division III basketball coach by the age of 30, has made two trips to the big dance at the NCAA Div. III level: first at Defiance College and then again last season at BW. Tom's straightforward commitment to toughness, honesty and relationships with his players has been taught and modeled by incredible mentors along the way including Guy Neal, Duane Sheldon, Jon Miller, Kyle Brumett and his high school coaches. Tom's consistent delivery of passion, leadership and coac...
May 12, 2020•2 hr 15 min
Micah Kraus has devoted his life to expressing himself through teaching and art. A diversity of interests and a commitment to expression and humanity allows him to be an artist at home and a teacher at school. Whether it's photographing abandoned structures on the weekend or building up the interior structure of a young person in a grace-filled moment after school, Micah's quiet dignity guides his interactions with both the art implement and the person. In this episode we explore the maltreatmen...
May 10, 2020•1 hr 51 min
