Zach Brandon (@mvp_mindset) serves as the Mental Skills Coordinator for the Arizona Diamondbacks where he oversees mental performance services for players and staff across all levels of the organization. His focus is on helping players and coaches achieve peak performance consistently, while also increasing their enjoyment and satisfaction in sport and life. Prior to his current role in professional baseball, Zach served as a Mental Conditioning Coach at IMG Academy (FL) from 2016-2018. While wo...
Feb 10, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 311
Carol "Hutch" Hutchins wrapped up her 38th season at the helm of the University of Michigan softball program in 2022. She was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006. With a career record of 1,707-551-5 over her 39 total seasons as a NCAA head coach, Hutchins is the winningest coach in NCAA softball history. Hutchins' squads have captured one NCAA National Championship, 22 Big Ten regular-season titles, 10 Big Ten Tournament championships and qualified for t...
Feb 03, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Carol "Hutch" Hutchins wrapped up her 38th season at the helm of the University of Michigan softball program in 2022. She was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006. With a career record of 1,707-551-5 over her 39 total seasons as a NCAA head coach, Hutchins is the winningest coach in NCAA softball history. Hutchins' squads have captured one NCAA National Championship, 22 Big Ten regular-season titles, 10 Big Ten Tournament championships and qualified for t...
Feb 03, 2023•1 hr 6 min
James Leath (@jamesleath) is a mental performance coach, keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and founder of Unleash the Athlete. He is the former Head of Leadership at IMG Academy and currently is a mental performance coach for EXOS. when not traveling the world speaking and presenting He is a long time friend, former co-host and producer of this podcast, and speaker for Changing the Game Project and the Way of Champions Conference. James has just released his brand new book Team Building Act...
Jan 27, 2023•56 min•Ep. 309
James Leath (@jamesleath) is a mental performance coach, keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and founder of Unleash the Athlete. He is the former Head of Leadership at IMG Academy and currently is a mental performance coach for EXOS. when not traveling the world speaking and presenting He is a long time friend, former co-host and producer of this podcast, and speaker for Changing the Game Project and the Way of Champions Conference. James has just released his brand new book Team Building Act...
Jan 27, 2023•56 min•Ep. 309
This is a special episode of the podcast as Stuart and John got to record in person in Bend, Oregon after a 2 day work visit with a little ski adventure on the thrown in. He has been traveling the US speaking at the United Soccer Coaches Convention and working with the coaching staff of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL, and had a few days to spend in Bend before keynoting the Oregon Youth Soccer AGM. For those who do not know, Stuart has worked in sports development for the past 20 years. He...
Jan 20, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 308
This week we are doing something a little different on the podcast. We had a last minute guest cancellation, so this week we decided to discuss one of our recent blog posts that just went a but viral, " How Adults Take the Joy Out of Sports , and How We Can Fix It. " The release of this blog coincided with the drama around the US Men's National Soccer team that gained international headlines when parents of a US Player (Gio Renya) made a complaint against the coach Gregg Berhalter after their so...
Jan 13, 2023•34 min•Ep. 307
Vince Ganzberg is the Director of Coach Education for United Soccer Coaches, the largest soccer coaches association in the world. Ganzberg has earned his US Soccer A-License, United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma, and National Youth License along with a Master's Degree in recreation and sports science from Ohio University. He has honed his craft through his tenure as a United Soccer Coaches Education Instructor, US Soccer Coaching Instructor, and Coaching Education Consultant, including creating...
Jan 06, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 306
Vince Ganzberg is the Director of Coach Education for United Soccer Coaches, the largest soccer coaches association in the world. Ganzberg has earned his US Soccer A-License, United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma, and National Youth License along with a Master's Degree in recreation and sports science from Ohio University. He has honed his craft through his tenure as a United Soccer Coaches Education Instructor, US Soccer Coaching Instructor, and Coaching Education Consultant, including creating...
Jan 06, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 306
This week we dig into the archives from April 2017, when John sat down with world record holder and 2x Olympic Gold Medalist Ashton Eaton for some timeless advice for athletes of all sports and ages. Ashton Eaton is a retired American decathlete and two-time Olympic champion, who holds the world record in both the decathlon and indoor heptathlon events. Ashton competed for the University of Oregon, where he was a five-time NCAA champion, and won The Bowerman award in 2010. In 2011, he won the fi...
Dec 30, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 305
This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome Leadership Expert Tim Kight (@Focus3team). Tim founded Focus 3 in the mid-80's in Southern California, a life-long student of elite performance with the passion and drive to help organizations achieve their goals. In his college days, Tim transferred from Ohio State to UCLA while running Track. It was at UCLA that he witnessed John Wooden win his 9th and 10th national championship. An experience that instilled a great curiosity in Tim as to wh...
Dec 23, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 304
This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome Leadership Expert Tim Kight (@Focus3team). Tim founded Focus 3 in the mid-80's in Southern California, a life-long student of elite performance with the passion and drive to help organizations achieve their goals. In his college days, Tim transferred from Ohio State to UCLA while running Track. It was at UCLA that he witnessed John Wooden win his 9th and 10th national championship. An experience that instilled a great curiosity in Tim as to wh...
Dec 23, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 304
Kim Barnes Arico finished her 10th season as the head coach of the University of Michigan Women's basketball team in 2021-22, leading the Maize and Blue to 25 wins and the first NCAA Elite Eight appearance in program history. Throughout her 10-year tenure, she has guided the Wolverines to at least 20 wins in nine seasons, five NCAA Tournament appearances, an NCAA Elite Eight appearance (2022), an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance (2021) and the 2017 WNIT Championship. Barnes Arico is the winningest coach...
Dec 16, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 303
Kim Barnes Arico finished her 10th season as the head coach of the University of Michigan Women's basketball team in 2021-22, leading the Maize and Blue to 25 wins and the first NCAA Elite Eight appearance in program history. Throughout her 10-year tenure, she has guided the Wolverines to at least 20 wins in nine seasons, five NCAA Tournament appearances, an NCAA Elite Eight appearance (2022), an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance (2021) and the 2017 WNIT Championship. Barnes Arico is the winningest coach...
Dec 16, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 303
Dr. Joe Baker (@bakerjyorku) is Professor and head of the Lifespan Health and Performance Laboratory in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University, Canada. He is a world-leader in research on talent identification, developing sport expertise, relative age effect, and high performance athlete development and has held visiting researcher/professor positions in the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany. His research considers the varying influences on optimal human development,...
Dec 09, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 302
Dr. Joe Baker (@bakerjyorku) is Professor and head of the Lifespan Health and Performance Laboratory in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University, Canada. He is a world-leader in research on talent identification, developing sport expertise, relative age effect, and high performance athlete development and has held visiting researcher/professor positions in the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany. His research considers the varying influences on optimal human development,...
Dec 09, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 302
It is with a heavy heart that we replay this podcast this week, as we lost a truly great family man, leader, and mentor in the space of coaching, leadership and human development, Dr. Greg Dale. He was only 60 years old and left us far too soon, with so much more to give. He was a massive supporter of this podcast, Way of Champions, Changing the Game Project, and many others in the field of sport psychology and leadership. Who was Greg? In July of 2018, Dale was named to the newly-created Integr...
Dec 02, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 301
It is with a heavy heart that we replay this podcast this week, as we lost a truly great family man, leader, and mentor in the space of coaching, leadership and human development, Dr. Greg Dale. He was only 60 years old and left us far too soon, with so much more to give. He was a massive supporter of this podcast, Way of Champions, Changing the Game Project, and many others in the field of sport psychology and leadership. Who was Greg? In July of 2018, Dale was named to the newly-created Integr...
Dec 02, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 301
Thank you for helping us reach 300 episodes of the podcast! To celebrate we will go to one of our earliest guests, and great friend of our work John Kessel. John recently retired from USA Volleyball (USAV), where he had worked since 1985, most recently as the Director of Sport Development. He is one of the most sought after coach educators and speakers in the coach development space. John served as the staff liaison for Disabled Programs, USA Deaf Olympic Teams, Starlings USA, National Parks and...
Nov 25, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 300
Thank you for helping us reach 300 episodes of the podcast! To celebrate we will go to one of our earliest guests, and great friend of our work John Kessel. John recently retired from USA Volleyball (USAV), where he had worked since 1985, most recently as the Director of Sport Development. He is one of the most sought after coach educators and speakers in the coach development space. John served as the staff liaison for Disabled Programs, USA Deaf Olympic Teams, Starlings USA, National Parks and...
Nov 25, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 300
Bill Eckstrom (@ecsellsports) is the CEO and founder of Ecsell Institute, the parent company of Ecsell Sports, Ecsell Business and Ecsell Education. Bill's robust professional career path has encompassed sales, sales leadership, executive leadership with private and publicly traded companies, and as a founder of start-ups. In 2008, he established EcSell Institute to fill a void he witnessed and personally experienced in the coaching and leadership profession within businesses. Since then, Ecsell...
Nov 18, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 299
Bill Eckstrom (@ecsellsports) is the CEO and founder of Ecsell Institute, the parent company of Ecsell Sports, Ecsell Business and Ecsell Education. Bill's robust professional career path has encompassed sales, sales leadership, executive leadership with private and publicly traded companies, and as a founder of start-ups. In 2008, he established EcSell Institute to fill a void he witnessed and personally experienced in the coaching and leadership profession within businesses. Since then, Ecsell...
Nov 18, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 299
This week on the podcast we take a deep dive into what exactly is abusive coaching and how parents and coaches can take steps to stop it. To do so we gathered three experts in the field of bullying and coaching abuse to join John and Jerry for a fascinating discussion. Dr. Amy Saltzman a holistic physician, mindfulness coach, long-time athlete, and a member of the US Soccer Participant Safety Taskforce. She's had the privilege of being recognized by her peers as a visionary and pioneer in the fi...
Nov 11, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 298
This week on the podcast we take a deep dive into what exactly is abusive coaching and how parents and coaches can take steps to stop it. To do so we gathered three experts in the field of bullying and coaching abuse to join John and Jerry for a fascinating discussion. Dr. Amy Saltzman a holistic physician, mindfulness coach, long-time athlete, and a member of the US Soccer Participant Safety Taskforce. She's had the privilege of being recognized by her peers as a visionary and pioneer in the fi...
Nov 11, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 298
Grete Eliassen (@grete.ski) is a Red Bull sponsored professional skier, 6x Winter X Games Medalist, and world record holding half pipe and free skier. She started out as a national team ski racer from Norway, winning the GS in the World Junior Championships, before pursuing her free skiing passion. She won multiple US Opens, Dew Tour events, and has appeared in numerous Warren Miller ski films. In 2006 and 2007 she won X Games gold medals in the half pipe. She also served as the President of the...
Nov 04, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 297
Grete Eliassen (@grete.ski) is a Red Bull sponsored professional skier, 6x Winter X Games Medalist, and world record holding half pipe and free skier. She started out as a national team ski racer from Norway, winning the GS in the World Junior Championships, before pursuing her free skiing passion. She won multiple US Opens, Dew Tour events, and has appeared in numerous Warren Miller ski films. In 2006 and 2007 she won X Games gold medals in the half pipe. She also served as the President of the...
Nov 04, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 297
Captain Ryan Bernacchi, USN (Ret.) is a retired naval officer who possesses a unique background in aviation, leadership, high performance teamwork, and organizational culture. During his distinguished 25-year career in the Navy his notable positions include the Commanding Officer and Flight Leader of the Blue Angels, command of a fleet Super Hornet squadron, and TOPGUN Instructor, with worldwide deployments aboard aircraft carriers, including major combat operations. In academia, Ryan has comple...
Nov 02, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 295
This week on the podcast, Jerry Lynch and John O'Sullivan answer some questions sent to us by our Patreon Podcast Champions. These are our biggest supporters, and we gave them the chance to ask us anything. The most popular type of questions revolved around some recent topics, including: using physical exercise as punishment do we need a national sports governing body in the US? If my club or school does not align with my values when I am coaching, should I leave? How do we improve grassroots co...
Oct 28, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 296
This week on the podcast, Jerry Lynch and John O'Sullivan answer some questions sent to us by our Patreon Podcast Champions. These are our biggest supporters, and we gave them the chance to ask us anything. The most popular type of questions revolved around some recent topics, including: using physical exercise as punishment do we need a national sports governing body in the US? If my club or school does not align with my values when I am coaching, should I leave? How do we improve grassroots co...
Oct 28, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 296
Captain Ryan Bernacchi, USN (Ret.) is a retired naval officer who possesses a unique background in aviation, leadership, high performance teamwork, and organizational culture. During his distinguished 25-year career in the Navy his notable positions include the Commanding Officer and Flight Leader of the Blue Angels, command of a fleet Super Hornet squadron, and TOPGUN Instructor, with worldwide deployments aboard aircraft carriers, including major combat operations. In academia, Ryan has comple...
Oct 21, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 295
