We're diving into a thought-provoking question from one of our first paid Substack subscribers: Does winning really matter? It’s a loaded question, and we tackle it head-on—exploring the balance between success, growth, and the process of improvement. Can two teams have equally meaningful experiences, even if one wins more? Is winning the ultimate goal, or is the pursuit of excellence what truly counts?

From personal coaching experiences to reflections on legendary figures like Gino Auriemma, we break down what winning means at different levels of competition. Plus, we share insights from our ongoing research on motivation—surprisingly, winning isn’t always the primary driver for athletes. Tune in for a candid discussion on the value of winning, how to define success beyond the scoreboard, and why the process might matter more than the outcome.

Episode Highlights:

[1:15] - The key question: Does winning matter?

[3:40] - How winning influences team culture and buy-in

[7:25] - The challenge of defining success beyond wins and losses

[12:10] - Personal coaching lessons: finding small wins within the game

[17:00] - What research says about motivation—why winning isn’t the top priority for athletes

[21:45] - The Gino Auriemma story: shifting the focus from championships to daily improvement

[27:30] - Balancing recognition and staying process-oriented

Links & Resources:

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In this episode of Beyond Coaching, we sit down with Joey Reinart, Athletic Director and Assistant Principal at Tonkawa High School in Oklahoma. Joey shares his journey from volunteer coaching little league baseball to leading transformational change as a head football coach and now as an athletic director.

Joey dives into how he built a championship culture at Chisholm High School, turning a struggling football program into a thriving, multi-sport powerhouse. He explains how investing in kids beyond the field, building trust with parents, and fostering cross-sport collaboration created an environment where student-athletes could excel.

• Building a Program from Scratch: How Joey transformed a 3-win football program into a perennial playoff contender.
• Investing in Athletes: The importance of training athletes to be the best in any sport, not just football.
• 3D Coaching Framework: How the principles of 3D coaching helped unite his coaching staff, engage parents, and motivate kids.
• Generational Coaching: Insights into how Gen Z athletes differ from past generations—and how to connect with them effectively.
• Leadership Lessons: How failures shaped his success and why delegation has become a critical habit in his current leadership role.

Joey’s passion for coaching the whole person shines through as he shares practical strategies for building relationships, developing leadership, and creating sustainable success in athletics.

Rapid-Fire Takeaways:

• Book Recommendation: The Pack – A leadership guide for building team culture.
• Defining Success: Seeing students engaged, teachers energized, and a school community thriving.

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In this episode of Beyond Coaching, Rob is joined by Troy Black and Dylan Heath, two experienced coaches working with junior high and high school athletes at Wichita (KS) Collegiate School. They discuss the evolving landscape of youth sports, from fostering a fun and engaging environment to managing competitive expectations. The conversation explores building successful programs, balancing parent involvement, and coaching the modern athlete in an era dominated by club sports and social pressures.

Key Topics Discussed:

✔️ Building Programs That Last – How strong mentorship and leadership shape youth athletic programs.

✔️ The Fun vs. Competitive Drive Debate – How to keep kids engaged while fostering a winning mindset.

✔️ The Role of Parents in Youth Sports – The pros and cons of early specialization and club sports culture.

✔️ Developing Athletes Beyond the Game – How sports teach resilience, patience, and teamwork.

✔️ Motivating Today’s Athletes – Insights into what truly drives young athletes to compete.

Memorable Quotes:

📢 "If kids know you care about them as people first, they’ll do almost anything for you." – Troy Black

📢 "We want kids to have fun, develop skills, and love the game. The competitive side comes later." – Dylan Heath

Rapid Fire Round Highlights:

📚 Book Recommendation: There’s Only One Way to Win by Vince Lombardi

🏆 Defining Success: Seeing former athletes return and staying connected after their playing days.

📖 New Habit: Reading more coaching and leadership books to improve as a mentor.

About Beyond Coaching:

Beyond Coaching is a podcast by the Impactful Coaching Project, in partnership with Friends University. Our mission is to help coaches develop 21st-century athletes by focusing on leadership, personal growth, and impactful coaching strategies.

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🎧 Beyond Coaching on Substack

🎧 Beyond Coaching on Alitu

Follow Us & Stay Connected!

📍 Twitter (X): @ICP_Project

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In this episode of Beyond Coaching, Rob sits down with Kirk Kelley, the Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach at Oklahoma Wesleyan University. With over 35 years of experience in athletics, Kirk shares his coaching journey, the power of building authentic relationships, and how he balances leading both athletes and fellow coaches.

Whether you're a seasoned coach or just starting out, Kirk’s wisdom and real-world experiences will leave you with practical takeaways on leadership, mentorship, and coaching with integrity.

✅ The Power of Relationships – Why genuine connections with athletes and colleagues shape long-term success.

✅ Core Coaching Values – The principles Kirk has upheld for decades: discipline, accountability, and teamwork.

✅ Balancing Dual Leadership Roles – Insights on managing responsibilities as an Athletic Director and Head Coach without sacrificing effectiveness.

✅ Coaching the Modern Athlete – How social media and external influences impact today’s athletes and the importance of staying authentic.

✅ Learning from Failure – Kirk’s approach to lifelong learning, journaling, and the "one-day contract" mindset inspired by Rick Pitino.

📚 Book Recommendation: The Carolina Way by Dean Smith – A must-read for coaches and leaders.

🏆 Defining Success: Seeing former players return with gratitude for the lessons they learned.

🔄 New Habit: Practicing the "one-day contract" approach to focus on daily excellence.

Beyond Coaching is a podcast by the Impactful Coaching Project, in partnership with Friends University. Our mission is to help coaches develop 21st-century athletes by focusing on leadership, personal growth, and impactful coaching strategies.

🔗 Subscribe & Listen:

🎧 impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com

🎧 beyondcoaching.alitu.com

📍 Twitter (X): @ICP_Project

📍 Instagram: impactful_coaching_project

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📍 Facebook: Impactful Coaching Project

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share it with fellow coaches and leaders!

In this episode, Rob and Dustin explore the idea of being the coach you wanted as an athlete—but is that really the best approach? They dive into the balance between authenticity and adaptability, how coaching styles must evolve with different personalities and team dynamics, and the importance of systems over attitudes in leadership.

Key Topics:

✅ Why the coach you wanted may not be the coach your players need

✅ The balance between honesty, care, and motivation

✅ How personality (introvert vs. extrovert) impacts coaching style

✅ Building coaching frameworks that align with who you are

✅ The importance of curiosity and continuous growth in leadership

Notable Quotes:

💡 "Being a great coach isn’t about mimicking your role models—it’s about being the best version of who you are."

💡 "Coaching isn’t an attitude; it’s a system. The best coaches are consistent and intentional in their approach."

💡 "Your players don’t need a different you every day—they need a consistent leader they can count on."

📖 Want to Take Your Coaching to the Next Level?

Check out our book, Coaching and Leading the 21st Century Athlete, available now on Amazon! It’s packed with strategies to help coaches navigate the modern athlete’s mindset and build strong, effective teams. 👉https://a.co/d/dCN9CXu

Join the Conversation!

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments on Substack: impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com

👉 Follow us on social media:

📍 Twitter (X): @ICP_Project

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Discussion with Dr. Steve Dittmore sheds light on the challenges faced by colleges depending on athletic programs for enrollment. Highlighting notable campus closures, he suggests that institutions with 44% or more of their students as athletes could be at financial risk. Furthermore, he emphasizes the importance of parents and student-athletes making realistic decisions on college selection, acknowledging the potential hidden costs and retention issues associated with competitive sports programs.

Check out Dr. Dittmore on Substack at https://stevedittmore.substack.com/.

Beyond Coaching is a podcast of the Impactful Coaching Project. The Impactful Coaching Project seeks to develop coaches that coach the whole person. ICP is the thought leader in coaching the 21st century athlete and produces training, information, and original research to help coaches develop. It is done in partnership with Friends University in Wichita, KS. For more information, check out https://impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com/.

Dustin Galyon is the co-founder of "The Impactful Coaching Project" is a celebrated and award winning speaker in coach.  As a collegiate coach, he spent a decade coaching college basketball and is now a college golf coach.  In both sports, he lead his teams to unprecedented heights.  He is also a nationally recognized speaker who speaks on topics of leadership, faith, customer service, and culture.

This podcast episode delves into the importance of understanding and embracing generational differences in coaching and leadership. The hosts, with guest Dustin, reflect on their own failures and learning experiences, and how these shaped their approach to coaching Generation Z. They discuss the changes in coaching styles and strategies needed to effectively connect with this generation, emphasizing the significance of empathy, grit, and process-oriented coaching. The conversation highlights the need for coaches to adapt and meet the unique needs and motivations of Generation Z athletes, and to focus on creating a cohesive team environment. Ultimately, the podcast emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and growth as leaders, as well as the transformative power of understanding and valuing the individuals we coach.

Beyond Coaching is a podcast of the Impactful Coaching Project.  The Impactful Coaching Project seeks to develop coaches that coach the whole person.  ICP is the thought leader in coaching the 21st century athlete and produces training, information, and original research to help coaches develop. It is done in partnership with Friends University in Wichita, KS.  For more information, check out https://impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com/.

This episode Beyond Coaching is Part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Jesse Godding. The conversation touches on the differences between generations, especially with the advent of Generation Z in the sporting space. Despite changes in technology and social interaction, the core human need for love, acceptance, and direction remains constant. Consequently, successful coaches treat their athletes as people and recognize these enduring needs.

The Impactful Coaching Project (ICP) aims to transform coaching by helping coaches adopt a holistic approach to coaching and leadership. ICP serves as a leader in helping coaches lead the 21st Century Athlete. We offer a variety of training programs, resources, and research to help coaches grow in their roles. By highlighting the connections between mental, emotional, and physical health, ICP provides coaches with the tools they need to promote healthy team environments that achieve at a high level. Our commitment to innovative coaching practices empowers coaches to create environments that encourage resilience, teamwork, and personal growth.

Our book is now available! "Leading and Coaching the 21st Century Athlete" by Dustin Galyon and Rob Ramseyer is now available on Amazon!

In this episode of Beyond Coaching, the hosts speak with Dr. Jesse Godding of Nelson University about the challenges in athletic coaching and administration. He highlights the need for intentionality in coaches fostering spiritual growth and positive character formation in athletes. He also talks about the risk of athletic departments becoming countercultures within institutions due to different hiring practices, talent acquisition, and lack of reiterated expectation levels.

The Impactful Coaching Project (ICP) seeks to develop coaches that coach the whole person. ICP is the thought leader in coaching the 21st century athlete and produces training, information, and research to help coaches develop. For more information, check out https://impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com/ or contact us at [email protected].