Building Excellence

#255: Chris Kreider is the Rice Men's Basketball Associate Head Coach. He is a dedicated basketball coach with a rich background shaped by unique life experiences. Growing up as the son of missionaries, Chris spent his formative years in Colombia, South America, where he developed a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and a passion for basketball. His journey in coaching began with a strong foundation in teaching and mentoring, influenced by his parents' sense of purpose and calling. Chris has worked with various esteemed basketball programs, including Georgia Tech and Rice University, where he emphasizes the importance of character, integrity, and building meaningful relationships with his players. His coaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that success is not just about wins and losses but about developing individuals who are prepared for life beyond the court.

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#254: Tanner Gardner is the Director of Athletics at Pepperdine University and a former three-time All-American wrestler at Stanford, where he built a legacy of excellence both academically and athletically. After earning advanced degrees from Stanford and an MBA from Harvard, Gardner began his career in consulting before rising through leadership roles in college athletics, including serving as Deputy Athletic Director and COO at Rice University. Known for his mission-driven leadership, he focuses on building championship programs rooted in character, faith, and long-term development, with a strong emphasis on developing student-athletes into leaders who excel both in competition and in life.

#253: Jake Boss Jr. is the head baseball coach of the Michigan State Spartans and one of the most respected leaders in college baseball. Since taking over the program in 2009, Boss has guided the Spartans to more than 400 victories and led Michigan State to a Big Ten regular-season championship in 2011 and the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. 

He has coached multiple All-Big Ten performers and numerous players who have gone on to professional baseball. 

Before arriving at Michigan State, Boss served as head coach at Eastern Michigan and spent several years as an assistant at Michigan, helping develop nationally competitive programs. 

A former standout player at Alma College, Boss has built a reputation across college baseball for leadership, program building, and developing student-athletes both on and off the field.

For more on Coach Boss and Michigan State check out msuspartans.com 

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#252: Brett Ledbetter is an industry leading thinking partner for high performers in sport, eduction, and business. He is the founder of What Drives Winning, where he studies the mindsets and cultures behind sustained excellence. Brett works with elite athletes, championship coaches, executives, and high-performing teams to help them understand the deeper drivers of performance, leadership, and purpose. 

He has worked with coaches like Billy Donovan, Urban Meyer, Brad Stevens, Bob Stoops, Mark Few, Sherri Coale, and many other exceptional coaches. Known for his thoughtful approach to high performance, his work focuses on helping individuals pursue excellence in a healthy and sustainable way separating identity from outcomes and building cultures rooted in curiosity, humility, and growth. 

Through his research, speaking, and consulting, Brett has become a trusted voice for leaders seeking to build teams that not only win, but win the right way over the long term. Brett has authored six books. 

Each book has been developed into a graduate level course for the College of Health and Human Performance at the University of Florida. His newest book, 365 Questions, is out now. You can find out more about the book and Brett at www.whatdriveswinning.com 

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#251: Manish Vora is the Founder and the CEO of the Museum of Ice Cream, an immersive “experium” built to bring people together through play, joy and creativity. In 2016 he launched the first pop-up in New York City, which quickly grew into a global phenomenon with multiple permanent locations across the United States and Singapore, known for its colorful interactive exhibits and multi-sensory experiences that blend art and ice cream culture. Before this venture, he transitioned from a successful career in investment banking and executive leadership, including serving as CEO of the experience-tech venue Lightbox and co-founding the contemporary art platform GREY AREA into building innovative, experience-driven spaces that prioritize connection and human engagement. A graduate of Yale University, Vora also co-leads Figure8, the parent company of Museum of Ice Cream, helping guide its strategic growth, partnerships and continued expansion in the experiential space. For more on Manish you can find him & the Museum of Ice Cream on social, as well ascwww.museumoficecream.com or check out any of their locations in NYC, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Singapore, and other future locations. 

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#250: Tod Brown is the head baseball coach at the University of New Mexico, bringing more than two decades of Division I coaching experience and a reputation for steady program building. A former left-handed pitcher at the University of Arizona, Brown first made his mark as the longtime head coach at North Dakota State, where he transformed the Bison into a Summit League contender and led them to NCAA Tournament appearances. Since taking over the Lobos program in 2021, he has emphasized player development, accountability, and raising the competitive standard of the program. His journey reflects a coach who values consistency and is committed to building a foundation that can sustain success year after year.

#249: Jared Mosley is the Vice President and Director of Athletics at the University of North Texas, where he oversees the Mean Green athletic department and leads more than 300 student-athletes competing at the Division I level. A former college basketball standout turned administrator, Mosley previously served as Athletic Director at Abilene Christian University and as CEO of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame before returning to North Texas, where he has helped guide the department through its recent move into the American Athletic Conference, bringing extensive leadership experience and a strong perspective on today’s evolving college athletics landscape. 

#248: Kyle Stark is a baseball executive and leadership consultant best known for his long tenure with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he served as Director of Player Development before being promoted to Assistant General Manager and later Vice President/Assistant GM, playing a key role in rebuilding the organization’s farm system and supporting the club’s return to postseason contention in the mid-2010s. A Pennsylvania native, Stark holds degrees from Ball State University, the University of Toledo College of Law, and St. Bonaventure University, and previously worked in baseball operations with the Cleveland Indians. After departing the Pirates in 2019, he transitioned into leadership coaching and consulting, working with sports teams, businesses, and organizations on culture, performance, and organizational development.

#247: Paul Mainieri is the South Carolina Head Baseball Coach. He was also the head coach at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he led the Tigers from 2007 to 2021 and won the 2009 College World Series national championship. Over a coaching career spanning four decades, Mainieri also led successful programs at St. Thomas University, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the University of Notre Dame, earning a reputation for building disciplined, competitive teams and developing players both on and off the field. With more than 1,500 career wins, multiple Coach of the Year honors, and numerous College World Series appearances, Mainieri is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and influential coaches in college baseball history.

#246: John Cohen is the Athletic Director at Auburn University, a position he assumed in October 2022 after a long career in the Southeastern Conference. Before coming to Auburn, Cohen was athletic director at Mississippi State University from 2016–2022 and previously spent 25 years as a college baseball coach, including head coaching stints at Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Northwestern State, earning two SEC Coach of the Year honors. A former Mississippi State baseball player, he combines experience as an athlete, coach, and administrator, and has overseen significant competitive, fundraising, and facility growth at Auburn while guiding all sports programs toward postseason success.