Captains & Coaches Podcast

What separates athletes who survive pressure from those who thrive in it? At 5,280 feet, where the air is thin and standards are even higher, Coach Andy Holmes is redefining what it means to develop championship mentality.

In this conversation, we explore discipline as a practice of intentional choice—not just following orders, but actively choosing discomfort, choosing growth, choosing to show up when no one's watching. 

From his journey through the Marine Corps to special operations training, from Texas football to Denver soccer, Andy brings a unique perspective on development that transcends sport. We dive deep into how athletes learn to lead themselves first before leading others, why delayed gratification is the ultimate competitive advantage, and how choosing your identity daily creates more freedom than clinging to it desperately.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train
Education - Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete - http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com

#StrengthAndConditioning #AthleticDevelopment #ChampionshipMentality #SportsPerformance #CoachingPhilosophy #CollegeSoccer #MentalToughness #LeadershipInSports #AthletesMindset #PerformanceCoaching

Explore the profound difference between coaching approaches that enforce compliance versus those that build lasting belief. Drawing from research and personal athletic experience, as Tex reveals how transformational coaches create ripple effects far beyond performance metrics.

Transformational coaching operates through four core principles: role modeling authentic leadership, inspiring compelling visions, stimulating creative problem-solving, and recognizing individual needs. This approach pulls athletes toward their potential rather than pushing them away from mistakes. In contrast, transactional coaching relies on external rewards and punishments, managing behavior through compliance rather than empowering growth.

The critical insight: while both methods can generate immediate results, only transformational coaching builds the internal belief system that carries athletes forward long after competition ends. This isn't just about winning games—it's about developing humans who understand their potential, embrace creative challenges, and maintain growth mindsets throughout life's journey.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train
Education - Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete - http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com

#TransformationalCoaching #CoachingLeadership #AthleteEmpowerment #SportsLeadership #CoachDevelopment #YouthSportsCoaching #AthleteMotivation #CoachingMindset #SportsTransformation #EmpowermentCoaching

What if everything you thought you knew about leadership was backwards? In this transformative conversation, Logan Gelbrich - founder of Deuce Gym and host of the Hold the Standard podcast - reveals how authentic leadership emerges from process, not position, and why the most powerful thing you can do is take complete ownership of what's within your control.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why process-oriented thinking creates unshakeable confidence and sustainable results
• How to develop "high agency" perspectives that put your destiny back in your hands
• How to create environments where people choose to lead from within
• The paradox of grace under pressure: being both compassionate and relentlessly accountable
• Why focusing on "one pitch at a time" unlocks peak performance in any domain

Logan's insights cut through the noise of traditional leadership advice to reveal timeless principles that apply whether you're coaching a team, building a business, or simply trying to become the person you're capable of being.

This isn't just about sports; it's about rewiring your relationship with performance and potential.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train  
Education - Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete - http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com

#ProcessOverOutcome #LeadershipDevelopment #HighPerformanceMindset #CoachingMindset #PersonalDevelopment #TeamLeadership #PerformancePsychology #BusinessLeadership #MindsetTraining #AuthenticLeadership #DeuceGym #LoganGelbrich

What if everything you think you know about coaching young athletes is backwards?  

In this eye-opening episode of the Captains and Coaches Podcast, host Tex McQuilkin breaks down game-changing insights from Dr. David Jaeger's book "10 to 25" that will revolutionize how you approach leadership and development.  

You'll discover:
- The hidden "Neurobiological Incompetence Model" that's sabotaging coaches everywhere—and how to flip the script
- Why the popular "compliment sandwich" method is scientifically flawed (and what actually works instead)
- The 3 coaching mindsets that determine whether you build champions or break spirits
- How to solve the "Mentor's Dilemma"—giving tough feedback that motivates instead of crushing confidence  

This isn't theory—it's practical wisdom you can apply immediately. Whether you're coaching your own kids, leading a team, or developing talent in any field, this episode will transform how you communicate, set expectations, and unlock untapped potential. 

 Stop defaulting to outdated methods that hold athletes back. Learn the mentor mindset that creates confident, resilient performers who thrive under pressure.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train  
Education - Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete - http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com

#CoachingMindset #AthletesDevelopment #YouthSports #SportsLeadership #CoachingTips #GrowthMindset #MentorMindset #SportsCoaching #PlayerDevelopment #CoachingPhilosophy #SportsParenting #CoachEducation #TeamLeadership #AthleteMotivation

What if the difference between breakthrough performance and crushing disappointment isn't talent, training, or even opportunity—but the story you're telling yourself about who you are and what you're capable of?

In this transformative conversation, developmental coach Dr. Cara Miller reveals how self-authorship—the fundamental belief that you are the narrator of your own experience—becomes the foundation for sustained excellence in athletics and life. Drawing from constructive developmental psychology, Dr. Miller breaks down why traditional compliance-based coaching falls short and how we can train athletes to think, not just perform.

Key Insights:

• How culture killers like entitlement and resentment destroy team potential before it ever develops
• The critical connection between body awareness, emotional intelligence, and clear decision-making under pressure
• Why teaching athletes to feel, not just think, creates transferable life skills that compound over time
• The subtle but powerful difference between teaching behavior versus training thinking patterns
• How leadership as service transforms team captains from badge-wearers into bridge-builders

This isn't just about winning games—it's about authoring a life of intentional growth, meaningful contribution, and sustainable excellence. The skills that create championship athletes are the same ones that create exceptional leaders, partners, and human beings.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train  
Education - Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete - http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com

#SportspsychologyPodcast #SelfAuthorship #AthleticPerformance #CoachingMindset #LeadershipDevelopment #MentalTraining #TeamCulture #YouthSports #HighSchoolCoaching #CharacterDevelopment

Discover the game-changing framework that revolutionized Tex's approach to developing both movement excellence and character. In this transformative episode, learn the powerful four-stage system: Define, Model, Shape, and Reinforce.

What You'll Master:

• Crystal-clear movement instruction that accelerates learning
• Why modeling matters more than words (leveraging mirror neurons)
• "Confrontation with love" - shaping growth without breaking relationships
• The principle "if you permit it, you promote it" for technique and character
• Creating feedback loops that elevate your coaching impact

Beyond Movement - Building Leaders: This framework transcends athletics, becoming a blueprint for developing integrity, respect, and personal growth. Every interaction becomes an opportunity for intentional transformation.

Transform how you teach, learn, and grow - both on the field and in life.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train
Education - Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete - http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com

#MotorLearning #CoachingMethodology #Athletedéveloppement #LeadershipDevelopment #SportsCoaching #MovementCoaching #CoachEducation #TeachingFramework #CharacterBuilding #CoachingTips

Performance coach Pat Nolan is building something different in Parker, Colorado. From training NFL combine prospects to developing high school leaders, Pat's approach challenges conventional wisdom about athletic development and youth sports.

We explore his strong stance against sports specialization, sharing why college coaches now avoid over-showcased youth players and how Trevor Baptiste played three sports before dominating professional lacrosse. Pat discusses using productive "trash talk" to build mental toughness and teaches a simple filter for handling criticism.

From scaling his team of coaches to creating accountability systems, Pat reveals his vision for making Pivotal Performance the "third home" for every athlete and transforming his entire community through athletic development.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train
Education - Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete - http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com

#SportsPerformance #YouthAthletics #LeadershipDevelopment #SportsSpecialization #LacrosseTraining #AthleteCoaching #MultiSportAthlete #MentalToughness #HighSchoolSports #PLL #NFLCombine

Here's how to turn every practice into a laboratory for developing the next generation of leaders. In this transformative episode, we explore how intentional practice design becomes the foundation for building authentic leadership that extends far beyond the field of play.

Discover how to systematically create leadership opportunities within every training session - from pre-practice setup to post-drill reflection. This isn't about appointing captains and hoping for the best; it's about architecting experiences that develop leadership skills through purposeful repetition and gradual empowerment.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train
Education - Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete - http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com

#LeadershipDevelopment #AthleticCoaching #PracticeDesign #TeamCaptain #CharacterBuilding #SportsLeadership #CoachingPhilosophy #YouthDevelopment #EmpowermentThroughSports #HolisticTraining #TedLasso

What happens when a seven-time CrossFit Games competitor discovers that true fitness extends far beyond the gym walls? In this compelling conversation, Margaux Alvarez takes us on her journey from a multi-sport Montana kid to the pinnacle of competitive fitness, and ultimately to her mission of redefining what it means to be fit.

Margaux competed at the CrossFit Games from 2013-2019, witnessing the sport's golden era firsthand. But her story isn't just about athletic achievement - it's about the profound realization that movement and mindset are inseparable, and that the strongest athletes train both their bodies and their minds.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train
Education - Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete - http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com

#CrossFitGames #FitnessMotivation #MentalToughness #CrossFitAthlete #MindsetTraining #FunctionalFitness #WomenInFitness #VisualizationTechniques #TrainHeroic #HolisticFitness

"Sports don't teach lessons, coaches do." Pick up the tools to ensure your athletes develop leadership skills that will serve them in college, careers, and as future parents—not just on the field now. 

Tex McQuilkin cracks open his recent article published in the Beyond Strength Journal of Psychology and Sport, exploring how coaches can maximize leadership development opportunities "between the whistles."

Tex introduces the powerful concept of Social Emotional Leadership and his "CASEL in Cleats" framework—a practical application of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) designed specifically for teenage and college athletes. Moving beyond traditional skill development, this episode focuses on those crucial moments during warm-ups, water breaks, and conditioning that can transform athletes into leaders.

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train
Education - Why They're Not Listening: Coaching the Modern Athlete - http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com

#SportsCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #YouthSports #SocialEmotionalLearning #CharacterBuilding #CoachEducation #SportsPsychology #TeamBuilding #HighSchoolSports #AthleteLeadership #SocialEmotionalLeadership