Captains & Coaches Podcast

What if the real victory in athletics isn't found on any scoreboard, but in the character forged through intentional training and genuine coaching? In this powerful conversation with Underground Strength Coach Zach Even-Esh, we dive deep into the transformative potential that lies within every training session.

With only 5.6% of high school athletes continuing at the collegiate level, we're forced to confront a fundamental question: Are we developing athletes, or are we developing humans? Zach brings decades of experience working with everyone from middle schoolers to Division I athletes, sharing raw insights about the current state of youth sports and the profound opportunity that exists within our training environments.

Old Bull Training Program - 7 Day Free Trial: https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

#BuildingBetterHumans #YouthSportsCoaching #CharacterDevelopment #StrengthCoaching #UndergroundStrength #ProcessOverOutcome #StrongLifePodcast #AuthenticCoaching #leadership

The best player ON your team is not always the best leader FOR your team – a lesson professional lacrosse player Jack Hannah learned firsthand during his journey from All-American midfielder to team captain at the highest levels of the sport.

In this episode, Jack shares his unique perspective on leadership, drawing from his experience captaining his team in college and running with the PLL Waterdogs and NLL Las Vegas Desert Dogs. We explore what true leadership looks like when the stakes are highest and egos are biggest, and why the qualities that make someone a dominant player often differ from those that make them an effective captain.

Jack and Tex also do not hold back when discussing the critical issues they believes are stunting lacrosse's growth and development.

Old Bull Training Program - 7 Day Free Trial: https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

#LacrosseLeadership #JackHannah #ProfessionalLacrosse #SportsLeadership #YouthLacrosse #TeamCaptain #PremierLacrosseLeague #LacrosseCoaching #NationalLacrosseLeague #LacrosseDevelopment #PLL #NLL

From puck drops to power cleans, Matt Shaw shares the story of how ice meets iron in the pursuit of hockey excellence at the University of Denver.

Shaw has spent 13 years building the S&C foundation behind multiple NCAA National Championship hockey teams. In this episode, he takes us behind the scenes of championship hockey development - from the ice rinks where future NHL stars are made to the weight rooms where iron sharpens iron. We explore his journey from wanting to be "reactive" in athletic training to becoming proactive in sports performance, and how that shift in mindset has shaped elite hockey players who've gone on to compete in the NHL, AHL, and beyond.

Old Bull Training Program - 7 Day Free Trial: https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

#DenverHockey #HockeyPerformance #NCAAHockey #StrengthAndConditioning #SportsPerformance #HockeyTraining #CollegeHockey #ChampionshipMindset #FrozenFour

Olympic level coach Justin Kavanaugh shares the profound impact of environment on athletic development. Coach Kav shares how leaders emerge naturally when properly nurtured, the critical stages of coachability, and why the timing of feedback can make or break an athlete's growth. 

Discover the three critical components every successful environment must have: will, circumstances, and skill. Coach Kavanaugh breaks down how parents and coaches can build systems that allow young athletes to develop independence while maintaining appropriate support—reframing "helicopter parenting" into a strategic approach of adjusting altitude based on an athlete's needs.

Old Bull Training Program - 7 Day Free Trial: https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

2 Week Trial Coach Heroic - https://trainheroic.co/captains

#LeadershipDevelopment #SportsCoaching #AthleticMentorship #YouthSports #PerformanceEnvironment #CoachingPhilosophy #TeamCulture #AthleteGrowth #SportsLeadership #ParentingAthletes

Ever wonder how Olympic champions build unshakeable mental fortitude? Dr. Zanis pulls back the curtain on his work with gold medalists revealing how they created an environment where these champion shooter continue to thrive on the world's biggest stage.

Zanis unpacks the revolutionary biopsychosocial model that's transforming coaching approaches at all levels, from youth sports to Olympic training. Matt also shares exclusive insights into how Olympic-level mental toughness is systematically developed through specific stress inoculation techniques that you can immediately apply with your own athletes. 

Old Bull Training Program - 7 Day Free Trial: https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

2 Week Trial Coach Heroic - https://trainheroic.co/captains

#BiopsychosocialModel #SportsPerformance #InjuryRecovery #AthleteMentalHealth #EliteCoaching #Olympics #ReturnToPlay #SportsRehabilitation #AthleteDevelopment #PerformanceCoaching

Tap into gamification to capture and keep the attention of youth athletes and shift from "joysticking" young players to empowering them with agency!

In this episode, Patrick Chapla shares how his POWLAX approach creates engaging practice plans where players develop critical decision-making skills through guided discovery rather than constant instruction. You'll learn practical strategies for building team cultures that foster communication, resilience, and personal growth.

Patrick's framework transcends lacrosse—focusing on foundational principles that help youth athletes discover their unique gifts while building confidence through guided experience. His mission to make lacrosse accessible and enjoyable offers valuable wisdom for anyone coaching young athletes in any sporting context.

Old Bull Training Program - 7 Day Free Trial: https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

#YouthCoaching #POWlax #LacrosseCoaching #AthleteDevelopment #CoachingPhilosophy #SportsLeadership #USAlacrosse #DecisionMaking #TeamCulture #PlayerEmpowerment

Olympic-caliber coaching meets heartfelt wisdom in this powerful conversation with University of Tennessee's Matt Kredich. Discover how this championship swimming coach builds a culture of shared purpose where individual athletes become part of something greater. 

Matt opens up about his personal transformation as a leader as we dive deep into the challenges of today's collegiate swimming landscape, with Matt offering candid insights on navigating the transfer portal and maximizing team potential in the wake of NCAA roster limitations.

Whether you're a coach, athlete, or leader in any field, Kredich's approach to unlocking human potential beyond self-imposed limitations will inspire you to make waves in your own arena.

Old Bull Training Program - 7 Day Free Trial: https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

#SwimmingCoach #NCAASwimming #TransferPortal #TeamCulture #OlympicSwimming #CollegeAthleticsToday #NCAARosterLimits #LeadershipInSports #TennesseeSwimming #CoachingExcellence

Journey from benchwarmer to battle tested coach as we dive into the remarkable journey of Judd Lienhard, founder of the MASS Method and former US Army Ranger.

Once overlooked on his high school team, Judd transformed into an all-conference collegiate linebacker before serving in elite military units, where he redefined fitness as "the ability to thrive in your environment."

Discover how personal disappointment shaped his uncanny ability to recognize hidden potential in athletes others miss. Judd shares his revolutionary approach combining movement, athleticism, strength, and speed with battlefield-tested mental resilience techniques that develop complete athletes through shared struggle and accountability.

Perfect for coaches seeking to identify untapped talent and athletes determined to be recognized for their true capabilities.

Old Bull Training Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

#HiddenAthleticPotential #MASSMethod #ArmyRangerCoach #AthleticDevelopment #StrengthAndConditioning #MilitaryFitness #PerformanceCoaching #ResilienceTraining #SportsMentality #JuddLienhard

What separates elite athletes from the rest? The ability to find calm in the chaos. In our next episode, we go inside the high-intensity training ground where UTSA Football's strength coaches are mastering this critical balance.

Coaches Ryan Filo and Jared Ka'aiohelo invite us into their world—a carefully orchestrated environment of controlled chaos where leadership qualities emerge under pressure and champions are forged in the fire of physical challenge.

Whether you're seeking to develop your own leadership capacity or simply fascinated by the inner workings of elite performance, this conversation reveals how finding calm in the chaos is the ultimate competitive advantage.

Old Bull Training Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

#StrengthAndLeadership #UTSAFootball #ElitePerformance #WeightRoomCulture #AthleticDevelopment #CalmInChaos #FootballStrength #LeadershipTraining #TeamCulture #StrengthCoaching

In this profound conversation, Ben Mayfield-Smith reveals how his career-ending spinal injury became the foundation for his revolutionary approach to human potential.

Discover the precise architecture behind meaningful achievement—designing a life aligned with your deepest values rather than pursuing hollow goals. Ben's five-year visioning process transforms vague aspirations into immediate momentum through meticulously constructed daily habits.

This isn't about fitness alone—it's about becoming the architect of your own potential. Ben's journey proves our greatest limitations exist in perception, not circumstances. These insights will challenge you to reimagine what's possible when you build with purpose and embrace the process of transformation.

Old Bull Training Program - 7 Day Free Trial: https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

#ArchitectureOfAchievement #PotentialUnlocked #ResilienceJourney #MindsetTransformation #PerformancePsychology #GoalArchitecture #PurposefulProcess #BeyondLimitations #MatterAthletica #VisionFramework