CHARACTER UP: The intersection of life, leadership, and sports

Tenacity, toughness, and competitor are all characteristics Jody Adams-Birch has known well over her career as a player and as a coach. For the daughter of a hall of fame coach and former point guard for the legendary Pat Summit, the desire to achieve was always a driving force. Having accomplished championship success at both Murray State and Wichita State, Jody’s path took a difficult turn in 2017, one that caused her to grow immensely in both her coaching career as well as in her personal life. Listen as Jody describes how she has leaned into her faith and trusted God to help her overcome the challenges that come with being in the spotlight of college athletics.

From “ Memorial Magic” at Vanderbilt to social media magic with endless trick shots, Christ Presbyterian Academy head coach Drew Maddux talks about the responsibility of leading young people on the basketball court and into life. After a successful college career as a Commodore (All-SEC in 1998, Roy Skinner & Civitan Sportsmanship Awards), nearly ten years excelling in the business world, Drew began coaching at CPA and really began to understand the value in leading others, pushing them to success and giving God the glory.

Rivals, colleagues, and friends, Brad Kirtley and Dave Winder have over 50 years worth of experiences working in sports information for two programs that have one of the greatest rivalries in all of college sports. Austin Peay State University and Murray State University have basketball programs that have brought their dedicated fan bases some of the greatest moments on the hardwood, but Brad and Dave reveal the two schools compete with each other year-round. Their relationship with each other is special as well as the relationships they have made with coaches, students, athletes, and administrators alike over their accomplished careers.

Now in his 24th season as head coach of the women’s basketball program at Vanguard University, Russ Davis has a lot of accomplishments. Among them, he has amassed over 600 wins, won NAIA Coach of the Year honors 4 times, been named the GSAC Coach of the Year 9 times, won the NAIA national title in 2008, was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2017, has battled cancer, and is now battling the after-effects of cancer treatment. Despite all the accolades and in the face of his health complications, his faith has never been stronger and neither has his desire to help young people get better at basketball and even better at life. In this episode, listen as Russ Davis defines selflessness.

Brian Hetland, a 5-time OVC baseball champion and 2020 TBCA Hall Of Fame inductee, teams up with former Austin Peay State University and minor league pitcher Dustin Smith to talk about their friendship, manager-pitcher relationships in the 2020 World Series, and why losing baseball in the spring of 2020 was so devastating for their players. Hetland, who has coached numerous major league players such as A.J. Ellis, Shawn Kelley and Ryne Harper, is currently the head coach at Clarksville High School in Tennessee and Smith is the baseball coach at Clarksville Academy.

Dr. Maryalyce Jeremiah talks about “ high places” in her life such as working with Bobby Knight at IU, winning the only women’s basketball Big Ten title there, growing up in a famous family, and how to conquer your own Mt. Everest.

Former NFL safety and current football and eSports analyst Brock Vereen talks about choosing to leave the NFL on his own terms, his work with rookies at the NFL Combine, the eSports world, and growing up in a famous football family.

Dave and Josh talk with Lakers assistant Mike Penberthy about life in the NBA bubble, his relationship with Jason Kidd, Shaq, and LeBron, winning a title, and what shooting free throws and walking in faith have in common.

In this inaugural episode of Character Up, hosts Josh Perigo and Dave Caldwell talk with Mike Daniels, Commissioner of the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC), about leading his conference through the uncertainty of college athletics in 2020, home life during COVID, diversity in the conference, and plans for the future of the GSAC.