In this episode, we sit down with Coach Brian Wanamaker, head coach at Wesleyan, to explore his journey from standout player to head coach—and how he’s cultivating a team culture built on humility, gratitude, accountability, and growth. With wisdom drawn from both his playing and coaching experiences, Brian shares how he’s navigating his first year as head coach and what it means to lead with authenticity.

✅ The Transition to Head Coach
Brian reflects on the learning curve of becoming a head coach, from managing a full roster to leading a coaching staff and student assistants—responsibility for over 40 individuals.

✅ Gratitude as a Leadership Tool
A powerful moment of the season: Brian publicly thanks his players for making his first year easier. Small gestures like these go a long way in building trust and motivation.

✅ Building a Culture That Lasts
Effort over perfection. Mistakes are embraced when they’re made with the right intent. Coach emphasizes the importance of reinforcing this growth mindset daily.

✅ Would You Want to Play for You?
Brian constantly self-reflects: “Would I want to play for a coach like me?” This mindset keeps him grounded, open, and committed to continual improvement.

✅ Authenticity Over Performance
The team responds better to love and genuine appreciation than fear. Creating a space where players feel seen and valued fosters stronger effort and accountability.

✅ Coaching for Life
Beyond wins and losses, Coach Wanamaker is focused on helping his players grow into great employees, fathers, and leaders in life.

✅ Preparing for Cultural Challenges
They discuss anticipating “culture breakers”—those inevitable moments where values are tested—and how proactively addressing them helps teams stay resilient.

🗣️ “I want to be easy to please but hard to satisfy.”
🗣️ “Every decision I make this year is a first. But I want it all to lead to wins.”
🗣️ “Would I want to play for someone like me? That’s a question I ask myself all the time.”
🗣️ “When we lose, how are we going to respond?”

• Aspiring and current coaches

• Athletes transitioning into leadership

• Educators building team or class culture

• Anyone interested in leadership, accountability, and culture creation

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