Andy Dunn, Director of Athletics and Afternoon Program at the TAF School, shares his journey from Yale to Taft, emphasizing the importance of building relationships with student athletes and coaches. He discusses the unique environment of boarding schools and the impact of mentorship and balance in the athletic department. The conversation covers topics related to coaching, mentorship, leadership, and the challenges faced by female coaches. It also delves into the importance of relationships, communication, and work-life balance in the coaching profession.

Takeaways

• Relationships and mentorship are crucial in the development of student athletes and coaches.
• The role of an administrator in a boarding school environment goes beyond wins and losses, focusing on the holistic development of young individuals. Managing up as a coach involves picking battles, advocating thoughtfully, and giving administrators an opportunity to support you.
• Female coaches need support, mentorship, and understanding from administrators to make the coaching profession sustainable.

Chapters

• 00:00 Journey to Taft: From Yale to Boarding School
• 02:42 The Importance of Building Relationships
• 08:47 Balancing Work and Personal Life
• 14:23 The Role of Coaches in Boarding Schools
• 25:40 Transformational Leadership and Mentorship
• 29:08 Managing Up as a Coach
• 36:27 Preparing for the Next Coaching Role
• 42:29 Challenges Faced by Female Coaches
• 51:36 Leadership Advice for New Coaches and Administrators
• 52:20 The Importance of Process and Outcome in Coaching

Mason Poli, head coach of Quinnipiac University's men's lacrosse team, shares insights on leadership, coaching philosophy, and team culture. He emphasizes the importance of recruiting the right people, building a strong team culture, and evolving as a coach. The program's success is attributed to punctuality, attention to detail, and the leadership hierarchy within the team. The conversation covers various coaching strategies and philosophies, emphasizing the importance of player ownership, free play, and developing a coaching tree. It also delves into the challenges of coaching and the need for mental health support. Mason Poli shares insights on delegation, asking questions, and building confidence as a coach.

Takeaways

• Recruiting the right people is crucial for building a successful team.
• Leadership by Darwinism allows players to earn leadership roles through their actions and commitment.
• The program's success is attributed to punctuality, attention to detail, and the leadership hierarchy within the team. Player ownership and free play are essential for developing leadership and decision-making skills.
• Coaches should prioritize mental health support and create an environment where players feel comfortable and motivated.
• Delegation, asking questions, and building confidence are key habits for effective coaching.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Mason Poli
• 01:03 Face Off Questions
• 03:17 Transition to Coaching
• 05:06 Recruiting and Networking
• 09:33 Youth Development and Changing Landscape of Lacrosse
• 15:01 Balancing Sports and Academics
• 26:57 Coaching Philosophy and Values
• 35:07 Leadership and Team Culture
• 36:07 Player Ownership and Free Play
• 37:28 Challenges of Coaching and Mental Health Support
• 42:17 Coaching Strategies and Philosophies
• 57:18 Building Confidence and Delegation

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Alix Krahn, Assistant Coach, Women's Volleyball, University of Toronto (Varsity Blues). The conversation covers the journey of a coach and researcher, the concept of servant leadership, and the challenges of overwork culture in sport coaching, particularly for women. It also delves into the emotional labor experienced by women coaches and the need for self-care practices in coaching.

Alix discusses the impact of emotional labor on sport coaching, the gendered dynamics at play, and the need for boundary-setting and self-care. She also emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and self-reflection in coaching, as well as the need for diverse leadership styles in the field of sports.

Takeaways

• Servant leadership is about prioritizing the growth and well-being of team members above oneself.
• The overwork culture in sport coaching affects both men and women, leading to struggles in private and home lives outside of sport. Emotional labor in sport coaching impacts both men and women, but the study focuses on women's experiences.
• The need for boundary-setting, self-care, and forgiveness is crucial for coaches to maintain their well-being and effectiveness in their roles.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Coach-Researcher Journey
• 01:02 The Face Off: Quick Questions
• 04:04 The Formation of Coaching Habits
• 26:21 The Challenge of Emotional Labor
• 28:52 The Impact of Emotional Labor in Sport Coaching
• 30:41 The Gendered Dynamics of Coaching
• 39:08 The Power Dynamics in Coaching Relationships
• 50:16 The Importance of Boundary-Setting and Self-Care

The conversation covers a range of topics including sports, coaching challenges, gender disparity in coaching, and creating a joyful environment for athletes. Shelly Picard shares her coaching journey, experiences, and insights into the world of coaching, highlighting the importance of mentorship and the need for more women in coaching roles. The discussion also delves into the challenges and rewards of coaching at different levels, emphasizing the value of creating a positive and joyful environment for athletes. The conversation delves into the importance of building trust and creating psychological safety within a team, the role of effective coaching and communication, navigating parental expectations, and the complexity of the coaching profession.

Takeaways

• Coaching Challenges
• Gender Disparity in Coaching
• Creating a Joyful Environment Building Trust
• Creating Psychological Safety

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Promotion
• 00:16 Discussion on World Cup and Sports
• 00:30 Getting to Know Shelly Picard
• 00:42 Favorite Sports Movie and Walkout Song
• 01:05 Coaching and Sports in Summer
• 01:37 The Role of Coaches in Fitness
• 02:02 Shelly's Coaching Journey
• 03:35 Returning to Princeton and Coaching Experience
• 04:15 Growth and Development as a Coach
• 04:43 Challenges and Versatility in Coaching
• 06:34 Imposter Syndrome and Coaching Realization
• 08:21 Mentorship and Coaching Journey
• 12:49 Gender Disparity in Coaching
• 21:47 Coaching Challenges and Joy
• 27:36 Building Trust and Psychological Safety
• 30:08 Coaching and Communication
• 45:44 Navigating Parental Expectations
• 53:31 Complexity of Coaching Profession

The conversation delves into the journey of coaching, the role of a coach, coaching burnout, building and inheriting a team, longevity and loyalty in coaching, coaching your own children, recruiting and culture building, financial literacy and NIL, and teaching life lessons through coaching. The conversation covers the topics of building relationships with players, coaching the US national team, the growth of lacrosse, adversity and resilience, and lessons from coaching. It delves into the challenges and rewards of coaching, the impact of professional lacrosse leagues, and the importance of mental resilience in sports.

Takeaways

• Coaching involves a journey of building, inheriting, and sustaining a team over time.
• The role of a coach extends beyond the field, encompassing unseen work, burnout, and the impact on personal and professional life.
• Recruiting, loyalty, and longevity in coaching contribute to the culture and success of a team.
• Coaching one's own children presents unique challenges and opportunities for growth.
• Financial literacy and NIL play a role in shaping the future of college athletics and the life skills of student-athletes. Building strong relationships with players is essential for effective coaching.
• Coaching professional athletes requires a different approach compared to coaching college athletes.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Journey to Coaching
• 01:20 The Role of a Coach
• 02:08 Coaching Burnout and Unseen Work
• 02:44 Building and Inheriting a Team
• 04:06 Longevity and Loyalty in Coaching
• 06:46 Coaching Your Own Children
• 10:57 Recruiting and Culture Building
• 17:35 Financial Literacy and NIL
• 23:09 Teaching Life Lessons Through Coaching
• 27:34 Building Relationships with Players
• 31:07 Coaching the US National Team
• 39:05 The Growth of Lacrosse
• 36:44 Adversity and Resilience
• 46:16 Lessons from Coaching

https://gohofstra.com/sports/mens-lacrosse

https://www.usalacrosse.com/us-men

Julie Heyde, the director of track and field and cross country at MIT, shares her journey from college athlete to college coach, emphasizing the importance of experience and learning from various coaching roles. She discusses her coaching philosophy, the significance of building trust and relationships, training strategies, and team culture. Additionally, she highlights the differences between coaching in Division I and Division III, emphasizing the commitment and buy-in of athletes in Division III. The conversation covers topics such as managing expectations, recruiting the right people, challenges faced as a female coach, and mentoring and developing others. It delves into the process of moving forward after achieving success, the importance of recruiting the right individuals, the unique challenges faced by female coaches, and the significance of mentoring and developing others in the coaching profession.

Takeaways

• Commitment to Team
• Coaching Philosophy Managing Expectations
• Recruiting the Right People

Chapters

• 00:00 Journey to College Coaching
• 02:54 Learning from Experience
• 08:01 Leadership and Coaching Philosophy
• 14:59 Building Trust and Relationships
• 20:11 Training Strategies and Team Culture
• 24:01 Differences Between Division I and Division III
• 29:19 Managing Expectations and Moving Forward
• 34:22 Recruiting the Right People
• 40:17 Challenges Faced as a Female Coach
• 48:33 Mentoring and Developing Others

The conversation with Chris Wells covers his coaching journey, coaching philosophy, and the impact of coaching in his hometown. It also delves into the long-term success of his program, player development, and the community connection. Chris shares insights into his coaching evolution and the importance of creating a positive program culture. The conversation delves into the challenges of building a competitive culture, balancing competition and sportsmanship, and the importance of maintaining a player's identity beyond hockey. It also explores the challenges of pro aspirations, navigating interference and support, supporting athletes' mental health, recruiting strategies and challenges, staff development and roles, the roller coaster of coaching, youth sports and parental involvement, and advice for young coaches.

Takeaways

• Coaching Philosophy
• Community Connection Building a competitive culture
• Balancing competition and sportsmanship
• The importance of being oneself as a coach

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Coaching Background
• 01:20 Early Coaching Aspirations and Career Beginnings
• 03:18 Evolution of Coaching Philosophy
• 05:15 Coaching in Hometown and Community Impact
• 08:45 Long-Term Success and Program Development
• 12:58 Player Development and Program Culture
• 24:56 Creating a Competitive Culture
• 26:04 Balancing Competition and Sportsmanship
• 27:06 Identity Beyond Hockey
• 28:25 Challenges of Pro Aspirations
• 29:17 Navigating Interference and Support
• 30:09 Supporting Athletes' Mental Health
• 31:26 Recruiting Strategies and Challenges
• 34:35 Staff Development and Roles
• 36:31 The Roller Coaster of Coaching
• 37:53 Youth Sports and Parental Involvement
• 44:33 Advice for Young Coaches

Maren Walseth's coaching philosophy is built on lived experience. She played in the WNBA before becoming a Division I women's basketball head coach, and now works as a performance coach, speaker, and basketball analyst helping leaders and athletes perform at their best under pressure.

Episode Summary:

On this episode of Sideline Ascent, Taryn Sheehan and I sit down with Maren Walseth to talk about the emotional side of high-stakes competition. Maren walks through her own journey from player to coach, the different demands of each coaching role she's held, and what she's learned about leading through pressure.

The core of the conversation is a simple but hard-to-execute idea: the best coaches learn to respond instead of react. We dig into what that actually looks like in practice, and why emotional regulation might be the most underrated skill in coaching.

https://www.marenwalseth.com/

Takeaways

• Emotional regulation is crucial in coaching high-stakes games.
• The transition from player to coach involves challenges and a shift in perspective. Creating space for response
• Establishing core values

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Background
• 06:00 Transition from Player to Coach
• 14:16 Emotional Regulation and Coaching Philosophy
• 22:55 Response vs. Reaction in Coaching
• 34:20 Hiring with Intention
• 39:37 Navigating Emotional Situations
• 46:28 Being an Authentic Coach

The conversation covers Dena Evans' coaching philosophy, early coaching experiences, and the impact of coaching at Stanford on future coaching. It also explores Stanford's national championship program, building resilience and confidence in athletes, and the importance of transparency and communication in coaching. Dina Evans shares her approach to coaching and the significance of small wins and gradual change in training. The conversation highlights the importance of athlete development and the role of wearables in training. It also discusses the challenges and successes of coaching elite athletes. The conversation covers topics such as resilience, transition from collegiate coaching, challenges in coaching careers, entrepreneurial path and impact, coaching and recognition, involvement in youth sports, advocacy and support for female coaches, challenges of distance coaching, Peninsula Distance Club and coaching approach, athlete development and coaching advice, coaching legacy and advice, and supporting women in coaching.

Takeaways

• Importance of transparency and communication in coaching
• Gradual change and small wins in training resilience and rebound are essential in coaching careers
• Support and advocacy for female coaches are crucial for the growth of the coaching community

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Golfing
• 07:22 Stanford's National Championship Program
• 13:16 Impact of Coaching at Stanford on Future Coaching
• 26:34 Resilience and Rebound
• 32:21 Involvement in Youth Sports
• 41:22 Athlete Development and Coaching Advice
• 48:30 Supporting Women in Coaching

The conversation with Chris Baudo, head coach of the Nazareth University Women's Ice Hockey Program, covers topics such as coaching philosophy, leadership, mentorship, and building a successful team. Chris shares insights on the importance of communication, compassionately direct coaching, and the process of putting together a cohesive coaching staff. The conversation also delves into the values and non-negotiables that guide the program. The conversation covers topics such as creating a culture, coaching men vs. women, building confidence, developing leadership, and coaching advice. Chris emphasizes the importance of authenticity, putting others first, and serving others as a coach. He also highlights the need for trial and error and the development of EQ in coaching.

Takeaways

• Compassionately direct coaching
• Building a cohesive coaching staff Authenticity and putting others first are key to successful coaching.
• Developing EQ and understanding the individual needs of players is crucial for effective coaching.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Coaching Background
• 06:13 Reflection and Self-Exploration
• 11:52 Communication and Coaching Generation Z
• 17:55 Building a Cohesive Coaching Staff
• 43:19 Coaching Advice