🎙️We're Going to Handle Hard Better

How do you build a program that thrives under pressure, embraces high standards, and leads with care? University of Chicago Head Volleyball Coach Mitchell McPartland joins the show to break it all down.

This conversation is packed with insight on how to lead a high-achieving team, manage expectations, and coach with both poise and purpose. Mitchell shares his journey from NAIA libero to D1 assistant to DIII Head Coach, and how his mindset has evolved along the way.

We also explore what it looks like to coach in the UAA, recruit at a high-academic institution, and create a culture where "handling hard better" becomes the team’s competitive advantage.

🎧 In this episode, we cover:

• Building and sustaining success in DIII volleyball
• Coaching defensive specialists with a libero’s mindset
• The impact of high-academic recruiting
• Leading with calm, clarity, and consistency
• What it means to “handle hard better” as a team

🛠️ Explore more tools, resources, and my book Significant Recruiting at coachmattrogers.com

🎙️ Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode brought you value. It helps us reach more coaches, families, and student-athletes chasing significance over success.

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Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

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Cool Under Pressure: Emily Kiablick on Culture, Calm, and Coaching with Clarity

In this episode of Significant Coaching with Matt Rogers, we sit down with Emily Kiablick ("Coach Kabs"), the all-time winningest coach in Wheaton College women’s lacrosse history. Known for her calm leadership and deep care for team chemistry, Emily opens up about what it takes to build not just a successful team—but a connected one.

With 17 seasons at the helm and a career filled with championships, accolades, and postseason appearances, Emily shares the why behind her winning culture. Whether you’re a coach, a parent, or a leader in any field, this conversation is a masterclass in staying grounded, focused, and purpose-driven.

🎯 In this episode, you'll hear about:

• 🧊 How Emily stays cool under pressure and why that matters for her team
• 📚 The leadership book clubs and DISC assessments she uses to build team connection
• 🏆 Lessons from a career filled with success on and off the field
• 👥 Why she believes being a great teammate is more important than being a great player
• 🧠 The power of self-awareness in college athletics
• 🥍 Behind-the-scenes stories from building programs at Roger Williams and Wheaton

If you're a coach or a parent of an aspiring college athlete, don’t forget to visit coachmattrogers.com for:

• 📘 Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
• ✍️ Weekly blog posts on recruiting, leadership, and life skills
• 📅 Personalized recruiting strategy sessions
• 🎤 Booking info for speaking engagements on recruiting, leadership, and the journey to college

Thanks for listening—and remember: Significance always wins.

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Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.

🎙️ Full-Court Pressure: The Tenacity Behind Carol Jue’s Championship Coaching 

In this week’s episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, we sit down with Coach Carol Jue, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Chapman University. With over 300 career wins and countless accolades, Carol is the all-time winningest coach in Chapman’s history. She’s built a program that is a force to be reckoned with, leading the Panthers to nine NCAA Tournament appearances and multiple SCIAC titles.

In this episode, we cover:

• Carol’s Coaching Philosophy: The mindset behind her intense, full-court press and high-paced offense.
• Building Championship Teams: How she maximizes her players' potential and teaches them to play with aggressiveness, regardless of size.
• The Winning Culture at Chapman: What it takes to lead a team to success year after year.
• International Coaching Experiences: Carol’s unique perspective gained through international tours and experiences.
• Leadership & Resilience: The core qualities that make Carol’s coaching approach so impactful.

Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or fan, you’ll walk away with valuable insights on leadership, team-building, and what it takes to make a significant impact on and off the court.

And don’t forget to visit my website at coachmattrogers.com. You can purchase my book Significant Recruiting, read my weekly blog, and schedule a recruiting strategy session. If you’re a school or organization, you can also book me to speak on recruiting, leadership, and the journey to college.

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.

🎙️ Building a Winning Program with Coach Ceanna Larson-Michalek

On this episode of Significant Coaching with Matt Rogers, we sit down with Ceanna Larson-Michalek, Head Volleyball Coach at Centralia College, to discuss her journey in coaching and the transformation she's brought to every program she's led.

With 18 years of experience, Coach C has built successful teams from the ground up, including a remarkable turnaround at Blue Mountain Community College and now at Centralia College. She shares her approach to developing athletes both on and off the court, creating a supportive team environment, and empowering young women to become leaders in their communities.

Whether you're a coach, athlete, or parent navigating the recruiting process—or you're simply looking for insights on building a positive, winning culture—this episode is packed with valuable lessons.

🔥 Don’t miss:

• How Coach C turned around a struggling program at BMCC and Centralia
• The importance of creating a family-like atmosphere for athletes
• Her insights on developing athletes for success on and off the court
• What it takes to build a culture of leadership and excellence

💥 Hit play and get inspired by one of the best in the game. And don’t forget to visit coachmattrogers.com for more tools, episodes, and ways to connect.

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.

🎙️ Building a Championship Culture with Coach Matt Midkiff

On this episode of Significant Coaching with Matt Rogers, we sit down with Matt Midkiff, the winningest baseball coach in Swarthmore College history and two-time Centennial Conference Champion.

From rebuilding struggling programs to leading his team to the NCAA Division III World Series, Coach Midkiff shares what it really takes to create a winning culture at the college level. We dive into his journey, how he builds trust with his players, and how he balances high-level competition with the academic rigor of an elite institution.

Whether you're a coach, athlete, or parent navigating the recruiting process—or just love a good story about leadership and grit—this one’s for you.

🔥 Don’t miss:

• The inside story of Swarthmore’s historic 2018 season
• How Coach Midkiff recruits difference-makers
• His advice for athletes aiming to play at the next level
• What it takes to sustain success in D3 athletics

💥 Hit play and get inspired by one of the best in the game. And don’t forget to visit coachmattrogers.com for more tools, episodes, and ways to connect.

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.

Empowering Excellence: Coach Mark Stauffer 

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, we sit down with Mark Stauffer, the Head Women's Soccer coach at Misericordia University, to dive into his 24-year coaching journey and his commitment to building a program focused on player empowerment and accountability. Coach Stauffer shares valuable insights from his successful career, including the unforgettable 2012 season when he led the Cougars to the NCAA Final Four. We also explore his coaching philosophy, how he develops standout student-athletes, and the importance of creating a culture of leadership both on and off the field.

Coach Stauffer’s accomplishments are impressive, with multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, conference titles, and numerous individual accolades for his players. His work has made a lasting impact in NCAA Division III soccer, and this episode is packed with wisdom for coaches, athletes, and anyone interested in building a successful, empowering program.

To learn more about Coach Mark Stauffer and his journey at Misericordia University, check out his full bio here: Coach Mark Stauffer Bio

Don't forget to visit coachmattrogers.com for additional resources on the college recruiting process, including your step-by-step guide, Significant Recruiting, blog, past episodes, and more!

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.

🔥 One Day to Prepare, One Season to Dominate! 🔥

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, host Matt Rogers sits down with Kristen Dowling, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Whittier College, to talk about one of the most unbelievable coaching turnarounds in recent memory.

Hired just one day before the season started, Coach Dowling took a 14-10 team and transformed them into a 21-5 powerhouse—without time to recruit, build a culture, or even get to know her players. How did she do it? Tune in as she shares:

🏀 Her leadership philosophy and how she earns player buy-in instantly
🏀 Lessons from coaching at the D1 & D3 levels (Pepperdine, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, and more)
🏀 What recruits & families should know about the college basketball process
🏀 How to create a championship mindset—fast

Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or parent navigating the recruitment process, this episode is packed with actionable insights you don’t want to miss!

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform!
📲 Learn more, read Matt’s blog, schedule a recruiting session, or book him to speak at coachmattrogers.com.

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.

Building a Championship Culture with Coach Jonathan Scott

What does it take to build a championship-level program? In this episode of Significant Coaching with Matt Rogers, we sit down with Coach Jonathan Scott, Head Volleyball Coach at Point Loma Nazarene University, who recently led the Sea Lions to their first-ever PacWest Championship and a record-breaking 26-2 season.

Coach Scott shares his insights on:
🏐 The key ingredients to building a winning culture
🏐 How offseason training develops both players and leaders
🏐 The mindset shift that led to Point Loma’s historic success
🏐 His approach to balancing relationships, competition, and long-term growth

Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or sports parent, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways on leadership, player development, and what it really takes to sustain excellence.

📍 Learn more about Coach Jonathan Scott and the Point Loma Nazarene University Volleyball Program at plnusealions.com.

🎧 Listen now on CoachMattRogers.com, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.

Building a Basketball Powerhouse with Coach Dip Metress

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, host Matt Rogers sits down with one of the most accomplished coaches in college basketball, Coach Dip Metress, the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Augusta University. Now, in his 21st season at Augusta and 29th season as an NCAA head coach, Coach Metress has built a legacy of winning, player development, and sustained excellence—boasting over 570 career wins and never a losing season.

We dive deep into his coaching philosophy, how he consistently recruits and develops top-tier talent, and what it takes to maintain a championship culture year after year. Plus, Coach Metress shares invaluable insights into leadership, the evolving landscape of college basketball, and the mindset required for long-term success on and off the court.

Don’t miss this insightful conversation with a true coaching legend! Learn more about Coach Dip Metress by visiting his bio page: Dip Metress - Augusta University.

🔹 Follow & Subscribe to the Significant Coaching Podcast so you never miss an episode!

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.

Hall of Fame Leadership with Ron Zetcher: Lessons from a Legendary Official 

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, I sit down with a true legend in the world of sports—Ron Zetcher. A Hall of Fame athlete, coach, and one of the most respected officials in basketball, football, and baseball, Zetch’s career spans decades at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels.

We dive into his journey from standout multi-sport athlete to officiating some of the biggest games in college sports. He shares insights on leadership, integrity, and what it takes to earn respect on and off the court. Beyond his incredible résumé, Ron played a pivotal role in my own coaching career, serving as a mentor during my years as Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Maryville University. His wisdom and generosity shaped the way I approached coaching, leadership, and even fatherhood.

Join us as we discuss his experiences, the evolution of officiating, and the lasting impact he’s had on athletes and coaches alike.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all major podcast platforms.

To learn more about Ron Zetcher and his remarkable career, visit his St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame page.

For more resources on the college recruiting process, visit CoachMattRogers.com.

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.