John Aloisi on Clarity, Cohesion and the Psychology of Coaching

We believe that there is no algorithm for leadership. So we ask the world's great coaches how they do it.

John Aloisi shares that great coaches stand out through clarity of identity, standards and message, making complex tactics simple and consistent so players know their roles. He explains how elite performance is often decided by mental strength and belief, reinforced through repetition of basics, aggressive “play without fear” attacking intent, and supportive team cohesion built through relationships and selection. Aloisi reflects on learning from difficult club environments at Melbourne Heart and Brisbane Roar, using media experience to communicate succinctly, and rebuilding belief at Western United by setting values and standards before tactics, adding experienced winners, and creating a hard-to-play-against base that led to an A-League championship. He also describes coping with coaching loneliness through trusted support networks and using affirmations, journaling and meditation to stay resilient.

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe

And it left me with these questions to reflect on:

• Do I verbalise gratitude enough?
• How can I better refine failure for my team?
• What mental strength training can I instigate for the team?

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

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Sam Bird on Building London Pulse Through Service, Values, and World-Class Standards

We believe that there is no algorithm for leadership. So we ask the world's great coaches how they do it.

Sam Bird shares how seven knee operations ended her England netball playing career early, pushing her into a legal career with the Met Police that shaped her leadership through service, listening, and navigating high-stakes international negotiations—often as the only woman in the room. She explains how she rebuilt London Pulse from a last-place finish by recruiting “people before players,” prioritizing kindness, humility, hard work, loyalty, and a club-first mindset, while creating a supportive environment where athletes feel valued and can handle tough conversations. Taking on CEO duties in 2020, she learned to surround herself with trusted, capable people and grow the organization like a startup. Bird describes Lisa Alexander’s impact in raising standards, simplifying performance foundations, and strengthening “proud to be Pulse” identity across the pathway, while aiming to make Pulse the best club in the world and change lives through opportunity in London’s diverse community.

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe

3 questions the interview with Sam challenged me with were:

•Is my organization the type of place where people know somebody will have their back if they are having a bad day?

•Am I engaging with me mentors enough to frame challenging questions of myself

•Am I calling out example of ambition and bravery enough?

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

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Mickey Arthur: Standards, Trust, and Building Sustainable Winning Teams

We believe that there is no algorithm for leadership. So we ask the world's great coaches how they do it.

Mickey Arthur reflects on coaching across multiple countries and says great coaches stay ahead of trends, set clear structures, and build teams around roles, standards, and “non-negotiables.” He explains that trust-based relationships enable honest challenge, balancing care with professional distance, and that players thrive when given security, clear communication, and positive affirmation alongside targeted feedback. Arthur describes learning from early setbacks, including being sacked by Australia, and how reflection helped him adapt by first observing an environment before making change. He shares how stability and belief unlocked young talent in Pakistan, and why he prefers long-term development work over short franchise stints, aiming for sustainable brands that create reference points for performance.

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Q: I don’t use non-negotiables as a leader and it made me wonder whether I should?

Q: This challenged me to consider whether there are times that I overtalk as a leader?

Q: This made me reflect on who I should be challenging more in my team?

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In this episode, we explore why connection is a critical leadership capability and how it contributes to thriving teams. Drawing on insights from elite coaches across rugby, tennis, basketball, Australian rules football, American football, and netball, the conversation examines how leaders create cohesion, deepen trust, and help people understand the part they play in something larger than themselves.

Key Ideas

•Cohesion predicts performance: Teams succeed when people understand each other, their roles, and the system they are operating within.

•Connection requires emotional commitment: True connection involves care, honesty, hard conversations, and the willingness to support one another.

•Authenticity builds trust: Leaders strengthen connection by sharing stories, being honest about challenge and care, and creating space for others to do the same.

•Small moments matter: Visibility, daily check-ins, shared meals, and simple acts of acknowledgement can reinforce connection over time.

•Everyone needs to see their impact: Strong leaders help every person understand how their work contributes to the team’s larger purpose.

•Connection can be observed and evaluated: Leaders can look for behaviours that show whether people are trusting, supporting, and influencing each other effectively.

Leadership Takeaways

1.Prepare connection before people come together. Leaders can build stronger teams by encouraging support, contact, and shared investment even when people are apart.

2.Make authenticity practical. Connection grows when people understand each other’s stories, motivations, hardships, and aspirations.

3.Be present and visible. Leadership connection is often created through brief but meaningful interactions that signal care and attention.

4.Show people how the work connects. Every role matters; leaders should make the links between visible and invisible contributions clear.

5.Ask what each person is willing to do for the team. Sacrifice is not only what people give up, but also what they are prepared to do for others.

Reflection Questions for Leaders

·     What are you doing when you are apart, to prepare for the times when you will come together?

·     What can you do to be more authentic with each other?

·     How can you share more information about yourself with each other in a way that deepens your understanding of what drives each of you?

·     How can you use daily, small moments to stay connected?

·     What more could you do to understand the linkages between the people who support you?

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

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Anders Torstensson on Building Mjällby’s Kaizen Culture Through Calm, Teamwork and Detail

We believe that there is no algorithm for leadership. So we ask the world's great coaches how they do it.

Anders shares how Mjällby’s rise from relegation struggles to cup finalists and champions was built on club-wide structure, kaizen-style continuous improvement, and teamwork rather than one coach’s decisions. He explains creating conditions for intrinsic motivation, training with maximum intensity and game-specific opposition, and obsessing over small efficiencies that compound. He describes using a small staff effectively through delegation, trust and regular feedback surveys, plus monthly meetings with a player council. Adversity—financial constraints, player sales, and his leukemia diagnosis—strengthened resilience and sharpened his process focus on solutions. He emphasizes clarity on core values, selecting good people, staying calm, being fair, and making hard decisions without being harsh.

Q. Do you truly know who you are and what you stand for?

Q. When adversity hits, do I focus on the problem or the solution?

Q. What energy am I bringing to the people around me?

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

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Todays episode is On Leadership and I am joined for the discussion by 2 great coaches.

The first is Mike Dunlap. Mike is a basketball coach who has led teams in US Colleges, the NBA and in Australia. He was also an assistant with the  Milwaukee Bucks when then they defeated the Phoenix Suns to win their first NBA Championship in 2021.

The second is Rugby Union coach Franco Smith. As a player Franco represented South Africa as well as playing for clubs in South Africa, Italy, France and Wales. As a coach he has led teams to National Championships in Italy and South Africa and is presently the head coach of the Glasgow Warriors.

Q: How do you mitigate the loneliness you might feel as a leader?

Q: What philosophy guides you as a leader

Q: What did you do today to lead by example?

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

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Our great coach on this episode is John Connolly.

John is a rugby union coach who started coaching in the 1980’s. He rose through the ranks and eventually led the Queensland Reds to the Super 6 title in 1992, and then back-to-back Super 10 titles in 1994-94. 

He then went on to coach in in Ireland, France, Wales and England, before returning to coach the Australian National team, the Wallabies for 2 years.

In 2021 John became a quadriplegic. However, he did not let this define him or slow him down and he now uses his energy to raise money for others with spinal injuries.

His adventures are captured in his book Bare Knuckles it’s a terrific read and all the money raised from it go to the Perry Cross Foundation

Q: What role does pride play in your teams identity?

Q: How do you find the balance between single mindedness and being open to new ideas?

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

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Our great coach on this episode is Dell McGee.

Dell is an American Football Coach.

He played for the college powerhouse Auburn before a professional career that included stints with the Arizona Cardinals, and the Detroit Lions.

The year after retiring he started coaching as an Assistant at High School level. He eventually became a Hih School head coach and won the 2007 state championship.

He eventually went on to join the Georgia Bulldogs as the run game coordinator and running backs coach under Kirby Smart, helping them national championships in 2021 and 2022.

After 8 years with the Bulldogs he was announced as the Georgia State Head Coach in 2024. 

Q: What are the pillars that define your teams’ culture?

Q: What are some of the purpose’s that drive the people in your team?

Q: How well are you able to regulate emotional ups and downs during tough times?

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

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Todays episode is on Great Team Work, and I am joined for the discussion by 2 great coaches.

The first is Lisa Alexander.

Lisa was the coach of the Australian Netball team, known as the Diamonds, from 2011 to 2020. During that time She oversaw gold medal successes at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2015 Netball World Cup, as well as silver medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2019 Netball World Cup.

And the second is John Kessel

John was the Team Leader for the 2000 USA Olympic Beach Volleyball Teams in Sydney, which brought home one gold medal, and for the 2004 USA Paralympic Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team in Athens, which came home with the bronze medal.

He is the author of over 12 books, including the IMPACT coaching manual, which is now in its 33rd edition. in 2024, he was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame and today travels around the world talking about coaching, particularly in the youth space.

Q: how do you describe great team work?

Q: How often do you catch people doing good; versus calling out areas for improvement? 

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

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Jamilon Mulders is a German Field Hockey coach and former player for the National Team.

As a player, he was part of the team that won the World Cup in 2002. He then retired and transitioned into coaching. He progressed through youth teams, eventually leading national youth teams. He was then an assistant for Markus Weise when the German women won the Gold medal at the Champions trophy. He then started to cosch the German women, with whom he won bronze at the Rio Olympics 2016, before after five years, he went on to coach the Chinese women’s national team. After a break from coaching, he returned as interim Headcoach to the Dutch women's national team, with whom he won the World Cup in 2022, and became 2023 again a world champion as an assistant to the German men's team. A silver medal at the Paris Olympia with the German men was the last medal before transition to become a youth performance manager. He is presently the youth performance manager Dutch federation.

Q: What routines do you have in place to deliver tough messages?

Q: To what extent do you agree with the idea of being a servant to the group as the leader?

Q: Has there been times when you have been ‘blind-spotted’ by a goal?

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at [email protected] or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

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