The SQUADcast

In this episode of the Championship Culture SQUADcast, Chris Carrubba and Dr. Ed Lazzara are joined by retired NFL official, longtime educator, and coach Tommy Hill — along with the person he calls the “captain of the squad,” his wife, Patty — for a conversation about sacrifice, preparation, family, mentorship, and what it really takes to reach the highest level of your profession.

Hill’s journey to the NFL didn’t begin under the bright lights of a Super Bowl. It started with his father, a high school football official for 38 years, encouraging him to learn how to referee. From Pop Warner and high school games to college football, NFL Europe, and eventually the NFL, Hill spent decades climbing the officiating ladder. His career would ultimately include more than 350 regular-season games and four Super Bowls.

But this episode makes one thing clear: Tommy Hill’s story isn’t just about Tommy Hill.

Patty shares what life looked like behind the scenes while Tommy pursued a career that demanded weekends, holidays, constant travel, studying, and countless hours away from home. She coached their son’s Little League team when Tommy couldn’t be there, managed the family while he traveled, and even saw their daughter schedule her June wedding knowing football season would make other times of the year difficult. The sacrifices were real, but so were the opportunities that came from making them together.

Throughout the conversation, Hill continually comes back to one idea: you have to love the work. Talent isn’t enough. Whether he was preparing for a preseason game or a Super Bowl, Hill approached the process the same way — studying film, learning the rules, sharpening fundamentals, and preparing for situations he might encounter. He describes officiating as a craft that has to be continually polished, and even after decades in the profession, his biggest concern remained simple: don’t screw up the game.

Hill also reflects on the mentors, officials, coaches, and friends who became part of his own squad along the way. He shares stories about working with some of the NFL’s most recognizable coaches, helping new referees develop, and learning that relationships built through demanding work often last long after the games are over.

Today, Hill is passing those lessons to the next generation of NFL officials. As a downfield trainer, he works individually with developing officials, reviewing their games, reinforcing fundamentals, and helping prepare prospective officials through college all-star games and the league’s developmental pipeline. His approach is rooted in experience: teach young officials the lessons he learned — including his own mistakes — so they can be better prepared when their opportunity arrives.

Some of the most memorable moments come when Tommy and Patty look beyond football. Tommy talks about his father as his hero, the pride he has in his wife and children, and the incredible experiences his career gave their entire family. Patty talks candidly about the weekends spent alone, coordinating children and family responsibilities, and the support system that helped make Tommy’s career possible.

The conversation also brings Tommy and Ed back to their years together at Mount Olive, where Hill became much more than an NFL official who happened to work in a school. He was a coach, teacher, mentor, colleague, and trusted voice for the people around him. As Ed reflects, Hill was someone coaches could turn to for advice not only about sports, but about careers, marriage, children, and life.

From Pop Warner fields to Super Bowls, from red-eye flights followed by mornings back at school to family holidays celebrated without everyone at the table, Tommy and Patty Hill’s story is a reminder that reaching the highest level is rarely an individual accomplishment.

It takes preparation. It takes sacrifice. It takes people willing to support you when nobody sees the work being done.

And most importantly, it takes a SQUAD.

Who’s on your SQUAD?

Who’s on your SQUAD?

In this episode of the Championship Culture SQUADcast, Chris Carrubba and Dr. Ed Lazzara are joined by longtime educator, administrator, and championship football coach Jim Kramer for a conversation about building a winning culture, developing leaders, and the relationships that make success possible.

Kramer takes the group back to Mount Olive High School, where he returned as a young teacher and coach to a football program that had won just 27 games over the previous decade. After taking over as head coach at only 30 years old, Kramer knew there would be no quick fix. Instead, he focused on establishing standards, creating consistency, developing young players, and getting an entire program to believe that winning was possible.

That belief was tested through an 0–10 season, blowout losses, and plenty of people questioning whether the turnaround would ever happen. But the message never changed. Kramer, Lazzara, and a coaching staff filled with strong personalities continued to tell their players that they were building something special — and eventually those same players became state champions.

The conversation goes far beyond wins and losses. Kramer explains the difference between rules and standards, why great teams learn to hold each other accountable, and why leadership requires being able to both give and receive criticism. He also shares lessons from mentors who taught him that excellence often comes down to the smallest details — and that no matter how successful you become, there is always something left to learn.

Kramer also discusses his work with Championship Culture, where he teaches students about grit, perseverance, and his “Ladder of Leadership.” Leadership starts with developing yourself, but the next step is learning how to inspire others to believe in you and follow your example.

Some of the most powerful moments come when the group reflects on what coaching is really about. The championship trophy mattered, but Kramer says the greater measure of success is who those players became at 27 and 28 years old — as fathers, husbands, teammates, and contributing members of society. Decades later, many of those relationships remain, with former players still supporting one another and staying connected to their coaches.

From recruiting a two-time Super Bowl champion to join a struggling high-school football staff, to teaching kids how to trust one another when they were losing 42–0, this episode is a reminder that championship culture is built long before anyone raises a trophy.

It starts with standards. It grows through trust. And it lasts because of the people who were there with you along the way.

Who’s on your SQUAD?

Who’s on your SQUAD?

In Episode 3 of the Championship Culture SQUADcast, Chris Carrubba and Brian “Boz” Bosworth are joined by Dr. Ed Lazzara for a conversation about the people who influence us, challenge us, support us, and ultimately help us become better versions of ourselves.

Dr. Lazzara shares the story behind his book, Who’s Your SQUAD?, which brings together three important parts of his life: the remarkable turnaround that led to a state football championship at Mount Olive, decades of lessons learned as an educator and coach, and the wisdom — often delivered very directly — of his mother, Josephine.

At the center of the conversation is the SQUAD framework: Support, Question, Understand, Advise, and Demand. Ed explains why we need different people filling each of those roles and why strong leaders recognize that success is never about “me” or “my team” — it’s about us and we.

The group also discusses the growth of Championship Culture and its student leadership experiences, which bring together educators, professional athletes, mental-health professionals, entrepreneurs, and other leaders to share their own stories of success, failure, resilience, and perseverance.

From Super Bowl champions who once considered quitting to the lessons learned around Josephine’s kitchen table, this episode is a reminder that nobody succeeds alone. When things are going well, lift up the people around you. When things get difficult, your SQUAD can be the people who lift you back up.

Everyone has a SQUAD.

Who’s on yours?

Superintendent Chris Carrubba and Principal Brian Bosworth bring the energy as they sit down with students fresh out of the Championship Culture Workshop. These conversations are real, fast-paced, and full of insight—highlighting powerful experiences, unforgettable life lessons, and what it truly means to have your SQUAD. Get ready for authentic student voices, big takeaways, and the kind of inspiration that stays with you long after the episode ends.

Championship Culture SQUADcast features educational leaders Chris Carrubba and Brian Bosworth, two passionate advocates for developing high-performing schools through strong leadership, intentional culture, and a commitment to excellence.

Through engaging conversations, real-world experiences, and practical leadership strategies, Chris and Brian explore what it takes to develop a true championship culture in today's schools.

Designed for superintendents, principals, teachers, coaches, and aspiring leaders, Championship Culture SQUADcast provides actionable insights and inspiration to help educational professionals lead with purpose, empower their teams, and make a lasting impact on the students and communities they serve.