Beyond Coaching: An Impactful Coaching Project Podcast

Podcast by Dr. Rob Ramseyer

Beyond Coaching: An Impactful Coaching Project Podcast

Beyond Coaching, a podcast from the Impactful Coaching Project, explores coaching and leading the 21st century athlete. The importance of the coach being a positive impact on their student-athletes hasn’t changed but the strategies for connecting with them has changed. This podcast interviews coaching and sport leaders about holistic coaching and the lessons they have learned over time. Beyond Coaching is podcast developed by the Impactful Coaching Project.

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Latest episodes

01 April 2025

Mitch Hull: Winning, Success, and Significance

In this episode of Beyond Coaching, Rob welcomes back Mitch Hull from the 3D Institute for a follow-up discussion to the popular episode, Does Winning Matter? This conversation dives deep into the tension between winning, success, and significance in coaching, athletics, and life. Mitch shares insights from his own Olympic journey, stories from elite athletes, and practical advice for coaches on building meaningful relationships and fostering long-term impact.

Key Topics Discussed:

✅ The difference between winning and significance – why winning matters but isn’t everything

✅ Mitch’s personal journey, including Olympic trials, setbacks, and lessons learned

✅ The post-Olympic depression phenomenon and why athletes struggle with identity

✅ The role of faith and personal purpose in navigating competition

✅ How goal-driven individuals can balance ambition with fulfillment

✅ The success vs. significance framework for coaching and leadership

✅ Why building relationships is the foundation of impactful coaching

✅ Practical tips for coaches looking to lead with purpose

Notable Quotes:

🗣️ “Most of us end our careers on a loss. But that doesn’t make us failures.” – Mitch Hull

🗣️ “Winning is important, but it can never be ultimate.” – Mitch Hull

🗣️ “Success is about goals. Significance is about purpose.” – Mitch Hull

🗣️ “It’s hard to be significant and not be successful. But you can be successful and never be significant.” – Mitch Hull

Resources & Links:

🔗 Follow the Impactful Coaching Project on Substack: impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com

🔗 Learn more about the 3D Institute and transformational coaching: 3dinstitute.com

🔗 Connect with Rob on Twitter (X): @ICP_Project

🔗 Listen to more episodes of Beyond Coaching: beyondcoaching.alitu.com

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18 March 2025

Podcast Short: The Art of the Short Post-Game Talk

In this podcast short, we discuss one of the most common mistakes coaches make—talking too much after games. Post-game talks often happen in highly emotional moments, and saying the wrong thing can damage trust, hurt team culture, and ultimately be ineffective.

We cover:

Why post-game talks should be under three minutes
The risks of emotional reactions and credibility loss
The importance of having a consistent routine
Why teams need clear expectations after every game
How to rehearse and hold yourself accountable for better communication

We also share real coaching stories, including mistakes we’ve made, and practical tips to improve post-game talks immediately.

Quote from the Episode:

"Less is more. If you're too emotional, wait. If it's important, address it at practice."

Follow & Subscribe:

Substack: impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com
Podcast Page: beyondcoaching.alitu.com
Twitter (X): @ICP_Project
Instagram: impactful_coaching_project
LinkedIn: impactful-coaching-project
Facebook: Impactful Coaching Project

Listen & Subscribe:

Don’t miss out—hit follow on your favorite podcast platform.

Get Our Books on Coaching and Leadership

For deeper insights into coaching, leadership, and building strong team cultures, check out our books:

Coaching and Leading the 21st Century Athlete – Available on Amazon
Athletic Department Leadership and Developing Coaches – Available on Amazon

These books provide practical strategies to help coaches lead effectively in today’s sports environment.

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07 March 2025

Leadership, Grit, and Coaching: Insights from a Military and Coaching Veteran Colonel James Cheatham

In this episode of Beyond Coaching, we sit down with Colonel James Cheatham, a 30-year educator, football coach, and Oklahoma Air National Guard officer. Colonel Cheatham shares his unique journey through coaching and leadership, discussing his time as a head football coach, a junior college defensive coordinator, and his transition into full-time military service.

The conversation dives deep into:

The state of high school coaching today and the challenges facing coaches.
How coaches can be more intentional about teaching leadership through sports.
The importance of developing mental and emotional resilience in athletes—why he believes we can’t have "marshmallows" on the field.
How his experiences in the military have shaped his coaching philosophy.
Strategies for onboarding young coaches and helping them embrace a growth mindset.
The impact of overplaying in youth sports and how excessive competition may be dulling athletes' natural competitiveness.
The importance of self-reflection and adapting coaching methods to reach Generation Z athletes.

Colonel Cheatham also shares his thoughts on the role of data in coaching, the need for purposeful leadership training, and how coaches can create environments that foster resilience and accountability.

Key Quotes:

“Talk less, rep more. You don’t talk a player into being better—you train them into it.”

"Coaches must be purposeful in leadership training—it can’t be left to chance.”

"We need fewer marshmallows. Mental and emotional resilience are just as important as physical toughness.”

Resources & Mentions:

Impactful Coaching Project – impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com
Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast (Referenced by James Cheatham)
- Book Mentions:Point Man by Steve Farrar
- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
- Grit by Angela Duckworth

Connect with Us:

📢 Follow Beyond Coaching for more episodes on coaching leadership and athlete development.

📌 Twitter (X): @ICP_Project

📌 Instagram: impactful_coaching_project

📌 LinkedIn: Impactful Coaching Project

📌 Facebook: Impactful Coaching Project

🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more! Please share and rate!

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04 March 2025

Does Winning Matter? | Podcast Short

We're diving into a thought-provoking question from one of our first paid Substack subscribers: Does winning really matter? It’s a loaded question, and we tackle it head-on—exploring the balance between success, growth, and the process of improvement. Can two teams have equally meaningful experiences, even if one wins more? Is winning the ultimate goal, or is the pursuit of excellence what truly counts?

From personal coaching experiences to reflections on legendary figures like Gino Auriemma, we break down what winning means at different levels of competition. Plus, we share insights from our ongoing research on motivation—surprisingly, winning isn’t always the primary driver for athletes. Tune in for a candid discussion on the value of winning, how to define success beyond the scoreboard, and why the process might matter more than the outcome.

Episode Highlights:

[1:15] - The key question: Does winning matter?

[3:40] - How winning influences team culture and buy-in

[7:25] - The challenge of defining success beyond wins and losses

[12:10] - Personal coaching lessons: finding small wins within the game

[17:00] - What research says about motivation—why winning isn’t the top priority for athletes

[21:45] - The Gino Auriemma story: shifting the focus from championships to daily improvement

[27:30] - Balancing recognition and staying process-oriented

Links & Resources:

Enjoyed the episode?

If you liked this conversation, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast! Share it with a friend who loves sports and leadership discussions. We appreciate your support!

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28 February 2025

Building Championship Culture with Joey Reinart

In this episode of Beyond Coaching, we sit down with Joey Reinart, Athletic Director and Assistant Principal at Tonkawa High School in Oklahoma. Joey shares his journey from volunteer coaching little league baseball to leading transformational change as a head football coach and now as an athletic director.

Joey dives into how he built a championship culture at Chisholm High School, turning a struggling football program into a thriving, multi-sport powerhouse. He explains how investing in kids beyond the field, building trust with parents, and fostering cross-sport collaboration created an environment where student-athletes could excel.

Key Topics Covered:

Building a Program from Scratch: How Joey transformed a 3-win football program into a perennial playoff contender.
Investing in Athletes: The importance of training athletes to be the best in any sport, not just football.
3D Coaching Framework: How the principles of 3D coaching helped unite his coaching staff, engage parents, and motivate kids.
Generational Coaching: Insights into how Gen Z athletes differ from past generations—and how to connect with them effectively.
Leadership Lessons: How failures shaped his success and why delegation has become a critical habit in his current leadership role.

Joey’s passion for coaching the whole person shines through as he shares practical strategies for building relationships, developing leadership, and creating sustainable success in athletics.

Rapid-Fire Takeaways:

Book Recommendation: The Pack – A leadership guide for building team culture.
Defining Success: Seeing students engaged, teachers energized, and a school community thriving.

Connect with Us: Subscribe to our Substack: impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com

Follow Impactful Coaching Project on social media:

Follow Us & Stay Connected!

Twitter (X): @ICP_Project

Instagram: impactful_coaching_project

LinkedIn: Impactful Coaching Project

Facebook: Impactful Coaching Project

For more episodes, go to beyondcoaching.alitu.com.

Enjoy the episode, and don’t forget to share it with fellow coaches, educators, and leaders striving to make an impact!

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21 February 2025

Building Programs and Developing Athletes: A Coach’s Perspective

In this episode of Beyond Coaching, Rob is joined by Troy Black and Dylan Heath, two experienced coaches working with junior high and high school athletes at Wichita (KS) Collegiate School. They discuss the evolving landscape of youth sports, from fostering a fun and engaging environment to managing competitive expectations. The conversation explores building successful programs, balancing parent involvement, and coaching the modern athlete in an era dominated by club sports and social pressures.

Key Topics Discussed:

✔️ Building Programs That Last – How strong mentorship and leadership shape youth athletic programs.

✔️ The Fun vs. Competitive Drive Debate – How to keep kids engaged while fostering a winning mindset.

✔️ The Role of Parents in Youth Sports – The pros and cons of early specialization and club sports culture.

✔️ Developing Athletes Beyond the Game – How sports teach resilience, patience, and teamwork.

✔️ Motivating Today’s Athletes – Insights into what truly drives young athletes to compete.

Memorable Quotes:

📢 "If kids know you care about them as people first, they’ll do almost anything for you." – Troy Black

📢 "We want kids to have fun, develop skills, and love the game. The competitive side comes later." – Dylan Heath

Rapid Fire Round Highlights:

📚 Book Recommendation: There’s Only One Way to Win by Vince Lombardi

🏆 Defining Success: Seeing former athletes return and staying connected after their playing days.

📖 New Habit: Reading more coaching and leadership books to improve as a mentor.

About Beyond Coaching:

Beyond Coaching is a podcast by the Impactful Coaching Project, in partnership with Friends University. Our mission is to help coaches develop 21st-century athletes by focusing on leadership, personal growth, and impactful coaching strategies.

🔗 Subscribe & Listen:

🎧 Beyond Coaching on Substack

🎧 Beyond Coaching on Alitu

Follow Us & Stay Connected!

📍 Twitter (X): @ICP_Project

📍 Instagram: impactful_coaching_project

📍 LinkedIn: Impactful Coaching Project

📍 Facebook: Impactful Coaching Project

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