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.

Listen onApple Podcasts

Listen onSpotify

Latest episodes

18 April 2025

Podcast Short: Building a Sticky Program in the Transfer Portal Era

In this episode of Beyond Coaching, Rob and Dustin respond to a question from a college coach about recruiting and retaining athletes in the era of the transfer portal. Drawing from the Impactful Coaching Project’s core philosophy of building a “sticky” program culture, they explore how the same environment that attracts transfers is also what helps retain freshmen—and why clarity, consistency, and care still matter most.

What We Cover:

Why transfers and freshmen should experience the same program values
How to build a “sticky” program culture that athletes want to join—and stay in
The role of visual leadership and real-life stories in attracting the right fits
Why “culture clarity” beats transactional recruiting
How to empower your current athletes as your best recruiters
Ways coaches can demonstrate authentic care that resonates with families

Key Quote:

"This is who we are. Take it or leave it. But if you’re here, there’s a standard—and you’re going to be cared for."

Buy Our Books:

Coaching and Leading the 21st Century Athlete and Athletic Department Leadership and Developing Coaches are available now on Amazon.

These books dive deeper into the principles discussed on the podcast and are must-reads for coaches, athletic directors, and leaders who want to grow themselves and their teams.

Buy now on Amazon: Link

Subscribe and Learn More:

For more resources on coaching the whole person, visit impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com

00:00

06:39

15 April 2025

Lead Your Team, Manage Your Program: A Conversation with Rob Miller

In this episode of Beyond Coaching, host Rob Ramseyer welcomes back Rob Miller, a respected national speaker, seasoned coach, and recent inductee into the NAIA Hall of Fame. Drawing from his extensive experience working with high school and college athletic programs across the country with Proactive Coaching, Miller offers deep insights into the evolving challenges of coaching in today’s sports environment.

Together, they explore critical themes including the rise of young and underprepared coaches, the implications of a rapidly changing youth sports culture, and the essential—but often overlooked—distinction between leading a team and managing a program. This episode provides a blend of strategic thinking, practical advice, and enduring principles for coaches at all levels.

Episode Breakdown & Timestamps

00:15 – Introduction & Recognition
01:11 – Emerging Coaching Trends
03:30 – Declining Coaching Pools & Gender Gaps
05:54 – Three Key Challenges Facing New Coaches
08:33 – Leveraging Veteran Leadership
11:04 – Imitation vs. Wisdom in Coaching Development
13:13 – Youth Sports Culture: A Shift in Priorities
16:28 – Reframing Practice for Engagement and Learning
18:59 – Teaching from the Ground Up
21:57 – System Fit and Sustainable Success
25:37 – Final Reflections: Always Keep Coaching

Key Insights

“Lead your team. Manage your program.”
Coaching is no longer seasonal; it’s a year-round, full-spectrum role that blends leadership, teaching, and operations.
Fundamental skills are increasingly scarce in the current youth sports system.
Sustainable success stems from aligning athlete recruitment with institutional values and cultural fit.

Read Our Books

Take your coaching to the next level with our published resources, built to strengthen leadership, culture, and effectiveness in athletic programs:

Impactful Coaching Project: Leading and Coaching the 21st Century Athlete
A foundational guide for coaches seeking to lead with purpose, build relationships, and make lasting impact.
Athletic Department Leadership: Athletic Department Leadership and Developing Coaches
Ideal for administrators and program leaders, this book focuses on how to cultivate a strong coaching staff and program culture.

About the Impactful Coaching Project

This episode is brought to you by the Impactful Coaching Project, the leading platform for developing coaches who lead with purpose, integrity, and a holistic approach.

The project exists to help coaches:

Coach the whole person
Build transformational team cultures
Learn and apply the latest in research-based coaching strategies
Access professional development, resources, and a growing coaching community

Subscribe & Learn More: impactfulcoachingproject.substack.com

00:00

28:13

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

00:00

24:25

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.

00:00

09:58

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!

00:00

31:58

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!

00:00

11:50