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:

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