Beyond The Whistle

On this episode, we go Beyond The Whistle with Matt Johnson, Director of Men’s Basketball Strength and Conditioning at Butler University. Matt and I discuss: The role of the strength and conditioning coach during the COVID-19 pandemic Using Instagram to connect with athletes during this time The focus on coaching player’s lifestyle - sleep and nutrition Coach LaVall Jordan’s leadership during crisis Breakdowns create breakthroughs Tough times reveal the mindset of elite athletes - resilience in body and mind His career journey - be ready when you get the call “The big time is not a place. It’s the state of your heart.” The importance of the interviews AFTER you get the job How his position, being dedicated to one sport, allows him to play a role to skill development, game planning, practice planning and recruiting Causing adaptation and absorbing adaptation Why coaches need their strength and conditioning coach on speed dial The leadership of Ralph Reiff at Butler Progression - The key to a successful return to normal Connect With Matt Johnson Website: Butler University Men’s Basketball Website: StrengthCoachConcepts.com Twitter: @StrengthCoachMJ Instagram: @StrengthCoachMJ Connect with Odell McCants Website - McCantsSports.com Twitter - @odellmccants LinkedIn - Odell McCants Email: odell@mccantssports.com

We're going Beyond The Whistle with the first Coaches Roundtable. Our roundtablers are Kevin Sutton, Assistant Coach at Rhode Island and Randolph Childress, Associate Head Coach at Wake Forest. This was the most fun I have had as a podcaster. It's a conversation amongst friends about our high school coach, mentorship, fatherhood, leadership, COVID-19 (of course) and more. Kevin, Randolph and I discuss: How Randolph ended the season in a sling and how he's doing now Lessons from our high school coach, Stu Vetter Kevin coaching Randolph in high school How Randolph was Steph Curry before Steph Curry The lost art of players understanding how to play without the ball Coach Vetter's coaching tree Randolph's experience recruiting and coaching his son, Brandon Childress The importance of keeping relationships simple and consistent How Kevin and Randolph's teams responded to the cancellation of basketball due to COVID-19 How they are spending this time with family, their teams and time working on themselves If you would like to be on a future Coaches Roundtable episode, drop me an email at odell@mccantssports.com. I welcome coaches from men's and women's basketball and from programs at all levels to share experiences and dicsuss topics impacting the coaching profession. Connect with Randolph Childress Twitter: @r22childress Website: Wake Forest Basketball Connect with Kevin Sutton Twitter: @coachsutton Website: Kevin Sutton Basketball Website: Sutton's Living Trophies Website: Rhode Island Basketball Connect with Odell McCants Website: McCantsSports.com Twitter: @odellmccants LinkedIn: Odell McCants Email: odell@mccantssports.com 

On this episode, we go Beyond The Whistle with George Lynch. I go back with George all the way to high school, where we both played for legendary coach Stu Vetter and nationally ranked teams at Flint Hill School in Virginia. George was a member of the 1993 University of North Carolina NCAA national championship team. George played 12 years in the NBA, and his coaching career includes serving as an assistant at UC Irvine, Southern Methodist University and the G-League's Grand Rapids Drive. Most recently, George served as head coach at Clark Atlanta University. Along George's basketball journey, he has played for and coached with some of the greatest minds in the game. From his high school coaches - coach Vetter at Flint Hill and Woody Deans at Patrick Henry in Roanoke, Virginia, to Dean Smith at UNC and Larry Brown with the Philadelphia 76ers and at SMU. He's also committed to improving the educational experiences of student-athletes at HBCU schools through his newest venture, HBCU Heroes. George and I discuss: How he developed into a great defensive stopper (second all-time in steals at UNC) The experience of leaving home to finish high school How putting team first actually made him a better player How his approach to the game as a player has become the foundation of his coaching philosophy What he has taken from each coach he has played for and coached with, and how he has woven those experiences into his coaching style What he has learned about himself since becoming a head coach How the COVID-19 pandemic and required distance learning has magnified the educational technology needs of many HBCU student-athletes Founding HBCU Heroes and the goal of procuring 6,000 computers for HBCU student-athletes Connect with George Lynch Website: HBCU Heroes Instagram: @georgelynchcoach Twitter: @Glynchcoach Twitter: @HBCUHeroes Connect with Odell McCants Website: McCantsSports.com Twitter: @odellmccants LinkedIn: Odell McCants Email: odell@mccantssports.com

On this episode, we go Beyond The Whistle with Dan Tudor of Tudor Collegiate Strategies. Dan and his firm develop research-based recruiting strategies for programs in all sports, at all levels of collegiate athletics. Dan joins me for a third appearance on the podcast to discuss: Challenges coaches first faced recruiting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fundraising and budget concerns athletic directors have during this time. The mindset of recruits now without campus visits and evaluation events. How recruiting has been like "buying toilet paper". Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on an already growing transfer portal. How to stand out in recruiting by crafting your recruiting story. Taking advantage of this time to get better in your recruiting. You can also hear more from Dan on Episode 009: Take Control of Your Recruiting Process and Episode 013: The Campus Visit. Connect with Dan Tudor Website: Tudor Collegiate Strategies Podcast: The College Recruiting Weekly Podcast Twitter: @dantudor Connect with Odell Website: McCantsSports.com Twitter: @odellmccants LinkedIn: Odell McCants Email: odell@mccantssports.com

On this episode, we go Beyond The Whistle with Kyle Adams, Associate Head Women's Basketball Coach at the University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff. Kyle also has his own consulting firm, It's Bigger Than The Ball, where Kyle works with coaches, educators and organizations to provide transformative learning experiences for the next generation of leaders. During our conversation, Kyle and I discuss: My high school days playing in Pine Bluff's King Cotton Holiday Classic high school basketball tournament, which has come back after being dormant for many years. Kyle and his team's experience learning about the cancellation of remaining conference tournaments and the NCAA tournament due to COVID-19. How their program is working as a staff, communicating with their players and recruiting during the pandemic. How his transition from coaching men to coaching women helped him grow as a man. The difference between a "transactional" coach and a "transformational" coach. Building a team culture that creates champion individuals and leads to championship teams. The job of a leader is not to create followers, but to create more leaders. Connect with Kyle Adams Website: It's Bigger Than The Ball Podcast: It's Bigger Than The Ball Podcast Twitter: @coachka20 LinkedIn: Kyle Adams Connect with Odell Website: McCantsSports.com Twitter: @odellmccants LinkedIn: Odell McCants Email: odell@mccantssports.com

I'm back! It's been over a year since I last recorded an episode. I was already planning to record today (January 26th, 2020) when the world was struck by the news of the tragic death of Kobe Bryant. My plan was to explain how life had gotten in the way the past year and reasons why I had not published an episode. But in thinking about Kobe, I couldn't do that. There was no better example than Kobe of work ethic, winning habits, passion and preparation. So I'm not going to share excuses. So this episode is not about the past. Not about reasons why I haven't done something. On this day, this episode is about my commitment to you, my listener, and what to expect going forward.  

Have you thought about having your own podcast? This episode of Beyond The Whistle is all about the power a podcast of your own can have as the foundation of your personal brand. With a podcast, you have your own coach’s show. Think about that. Regardless of where you are in your coaching career or the level of your program, you can create a platform to share your personal story, who you are and what you are about, with an audience of fans, recruits, parents, other coaches and even administrators. You no longer have to be a head coach of a Power Five program, with a media contract, to have your own coach’s show. And if you are, you can go deeper with your audience to share who you are beyond the Xs and Os. My tagline for this show! For this episode, I’m proud and honored to have as my guest, Jerod Morris. When I had the idea of starting this podcast, I listened to all of the “podcasts about podcasting” out there. There are plenty and I still listen to some. One show that was impactful for me in the beginning, and still is to this day, is The Showrunner. The Showrunner is hosted by Jerod and his co-host Jonny Nastor. What’s different about The Showrunner is the guys don’t focus on the technical aspects of podcasting like so many shows. In fact, many of those shows actually scared me from starting a podcast. Jerod and Jonny provide actionable advice that drive meaningful results with a podcast centered content strategy. Another reason I’m excited to have Jerod on the show is, that’s not the only podcast Jerod has. Jerod is also co-host The Assembly Call, a fan-based podcast on Indiana University basketball. So he has a unique understanding of podcasting as a platform for a brand and also how to leverage a basketball fan base to create a audience of loyal followers. What I also learn this during our conversation, is Jerod is a coach’s kid. He grew up with his father coaching Division 1 football and has a first hand understanding of the life and profession of college coaching. I have been podcasting for close to two years now. I know the challenges with getting started. What equipment do you need, what’s the technology behind it all. Do you know it took me almost TWO YEARS to go from idea to starting this show. TWO YEARS! I don’t want to see you take that long. If you are thinking about starting your own podcast, and I hope after listening to this episode you are, I want you to have the list of all of the gear and tools I use to produce this very show.    My Podcasting Toolbox is a free guide to everything you need to get started, with much less of a financial investment than you probably think. You can get your free copy at this link: My Podcasting Toolbox. If you want to go deeper with the idea of your own podcast, to launch your show, I’d love to work with you. Email me at odell@mccantssports.com and we can discuss your idea, I’ll share my podcasting journey and help you with getting started. Free Guide My Podcasting Toolbox: The Tools and Gear to Get You Podcasting Mentions in this episode Podcast: Beyond The Whistle 018: Why You Need a Personal Brand as a Coach, with Ron McKeefery Video: Solving Basketball with Jordan Sperber - Episode 2, Kory Alford, UCLA Podcast: Solving Basketball with Jordan Sperber Connect With Jerod Morris Podcast - The Showrunner Podcast - The Assembly Call Website - Showrunner.fm Twitter - @AssemblyCall Connect with Odell McCants Website - McCantsSports.com Twitter - @odellmccants LinkedIn - Odell McCants

Personal brand. What does that mean to you? What's the value of having a personal brand? Have you struggled to create your personal brand?  Ron McKeefery is an internationally recognized leader in strength and conditioning coaching. Currently the Vice President of Performance and Education for PLAE, a leader in sports and performance flooring, Ron served as strength coach at the collegiate and professional level. Ron has worked with the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL and Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals on the professional level. Collegiately, Ron has served as strength coach at Eastern Michigan University, University of Tennessee and University of South Florida. Ron has been successful in creating a personal brand for himself that has served as the foundation for a book, podcast, speaking engagements and coaching and consulting to Olympic and national teams across the globe. In this episode Ron McKeefery shares: The moment in his career when he realized, as a coach, how vulnerable he was to losing his job for things that had nothing to do with him Facing a coaching staff change, struggling with figuring out how would he continue his career, and more importantly, provide for his family How developing his personal brand, as a coach, helped him establish himself as an authority and create additional sources of income How additional sources of income liberated him from the pressures of coaching How creating your personal brand helps you to control your story and narrative Creating a "tribe" of followers who know, like and trust you The built in entrepreneurial and branding advantage you have as a coach How you can leverage your personal brand to get you through the transitions of a coaching career To learn more about building your own personal brand, sign up for my upcoming webinar, "Building Your Coaching Brand" by clicking this link: Build Your Coaching Brand Webinar with Odell McCants Mentions in this episode Build Your Coaching Brand Webinar The Rise to the Top Podcast with David Siteman Garland The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss Connect With Ron McKeefery RonMcKeefery.com - Website Chalk Talk with Ron McKeefery - Podcast CEO Strength Coach - Book @RMcKeefery - Twitter rmckeefery - Instagram Connect with Odell McCants McCantsSports.com - Website @odellmccants - Twitter Odell McCants - LinkedIn

I'm honored to have as a return guest to Beyond The Whistle, my friend Kevin Sutton, Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at the University of Rhode Island. Kevin was my very first interview guest, appearing in episode two, "Persistence on the Coaching Career Path". In that episode, Kevin shared his career journey and how he has woven a path from coaching at two nationally ranked high school programs, to a college coaching career in the Atlantic 10, Big East and ACC. In some ways, this episode became an unplanned follow up to episode two. Last season at Pitt, Kevin experienced a season no one wishes to have. An 8-24 overall record and winless season in the ACC led to the dismissal of coach Kevin Stallings and the entire Pitt staff, including Kevin. In this episode, Kevin openly shares: His excitement for the opportunity to join the staff of Rhode Island first year head coach David Cox The professional and personal lessons he took away from an 8-24 season What a "WIN" means to him in his coaching career How he spent his time between jobs Taking time to reconnect with family Having the hard conversations with your spouse in order to have a plan for your career The importance of staying relevant in your career Having a plan for your job search so you are networking and pursuing the right opportunities I'm thankful for Kevin and his candid conversation.  Mentions in this episode BTW 002: Persistence on the Coaching Career Path with Kevin Sutton What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith (affiliate link) Connect With Kevin Sutton kevinsuttonbasketball.com - Website Kevin Sutton Basketball Blog - Website @CoachSutton - Twitter Connect with Odell McCants McCantsSports.com - Website @odellmccants - Twitter Odell McCants - LinkedIn

It was a personal honor to have as my guest on this episode, Tom McMillen, President and CEO of Lead1 Association. As a kid growing up in Washington, DC, I had two dreams: 1) to play in the NBA and 2) to be President of the United States. I like to think I came a little close, having played basketball in college, worked for a U.S. Congressman and spent time as an NBA agent. At least that's what I tell myself. Having those dreams, and living in DC, Tom was someone I followed closely. Tom was an All-American at the University of Maryland, where he also became the school's first Rhodes Scholar. I got to watch his 11 year NBA career, especially his three seasons with the then Washington Bullets. I also followed closely Tom's three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented the 4th District of Maryland. Tom's career journey was what I aspired for myself as a young man. Today, Tom McMillen is President and CEO of Lead1 Association. Lead1 is a membership organization of collegiate athletic directors from primarily Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs. As the business of college sports has grown, so have the challenges facing institutions, programs and athletic directors - diversity, new media, sexual assault and domestic violence, and gambling are just a few. With his background in legislation, being a student-athlete, playing professionally and experience leading public companies, college athletics is fortunate to have Tom as a leader. In this episode, Tom and I discuss: How he, as a young man, followed the career of Bill Bradley, a former U.S. Senator, basketball All-American at Princeton and 10 years in the NBA. The impact attending college and playing professional basketball in the Washington, DC area had on his political aspirations. What leadership means to him. As a member of Congress, Tom's role in the original sports gambling legislation - Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992. Concerns of new legalized sports betting. What it was like when the news of the FBI college basketball investigation and arrests broke in the middle of their annual conference of more than 100 athletic directors in attendance and NCAA president Mark Emmert speaking at the same time. Concerns of legalized sports betting. College basketball "guarantee games" - the affect they have on career advancement of low and mid-major coaches. The importance of college coaches having an understanding of the issues and challenges AD's face - changing media landscape, declining game attendance, financial and budget pressures, hiring and retaining the right coaches, federal investigations. Gender and ethnic diversity in coaching and sports administration. The annual Lead1 Institute. Mentions in this episode 19th Annual Lead1 Institute - July 16-18, 2018 at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas Connect With Tom McMillen and Lead1 Lead1 Association - Website Lead1 Association- Twitter Tom McMillen - Twitter Connect with Odell McCants McCantsSports.com - Website @odellmccants - Twitter Odell McCants - LinkedIn

One of my goals with the podcast is to bring coaches tools, resources and stories from other coaches that you can use in your own professional development. This episode of Beyond The Whistle accomplishes just that. In this impactful episode with Khadija Head, Associate Head Coach of women’s basketball at Kennesaw State, we discuss: The importance of mentors in your coaching career The power of your personal brand Her three years away from coaching Entrepreneurship and the experience of starting her own Internet marketing business Discovering interests outside of coaching Getting back into coaching with her head coach and mentor, Kennesaw State Head Coach Agnus Berenato Defining what a “win” is in your personal career and making it your own definition of success The morning miracle Starting each day with a personal “win” Making time for yourself and personal development How she became a journaler Why she created the Quarterly Career Journal Books and podcasts she reads and listens to and recommends for you Khadija’s Offer Free 14 Day Career Planner - Free download for listeners of Beyond The Whistle Khadija’s Head Coach Head Quarterly Career Journal on Amazon (affiliate link) Mentions in this episode Book: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (affiliate link) Book: The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace B Wattles (affiliate link) Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (affiliate link) Podcast: The $100 MBA Show - Apple Podcasts | Google Play Music Podcast: Entrepreneurs of Fire - Apple Podcasts | Google Play Music Podcast: Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations - Apple Podcasts | Google Play Music Podcast: Lore - Apple Podcasts | Google Play Music Blog: James Clear Connect With Khadija Head Headcoachead.com - Website @headcoachead - Twitter Connect with Odell McCants McCantsSports.com - Website @odellmccants - Twitter Odell McCants - LinkedIn

I have a confession to make. I am the last person to subscribe to Netflix (at least it feels that way). I was getting ready for a family spring break trip. When traveling with our son, the question at night is always, "what are we going to do?". Not wanting to spend the exorbitant cost of pay-per-view movies at the hotel, I decided it was time to sign up for Netflix. So, I took advantage of the first month free offer and downloaded Netflix to my Amazon Fire TV Stick. Now, packing and preparing for our trip included adding some movies and shows to my watch list. One of the Netflix shows I had heard so much about and the first I had to watch was Last Chance U. As you probably know (it also feels like I'm the last person to watch it), Last Chance U is a Netflix docudrama about the football program at East Mississippi Community College. The program has been built around being a landing spot for many players who have been dismissed from Power Five programs, usually for academics or disciplinary reasons. The program has become a junior college (JUCO) football powerhouse, winning four national championships in the last seven seasons.  While Last Chance U features the team's lightening rod coach, Buddy Stephens, and his players, many of whom are on their "last chance", another major personality of the show is Brittany Wagner, the then athletic academic counselor at East Mississippi. I knew right away I wanted to have Brittany on the podcast. For me, Brittany represented so many of the unsung individuals who are non-coaches but also play prominent roles in the lives of athletes. I have seen first hand the positive impact a caring counselor, teacher or principal can have on a young athlete's life. I knew her insight and experiences were something coaches and administrators listening to the podcast could find of value. In this candid conversation, Brittany and I discuss: What she has been up to and working on since her (spoiler alert) teary departure from East Mississippi in season two of the show Her personal career journey and how it, at times, mirrored those of the athletes she was working with The advantages women have in working with male athletes How past experiences African-American male athletes have with men in their lives and the impact they have on how they view men in positions of authority How coaches can strengthen their relationships with faculty and academic counselors The questions college coaches asked most when recruiting players at East Mississippi How JUCO programs can best prepare their athletes for success at four year programs The advantages of recruiting JUCO players Mentions in this episode Netflix Last Chance U East Mississippi Community College Mississippi State University Athletic Academic Support Services Connect With Brittany Wagner BrittanyWagner.com 10 Thousand Pencils LLC Sharpen Up Podcast - Apple Podcasts Brittany_MSgirl - Twitter Brittany_MSgirl - Instagram Connect with Odell McCants McCantsSports.com @odellmccants - Twitter Odell McCants - LinkedIn  

In part one of Take Control of Your Recruiting Process with Dan Tudor, we discussed what prospects are looking for in communications from you and how you can take control of the recruiting process in a way that helps guide your prospects to a decision. In this episode, Part Two with Dan, we discuss the campus visit phase of recruiting. What does your campus visit look like? How do you know if a visit is the next step your prospect is ready for? Listen and learn how to make your campus visit stand out and leaves your prospects ready to commit. Points we discuss The two things prospects are looking for to decide if to visit your campus The common mistake of recruiting to "features and stats" of your campus and program Don't try to "out stuff" other programs - it's not what your prospects are looking for How to personalize recruiting days to make each prospect feel unique and wanted Closing the deal on the campus visit Mentions in this episode Beyond The Whistle 009: Take Control of Your Recruiting Process with Dan Tudor - Part One Beyond The Whistle 011: Do We Need a National Signing Day with Michael Cross The College Recruiting Weekly Podcast - Episode 9: Michael Cross on Asking the Right Prospect Questions The College Recruiting Weekly Podcast - Episode 13: Michael Cross on Transparency Being the Key to Recruiting Reforms Connect With Dan Tudor Tudor Collegiate Strategies - Website 2018 National Collegiate Recruiting Conference College Recruiting Weekly Podcast- iTunes Dan on Twitter Email Dan

I first met Romone Penny at the barbershop we both go to here in Washington, DC. At the time, Romone was a senior on the American University basketball team. His team had just come off an appearance in the 2008 NCAA tournament and Romone was doing great work giving back to his community in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota. After graduating from American, Romone joined the global accounting firm Ernst & Young. Fast forward ten years (yes, hard to believe). Romone now heads Pursuit Sports Group, a strategic consulting firm based in Washington, DC. Pursuit Sports Group focuses on financial education and planning, reputation management and business development for professional athletes, teams, sports leagues and organizations. In this episode of Beyond The Whistle, Romone and I discuss: Romone's journey from college basketball player to accounting professional and entrepreneur Best ways for coaches to manage their personal finances working in what can be a nomadic and transient profession Pursuit Sports Group's "Pay Yourself First" financial education program for collegiate athletic departments and teams Pursuit Sports Group's Financial Excellence Weekend 2018 in Los Angeles during NBA All-Star Weekend Mentions in this episode John Rice, Management Leadership for Tomorrow Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) NBA All-Star Weekend 2018 Connect with Romone Penny and Pursuit Sports Group Pursuit Sports Group - Website Pursuit Financial Excellence Weekend - Website @AlwaysnPursuit - Twitter alwaysnpursuit - Instagram

The 2017 National Letter of Intent November early signing period recently concluded. This year, college football will have its first early signing period, from December 20th to the 22nd. Have you ever asked why do we have National Letter of Intent signing dates in college sports? What's so magical about these dates? What if we didn't have signing periods at all? What would that look like? In this episode, I discuss these questions with my guest Michael Cross. Michael is a true thought leader on college athletic recruiting reform and best practices. Connect with Michael Cross Ultimate Sports Insider Athlete Viewpoint Twitter: @USInsider  

On September 26th, the college sports world was rocked by an F.B.I. investigation of college basketball, which lead to the arrests of 10 people, including four assistant coaches and two Adidas executives. The fallout has also included the firing of Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino by the University of Louisville. And this is just the beginning. On this episode, which is going to be the first of several you will hear from me on this, I am going to share with you my thoughts on coaches and provide a solution to how coaches can make the right decisions. I come at this from the perspective of having been a recruited athlete, having been a player agent, and as someone now working with college basketball coaches on professional and career development and helping them advance in their careers. I also share the McCants Sports W.I.S.E. Recruiting Strategy. I would like to also know your thoughts. You can connect with me on Twitter at @odellmccants. Or visit my website mccantssports.com.

How do you control your recruiting process? Do you even have a process? My guest on this episode is Dan Tudor of Tudor Collegiate Strategies. Dan has done an amazing job of taking professional selling processes, skills and tactics and has applied them to athlete recruiting. Dan shares what recruits and parents are looking for during the process, how to effectively communicate with recruits and how to control the process. We also discuss his annual event, the National Collegiate Recruiting Conference. Connect With Dan Tudor Tudor Collegiate Strategies - Website College Recruiting Weekly Podcast- iTunes Dan on Twitter

Rising Coaches Elite 2017 I recently had the opportunity to speak at the 8th Annual Rising Coaches Elite 2017 Conference. Rising Coaches Elite is an annual conference that provides professional development for basketball coaches, primarily just starting in their careers. Most of the attendees are graduate assistants, directors of basketball operations and team managers. Attendees came from a wide range of programs. I was also pleased to meet and get to know a few high school coaches who attended as well. The conference was held at Marian University. Marian is an NAIA school with a beautiful campus about 3-4 miles outside of downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. This speaking opportunity was a direct result of social media. I have been following Rising Coaches Elite on Twitter for a while and often share their content. And they have done the same with me. From that, I connected with Adam and the result was receiving the honor of being invited to speak at this year’s conference. It was an honor to be part of a great group of speakers. And it was a great group of speakers. They included Tennessee Tech Head Coach Steve Payne, Danny Mills, college scout for the Philadelphia 76ers, Duke Women's Associate Head Coach Hernando Planells (what a motivating speaker he is), and several others. You can find the full speaker list with links below. As you see, attendees were provided with information, tips and advice on career development from a cross section of levels of basketball and levels of coaching. I know that I took away a great deal of knowledge myself from every speaker. My presentation was the Five Stages of the Business of Coaching. I presented how the stages of a coaching career match those of a business lifecycle. They are: 1. Incubation 2. Start-up 3. Emerging 4. Enterprise 5. Legacy I’m going to speak in more detail on each stage, with examples of coaches, the challenges of each stage and the strategies and resources you need to succeed at each stage and bridge yourself to the next, on future episodes. It’s something I’m really looking forward to sharing with you. So be on the lookout! For now, I want to thank Adam, Brandon and the Rising Coaches Elite team for the opportunity to participate and learn myself. For those who attended the conference, I commend you on making the investment in yourself. Most of these guys are young, aren’t making a lot of money but took the time and found the resources to attend, and learn and connect with other professionals. If you are are starting in your coaching career, or want to start, or just want to learn and make some great connections, I highly recommend attending next year’s conference. If you are a head coach, assistant coach or even perhaps an administrator, I urge you to recommend and even find a way to help your young coaches and support staff attend this event. It’s a way to invest in your staff, your program and the future of the great game of college basketball. I know for me,  It was exciting to spend a few days with the future coaches and leaders of college basketball and if they will have me, I want to continue to support and participate in Rising Coaches Elite.   As always, I want to thank you for listening. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Subscribing is the best way to stay updated on new episodes. Links: Rising Coaches Elite Speakers: Vance Catlin, Pro Personnel Scout, Indiana Pacers Adam Glerlach, Assistant Coach, Cornell Sean Dwyer, Assistant Coach, Northern Kentucky University Steve Payne, Head Coach, Tennessee Tech Rich Czeslawski, Pure Sweat Basketball Brandon Rosenthal, Assistant Coach, Phoenix Suns and Norther Arizona Suns Hernando Planells, Associate Head Coach, Duke University Adam Gordon, Assistant Coach, Southeast Missouri State Danny Mills, College Scout, Philadelphia 76ers Ken Huber, NCAA      

It's July, which means we are in the college basketball summer evaluation period. Coaches will travel throughout the country evaluating high school players at AAU tournaments, camps and summer leagues. As a college coach, just as you are looking for high school players that stand out as prospects for your program, the summer is also perhaps the best time of the year for you to stand out for your own professional development and advancement. In addition to evaluating players, head coaches use this time of the year to evaluate, directly or indirectly, potential coach prospects for their staffs. Also, the assistant coach you meet today, may be a head coach next April or May. This episode provides actionable advice on how you can stand out on the summer recruiting trail. Four Connect with Odell McCants Twitter: @odellmccants Website: mccantssports.com Email: odell@mccantssports.com  

During the most recent “coaching carousel” of college basketball, I had the opportunity to work with a few coaches on their resumes. There is one mistake I see on coaching resumes and if you're has this, you can fix it right now. The number one mistake I see on resumes - of all professions, not just coaching - is writing the resume as a job description. Your resume IS NOT  a job description. The person reading your resume knows what the duties and responsibilities are of a head coach, an assistant coach, a video coordinator, whatever your role is. The person reading  your resume is looking for one thing. How can this candidate add value to my program AND make us better. To answer that, your resume needs to show quantifiable results of the work you have done. It's easy for coaches to make this mistake. You're probably a candidate for another job because the head coach or athletic director doing the hiring knows you or knows of you and your work. However, there is a very good chance he or she will need to have others review your resume. This could be an athletic director, university president or a search committee. These are people who most likely do not know you. The job of your resume is to speak for you, when you are not in the room. Four Ways To Fix Your Coaching Resume Your team's record for each season List your team accomplishments and your contribution Highlight the accomplishments of your players Quantify the results of your recruiting success Get The Full Guide of 13 Ways to Fix Your Coaching Resume mccantssports.com/resume Connect With Odell McCants Twitter: @odellmccants Website: mccantssports.com Email: odell@mccantssports.com

On this episode of the podcast I chat with Manny Anekal, Founder and CEO of The Next Level, which covers the business of eSports and owner of eSports team Versus Sports. Manny is THE guy to discuss what’s happening in the world of eSports. If eSports is new to you, Manny gives a great, quick eSports 101. He and I also discuss the NBA’s investment in eSports, the growth of eSports at the collegiate level, career opportunities in eSports and much more. eSports is more than gaming. It’s a sport and a growing, $600 million business. If you wonder why kids will sit watching YouTube videos of another person playing their favorite video game you don’t have to look any further than the money trail. One of the most popular YouTube personalities made between $6 million and $7 million last year. It’s become a very real business opportunity, not just for the players but also for investors. Eight NBA teams, including the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards, have invested in eSports teams. This is in addition to the NBA’s eSports league to launch in 2018 based on the NBA 2K game. On this episode of Beyond the Whistle, Manny Anekal tells us about a wide variety of roles that can be filled in the rising eSports industry and gives his advice how you can get involved in a very successful career in eSports. Minecraft is more than a game - it’s an eSport that builds skills for the real world. In this conversation with Manny Anekal, he and I discovered something we have in common - we each have a son who absolutely LOVES the game of Minecraft. And while many parents feel that they should restrict their child’s consumption of video games, Manny pointed out how the skills that are developed while playing Minecraft are in high demand in the real world, so much so that many school districts are using it as a curriculum to help kids develop logic and reasoning skills that are needed to fulfill some of the most demanding roles in the world, like computer programming and software development. Listen to our conversation to learn more. The eSports job market and how you can get in. If you can think of a position or role in the world of traditional sports, there’s likely a counterpart in the eSports world that you could pursue. From players, to sales, to agents, to managers and coaches, the need for individuals with skill sets to fit the demand is rising as the eSports industry itself grows. On this episode, Manny Anekal explains how you can become an in-demand person in the industry and what it takes to get there. Take Manny’s advice seriously. The eSports space is already tremendously crowded so you’ve got your work cut out for you if you want to get into eSports on a professional level. Focus on what you want and make yourself into an expert. That’s how to rise in eSports. When I asked Manny Anekal what he recommends to those who want to pursue a career in eSports he said it’s like pursuing a career in any industry. Decide what it is that you want to pursue then do everything you can to become an expert at it. So when it comes to eSports that advice applies to being a player, manager, sales person - you name it. You need to learn what is needed to fit the role and the industry and be the best at it. That’s one of the many pieces of advice Manny offered on this episode. So if you’re at all interested in being a part of the rise of eSports, this episode is for you. Outline of this episode [0:41] Why eSports is big business and a real thing. [4:29] How Manny got involved in the eSports business. [10:01] How are fans consuming eSports contests? [16:13] The rise of eSports on the shoulders of kids who love Minecraft. [19:10] Why basketball franchises are leading the way in eSports. [26:21] The rising job market within the rise of eSports. [30:37] The role colleges are playing in the rise of eSports. Resources & People Mentioned University of Utah eSports NBA 2K eLeague Twitch Vision Venture Partners - Rick Fox’s Private Equity Firm BOOK: Machiavelli's “The Prince”  (affiliate) JayZee’s first album Connect With Manny Anekal The Next Level - website The Next Level Podcast - iTunes Manny on Twitter

It’s not often that you find a professional who has served in most of the roles that make up their field of specialization. Brian Stanchak has been a Division I basketball coach, collegiate Director of Athletics and now a sports agent specializing in representing college basketball coaches - which makes him not only a rare person in the realm of college athletics but also a very valuable commodity. But for Brian, it’s not only about the services he provides. He is committed to getting to know his clients and building relationships that serve them throughout their careers, not just when they need representation. Brian generously shares both his story and his advice for women’s basketball coaches and those wanting to break into the field, on this episode of Beyond The Whistle. The road from average player, to coach, to agent for women’s basketball coaches. When Brian Stanchak was playing basketball he knew that his talent was average at best, but he loved the sport all the same. He determined at 16 years of age that he was going to pursue a career in sports and began coaching basketball then. He had the opportunity to serve as an assistant and eventually head coach on the collegiate level as well, gaining experience on and off the court. One of the opportunities where he discovered a hidden talent was helping colleagues navigate the negotiations and contract talks, career path, and more. That’s when he decided to move into the realm of serving as an agent, and The BDS Agency was born. Brian shares his story on this episode, so be sure you listen. Specializing in women’s basketball coaches makes Brian Stanchak a valuable resource. There are many agents out there serving college coaches, but most pursue the avenues where the most money is to be made, which is primarily in men’s basketball. But Brian Stanchak decided to focus on the underserved area of women’s basketball coaches and has found a niche that has served both him and his clients very well. In this episode, Brian shares the unique challenges and opportunities presented to women’s basketball coaches and how he’s found his place helping them walk the career path less traveled, but one that is just as rewarding. Moving through the minefield of a coaching career, it’s good to have some help. Brian Stanchak loves the opportunity he has to walk alongside his clients as they move through the negotiations and pitfalls involved in being a women’s basketball coach. As much as he enjoys the challenges of his actual work, even more, he enjoys the relationships he has built with his clients. I’ve noticed how his clients remark on social media about their appreciation of him and the things he does to build into them as individuals. That’s unheard of in sports, so I know you’ll want to meet the man those clients are talking about. Brian shares his story and advice on this episode. Assistant coaches: Spend 25 minutes a day networking. One of the things I asked Brian Stanchak was how an assistant coach, whose job is to make their head coach successful, can also pursue their own career goals to become a head coach themselves. Brian gave some great advice when he said that every assistant coach should devote time every week to maintaining their professional network, not for the sake of finding new opportunities necessarily, but for the sake of maintaining relationships. It’s those relationships that will serve later when the need arises. Brian has seen the success of this heart-based approach work for his clients time and time again. Learn more from this player, turned coach, turned agent, on this episode of Beyond The Whistle. Outline of This Episode [2:15] A day in the life of a college coach consultant. [3:30] Brian’s journey from player to coach to consultant to coaches. [8:36] The services Brian provides to his coaching clients. [10:05] How service and relationships undergird Brian’s business. [15:09] A typical job search process for one of Brian’s clients. [20:13] How assistant coaches can balance career goals with their Assistant Coach role. [23:55] Brian’s head coaching center and why he started it. Resources & People Mentioned Brian on LinkedIn Brian on Twitter The BDS Agency www.TheBDSAgency.com/HCTC - coaching center BOOK: Think Like A Champion (affiliate link)

My guest today is my friend Ralph Reiff, Executive Director of St. Vincent Sports Performance. Ralph started his sports medicine career as athletic trainer for Butler University where he managed the athlete health care, weight room and equipment for all sports. He also developed the athletic trainer curriculum at Butler. During his tenure at Butler he was selected to provide sports medicine to many national and international sporting events and professional athletes. Ralph has managed the medical aspects of more than 20 NCAA events, including three Men’s Final Four Basketball Championships; the 1988 and 1996 US Track & Field Olympic Trials; 2003 World Basketball Championships; medical director for the 2004 FINA Swimming World Championships; and the 2006 USA Track Outdoor Championships. In this conversation Ralph not only tells his story, but also provides insights into what it’s like for an athlete to prepare for the NFL draft, and even some tips for coaches and other sports professionals regarding what they can do to stay at the top of their game. I guess I had a chip on my shoulder. I never wanted critics to be right about me. When I asked Ralph Reiff how he’s been able to be so successful as a sports medicine professional he said that he’s always felt that he was blessed with a stubborn gene from somebody back in his family history. He’s always had a chip on his shoulder – in a good way – not wanting anyone who says he can’t do something to be right in the end. That desire has motivated him to work harder than most of his contemporaries and build a career that has fueled the success of professional athletes and Olympic teams alike. You can hear how Ralph harnessed his determination to create his own success, on this episode of Beyond The Whistle. Worldwide experience in a sports medicine career that started from humble beginnings. In 1996, Ralph Reiff was manager of Athlete Care for the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. This selection took Ralph to Atlanta for 18 months of planning, implementation, and management of all medical and performance operations for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. But that wasn’t his first involvement with the Olympic games. He was selected by the United States Olympic Committee for the 1987 US Olympic Festival, numerous USA Basketball team selection events and was Head Athletic Trainer for the Gold Medal winning USA Basketball Team at the 1989 World University Games in Germany. But even that isn’t where he started. He began as a fresh graduate from college, stepping into an ailing sports program at the now-famous Butler University. I can’t help but believe that the part he played at Butler was instrumental to the dramatic turn-around of the program. The business of sports is one of Ralph Reiff’s strengths. He’s proven it over and over. Often, sports professionals find the business side of sports to be challenging. Their passion and training is in performing, leading teams, or providing care of athletes. Ralph Reiff is no stranger to the management and business side of sports, having served in organizational and management capacities for sporting events as large as the Olympic games. On this episode, Ralph generously shares his insights into the challenges of the business side of sports so that you can make the right decisions in your career. Working alongside the Indiana Pacers is one of Ralph’s crowning achievements. You may have heard the news: The Indiana Pacers are building a brand new practice facility that will house their general offices and also include a state of the art sports medicine facility and sports psychology lab – and they’ve tapped Ralph Reiff and the team at St. Vincent Sports Performance to run both. On this episode of Beyond the Whistle, I asked Ralph how that partnership came about, how the project is going, and what expects to experience once the facility is finished and the partnership begins. It’s a fascinating conversation that I hope you take the time to listen to. Outline of This Episode [0:14] My introduction of Ralph Reiff, Executive Director of St. Vincent’s Sports Performance. [3:20] Ralph’s amazing journey from college to his current position. [7:57] Butler University as an example of values-based sports doing well. [10:32] Getting beyond a one-dimensional approach to success in sports medicine. [17:24] The current status of the deal Ralph is working on with the Indiana Pacers. [23:30] A day in the life of an athlete in the NFL’s pre-draft conditioning program. [30:46] Ralph’s tips for coaches and other sports professionals about their own health and peak performance. Resources & People Mentioned St. Vincent Sports Performance, Indianapolis, Indiana. The Indiana Pacer’s New Practice Facility BOOK: Necessary Endings (affiliate link)

The coaching career path is often thought of as linear. You start out in one role, you move into another, and each serves as a stepping stone to the next, more advanced position. But University of Pittsburgh assistant basketball coach Kevin Sutton’s career path has not followed a linear path at all. I want to start the Beyond the Whistle podcast by having a conversation with Kevin about the way his career has unfolded and how it did so. His experience is full of life lessons and approaches to coaching that anyone interested in starting or advancing in a coaching career can learn from. I invite you to come meet my long-time friend, University of Pittsburgh Assistant Coach Kevin Sutton, on this episode. What it takes to successfully join a coaching staff that’s already established. Kevin Sutton has joined existing coaching staffs a handful of times as he’s journeyed the coaching career path. Those on the coaching staff already have a chemistry and team dynamic that the new coach has to learn, fit into, and enhance through his/her contributions. Kevin has done that beautifully every time he’s made that sort of move and on this episode of the podcast, I asked Kevin to explain how he was able to accomplish that. As always, Kevin was very generous to unpack the dynamics of what it’s like to step into that sort of situation and what he has learned that makes the transition smooth for everyone involved. What's the best approach for a college coach to evaluate high school players? There are many approaches to evaluating high school talent as a college basketball coach. And there are many missteps that can be made in the process that put a college in a bad place, simply because the recruiters evaluated the players based on limited or incomplete information. Coach Kevin Sutton says that it’s vital for college coaches to not only observe high school players in game situations but also in practice. In this conversation, Kevin explains what he looks for in each setting, why he’s evaluating the things he does, and the benefits that come from doing so. If you’re interested in what it takes to successfully evaluate high school talent for a college basketball team (or any sport for that matter) Kevin’s recruiting advice is like gold. How can you evaluate new opportunities you encounter on the coaching career path? Coach Sutton has changed positions many times in his career as a basketball coach - and he’s done so very successfully, seemingly making just the right moves at the right time. In this conversation I did my best to get inside Kevin’s mind, to understand his thought process on how to evaluate new career opportunities. If you want to know the key things a successful coach has considered with every career move, you’re going to need to listen to this episode. I promise it’s worth the time. Coach Kevin Sutton: "The assistant coach’s primary role is to make the head coach successful." Every coach is climbing the ladder, walking his/her own coaching career path. But those who are self-serving and only interested in their own advancement are missing what it means to be part of a team. They’re missing the opportunity to make themselves indispensable to their head coach in a way that will wind up advancing their own career in the end. Coach Sutton shares why it’s vitally important for every assistant coach to do the most they can to bring about the success of their head coach. It’s an insight that’s powerfully important for anyone climbing the coaching career ladder. Make sure you hear what Kevin’s got to say. Outline of This Episode [0:29] My introduction to this episode and my guest, Kevin Sutton. [3:48] How college coaching careers do NOT always follow a linear path. [7:30] The first 90 days on a new coaching staff. [10:48] Building a basketball program at the high school level. [13:09] The things Kevin learned as a high school coach that have helped him at the college level. [14:10] What Kevin looks for when evaluating high school talent. [17:43] Why evaluating players during practice is important. [19:43] How Kevin evaluates new career opportunities. [21:40] The assistant coach’s primary responsibility to the head coach. [23:10] People, events, and environments: Three impacts on success. [27:10] Books Kevin recommends. [29:30] How you can connect with Kevin. Resources & People Mentioned www.KevinSuttonBasketball.com www.KevinSuttonBasketball.wordpress.com - Kevin’s blog Kevin on Facebook Kevin on Twitter BOOK: One Word BOOK: How Full Is Your Bucket? BOOK: Think Better, Live Better

I have a confession to make. I’m a recovering sports agent. And that’s the thing I believe is going to make this show worth listening to. My name is Odell McCants, the host of Beyond The Whistle - and I want to sincerely thank you for checking out this debut episode of this podcast. I know you have lots of options when it comes to how you spend your listening time and I appreciate the trust you’re placing in me to listen to this debut episode. I played at the highest levels of the sports business as an agent. Then I quit. You might be surprised to hear that a guy who was working professionally in the sports industry as an agent would quit that kind of job. But it’s something I had to do. As I explain on this episode of the podcast, being a sports agent is a high pressure, always-on, kind of job - and it takes a toll on your family life and personal relationships. And losing clients hurts, especially for a small, solo agent. I wasn’t willing to keep making those kinds of sacrifices so I decided to find something else to do. But that’s not the end of the story - because I still loved working in sports. This episode is the short version of my journey out of professional sports and back - and why I'm getting back in to bring a bigger game to the industry. The relationships are what I enjoyed most. Yes, the high profile clients and personalities I got to rub shoulders with when I was a sports agent were nice, but they weren’t the things that I enjoyed the most. What I got the most out of my time in sports were the relationships I was able to establish with the coaches, administrators, general managers, scouts and other sports business professionals. Those are what matter to me, and it’s my intention to bring the stories of those incredible people to you on Beyond The Whistle so you can be inspired by their journeys. What are the biggest challenges coaches and sports business professionals face? It’s interesting to hear - the challenges coaches face (and other sports business professionals) are not how to coach better or get better performance from players. What I’ve heard them say over and over is that their greatest areas of need have to do with career development, personal branding, contracts and professional relationships. Hearing this kind of thing made me realize that I have something valuable to bring to the table. I can offer training for the sports professionals who are not on the court to make their career and personal life more fulfilling and more rewarding. That’s part of what you’ll hear on my podcast episodes. Outline of This Episode [0:31] My introduction to this debut episode of Beyond The Whistle. [0:40] My story: from sports agent to entrepreneur. [1:33] Being a sports agent is a full contact sport. [3:00] The relationships were what I enjoyed working in sports. [4:36] The birth of McCant Sports. [5:52] How the McCants Sports Institute will change the game. [7:48] Why a podcast is my method of choice. [9:22] What you can expect from each episode of Beyond The Whistle. Resources & People Mentioned www.McCantsSports.com The Hardwood Hustle The Pure Sweat Podcast BOOK: