The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons

In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit the remarkable life of Betty Reid Soskin, who retired from the National Park Service shortly after turning one hundred and continued teaching us what it means to lead with purpose. Soskin’s journey shows that learning, evolving, and contributing do not have an age limit and that retirement is often a mindset rather than a mandate. Her work preserving untold stories of World War II home front life reminds us that each of us has the power to leave a meaningful mark without waiting for permission or a title. Her example challenges us to stay curious, remain present, and embrace each day as a new beginning. Ultimately, Soskin’s story is a call to keep growing and to meet the moment in front of us with grace, patience, and intention.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secure your copy of Hiring today.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedaily.coach/subscribe

In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit the remarkable morning when comedian Bob Hope listened to news outlets announce his own death and refused to react because he knew the real truth. His calm response offers a powerful lesson for leaders who navigate information, opinions, and noise every day. We break down the three kinds of truth that shape how we interpret the world around us: correspondence, coherence, and pragmatic truth. Understanding these distinctions helps us think more clearly, avoid emotional reactions to misinformation, and lead with stronger judgment. This story reminds us that the most grounded leaders do not accept every report at face value. They pause, evaluate, and anchor themselves in what is real.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secure your copy of Hiring today.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedaily.coach/subscribe

In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we explore Shane Lowry’s Open Championship victory and the deeper leadership principles behind his breakthrough. Lowry’s win was not just a triumph of talent, toughness, and national pride, but a testament to knowing every part of his game and confronting both strengths and weaknesses with honesty. Just as golfers must refine all fourteen clubs in their bag, leaders carry their own set of tools, some used often and others neglected. This story challenges us to assess those tools, commit to daily improvement, and build a disciplined plan for strengthening both mind and craft. Like Lowry, meaningful growth comes from steady, intentional work and the courage to elevate every part of our game.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secure your copy of Hiring today.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedaily.coach/subscribe

In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit the remarkable legacy of Jake Gaither, the Florida A and M coach whose moral courage and commitment to character reshaped college football far beyond the field. While history often credits a single game for sparking integration in the sport, Gaither’s decades of leadership, education, and bridge building laid the true groundwork for lasting change. His coaching clinics drew the greatest minds in football and challenged leaders to look beneath the surface, confront inequality, and anchor their programs in values rather than ego. Gaither believed teams should be built on integrity, not price tags, and his influence endures as a model for every leader striving to develop people of character, not characters.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secure your copy of Hiring today.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedaily.coach/subscribe

In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit the four types of coaches most often hired in college football and why so many programs repeat the same mistakes. While schools chase schemers, caretakers, and recruiters, few prioritize the strategist, the only type of leader capable of building a sustainable and adaptable program. This episode highlights what separates true strategists from managers, why turnover remains so high, and how coaches can expand their skill sets to lead with greater clarity, anticipation, and long-term vision.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secure your copy of Hiring today.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedaily.coach/subscribe

In this episode of The Daily Coach Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit St. Peter’s unforgettable Elite Eight run and a ten second moment that revealed everything about championship culture. When Coach Shaheen Holloway subbed five players out at once against Purdue, there were no complaints, no sideways glances, only high fives, hugs, and a bench fully aligned with the mission. That level of unity is never accidental. It is built through clarity, trust, and a leader who earns the right to be unconventional. This episode explores what Holloway understood about purpose, relationships, and identity, and why the most lasting image from St. Peter’s miracle run is not a highlight play, but the way teammates celebrated one another through every transition.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secure your copy of Hiring today.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedaily.coach/subscribe

In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit the remarkable journey of Indiana Pacers assistant coach Jenny Boucek, whose leadership helped propel the team to the NBA Finals while she also navigated the demands of motherhood. Her story captures what it means to lead with conviction, humility, resilience, and heart in moments when the path forward is unclear. Through Rick Carlisle’s trust, Boucek stepped into a significant role in the Pacers defensive strategy while raising her daughter on the road, modeling a new version of excellence that honors the whole person behind the title. Her example invites us to examine where we are being asked to rise, who believes in us, and how choosing both family and ambition can unlock a fuller expression of our own leadership potential.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secure your copy of Hiring today.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedaily.coach/subscribe

In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit Oregon State coach Mitch Canham's powerful reflection after a crushing postseason loss that forced his team to regroup and respond. His message underscores a truth every leader faces. Loss is not an interruption to the journey. It is part of the curriculum that shapes who we become. With calm perspective and gratitude, Canham reminds us that setbacks carry lessons about faith, resilience, and the long game of leadership. When we choose to let adversity teach us rather than define us, we strengthen our purpose and prepare ourselves for the opportunities that await on the other side of disappointment.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secure your copy of Hiring today.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedaily.coach/subscribe

In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit a powerful idea from Michael Crichton about how easily we doubt experts in one moment and trust them completely in the next. Through the lens of NFL draft grades, we explore the Gelman amnesia effect and why even seasoned executives fall for it. This story is a reminder that leaders must protect their judgment, resist the pull of outside noise, and trust the expertise they have earned.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Secure your copy of Hiring today.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedaily.coach/subscribe

In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit Ernie Johnson's powerful reflection on uncertainty during the final Inside the NBA broadcast on TNT. As the iconic show prepared for a new chapter, Johnson reminded viewers that real leadership is rooted in focusing on what remains within reach. He shared that while change is inevitable, we can always choose our attitude, our effort, and how we treat the people around us. His message invites us to release what we cannot influence and return to the present moment with clarity and intention. It is a timely lesson for leaders navigating transition, reminding us that meaning and momentum are created through what we choose to control today.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Secure your copy of Hiring today.⁠⁠⁠⁠Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedaily.coach/subscribe

In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit the legacy of Cornell Lacrosse Senior Captain George Boiardi through the philosophy known as The Hard Hat Way. His leadership wasn’t defined by what was loud, but by what was lived in the quiet, ordinary friction of team life. He held standards by showing up early, circling back for the last teammate, sweeping floors, and smiling at everyone he met with the same light. Cornell’s championship season proved that culture built in small actions repeated consistently becomes identity, not momentary inspiration. The lesson for every leader is clear: true impact comes from how you carry your standards, especially when no one is watching.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. ⁠⁠⁠Secure your copy of Hiring today.⁠⁠⁠Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedaily.coach/subscribe

In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit how Neil Diamond found breakthrough through awareness and quiet iteration. Facing the need for one defining song, he didn’t wait for momentum, he looked around long enough to notice inspiration in a simple photograph. His story teaches leaders that creativity isn’t unlocked by pressure or timelines, it’s unlocked by presence and action. Winning the inner draft means doing the reps, working the edits, and trusting the process before applause arrives. Breakthrough comes to those who stay aware, rewrite honestly, and act decisively when the spark appears.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. ⁠⁠Secure your copy of Hiring today.⁠⁠Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedaily.coach/subscribe

In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit Emma Hayes’s remarkable example of how a leader can leave a team stronger than they found it. After twelve years of success at Chelsea, Hayes chose to depart with intention and generosity, preparing the environment for her successor Sonja Bompastor to thrive. Instead of protecting her legacy, she supported the transition and continued to cheer the team forward. Her approach shows that true leadership is not about being irreplaceable. It is about building people, systems, and cultures that grow even when we are no longer in the room.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. ⁠Secure your copy of Hiring today.⁠Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedaily.coach/subscribe

In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit Sam Presti’s powerful example of patient and intentional leadership during a period of major transition for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Presti chose reflection over reaction when the franchise moved on from its star players, articulating a clear vision grounded in process, discipline, and long-term thinking. His public letter to the community became a roadmap for building something that would last, reminding us that true excellence is created through method, honesty, and the courage to commit to the long game. This episode explores how leaders can guide teams through uncertainty, inspire belief, and create a culture that grows stronger with time.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. Secure your copy of Hiring today.Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedaily.coach/subscribe

In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit Will Guidara’s challenge to leaders who default to copying others rather than forging their own path. Guidara urged his team at Eleven Madison Park to study shortcomings instead of successes, believing that real innovation begins in the overlooked gaps. His approach reminds us that extraordinary leadership is built on curiosity, discernment, and the courage to move beyond imitation. Rather than relying on formulas or familiar playbooks, he encourages leaders to identify what is missing, question assumptions, and craft experiences that reflect their own values and vision. This episode invites us to rethink how we learn, how we improve, and how we create moments that stand apart by daring to lead differently.Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thedaily.coach/subscribe