The Coaching Life Podcast

Jaksot

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  218: From an Interrupted Dream to Playing for a Higher Purpose (w/ Josh Waite, Ohio Football) 16.09.2026 1t 22min

  In this episode of the Coaching Life podcast, hosts Chris and Pat welcome Josh Waite, Ohio University football offensive lineman.Josh shares his journey from a small-town football player with dreams of playing at the collegiate level to facing significant challenges, including a life-altering injury. The conversation hits on themes of dedication, resilience, and the impact of faith in overcoming life's obstacles. Josh's story serves as an inspiration for listeners, highlighting the importance of hard work and the support of family in pursuing one's dreams.
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  217: The Off-Season That Doesn’t Exist 10.09.2026 1t 5min

  Does the off-season even exist anymore?For many high school athletes, the answer is complicated. With kids playing two or even three sports, there may be little time when they’re truly “off.” So what does player development look like when baseball, basketball, football, school, family, and life are all competing for the same calendar?In this episode, we talk about why the off-season matters, how players can continue to improve without living their whole life at the school campus. We talk about the value of playing multiple sports, the importance of rest, and how parents and coaches can rethink what “development” really means.The off-season doesn’t have to be exhausting, and it doesn’t have to look the same for every athlete.Parents and athletes: save this conversation for your next honest talk about sports. 👇Before planning workouts, ask:Which sport matters most to you?What do you realistically want from it?What specific skills do you need to improve?What time can you consistently commit—without sacrificing rest?
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  216: Winning Is a Byproduct of Doing Youth Sports Right (w/ guest Cody Bail) 02.09.2026 1t 12min

  Chris and Pat welcome Cody Bail, a longtime listener and co-director of Alexander Youth Baseball and Softball League. Cody shares what it takes to run a recreational league, why youth sports should prioritize character and enjoyment, and how rec ball, travel ball, and All-Stars can work together.
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  215: 10 Questions. No Prep. Just Honest Answers. 26.08.2026 1t 2min

  Using a rapid-fire Q&A format in this episode, Pat and Chris tackle many of the realities of coaching, from time demands and relationships to accountability and leadership style. In this episode, they compare great athletes versus great teammates, debate playing time, and discuss when accountability becomes too harsh. They also dig into one of the most personal themes of the episode: how coaches can stay effective without letting the job consume their home life.As always, the conversation is practical, candid, and centered on what coaches wish parents, players, and young coaches understood about the job.
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  214: How Small Schools Win (Guest: Chaz Mohler) 11.08.2026 1t 4min

  Episode #214 of Coaching Life welcomes Coach Chaz Mohler, Trimble High School head baseball coach. The conversation covers building a tough, competitive culture (especially in a small school district), leaning into player strengths, handling limited numbers, managing multi-sport athletes, and the behind-the-scenes responsibilities that come with being a head coach.If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Coaching Life Podcast and share the episode with a fellow coach or sports fan.
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  213: The Emotional Toll of Coaching That Most People Never See 04.08.2026 55min

  As a continuation of last week's episode, Pat and Chris explore the profound responsibilities behind coaching, diving into underlying themes of leadership, decision-making, and the importance of viewing coaching as a form of stewardship and emotional labor. Key Topics: The balancing act of making tough decisions, especially regarding player playing time and team chemistry.The importance of coaches seeing their role as stewards of young athletes' lives, not just win-loss records.How culture and integrity guide decisions and influence team dynamics.The emotional labor involved in coaching — handling wins, losses, and the emotional states of players, parents, and staff.The influence of personal biases, favoritism, and nepotism in decision-making and how most coaches aim to act in the best interest of the team.The significance of individual coaching within team sports — tailored communication and attention to each athlete's unique needs.The reflections on success, failure, and growth — how losses teach resilience and how wins are interpreted differently based on effort.The biblical principle of stewardship in coaching and life, emphasizing that coaches manage, but do not own, their athletes' future and character.See you next week — and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with others who value the true heart of coaching.
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  212: The Hardest Part of Coaching Isn’t What You Think 30.07.2026 1t 5min

  "Coaching is about more than just practices and wins — it's one of the most complex roles in education."When people think about coaching, they think about practices, games, strategy, and winning. But ask anyone who’s coached for a while, and they’ll tell you those aren’t the hardest parts of the job. The hardest part has always been leading people and managing expectations, including our own! We begin Season 14 by jumping right into the heart of what this podcast is about. This is the coaching life.
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  211: The Hidden Skill That Separates Good Players From Great Ones 03.03.2026 54min

  In this episode of The Coaching Life, we discuss one of the most underrated traits in sports: game awareness. Why do some athletes always seem to be in the right place, make the right play, and help their teams win—even if they aren’t the most physically gifted players on the field? We explore the hidden skill that separates good players from great ones and share practical ways coaches can help develop this awareness in their athletes. If you’ve ever heard a coach say, “That kid just gets it,” this episode explains what that really means.
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  210: When Sports Seasons Overlap 17.02.2026 1t 11min

  In the world of high school athletics, the overlap of sports seasons can create unique challenges for coaches and players alike. In this episode of the Coaching Life Podcast, hosts Pat Martin and Chris Stewart explore these complexities, particularly as they relate to baseball and basketball. With the start of baseball season coinciding with basketball tournaments, how do coaches ensure their athletes are prepared and safe?
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  209: Athlete Mindset: An Underrated Difference Maker 20.01.2026 43min

  In this episode, Chris and Pat highlight the importance of mental strength and the role of "mindset" in coaching and athlete development. They introduce a unique gift from a mutual friend, Coach Steve Miller, which consists of 52 Athlete Mindset cards designed to help athletes focus on their training and mental preparation.
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  208: Feed Yourself, Coach – Bring the Energy! 13.01.2026 42min

  Welcome to Season 13 of The Coaching Life Podcast! We are excited to keep rolling these episodes out. We hope you will join us and share us with others! Thank you to everyone who has been with us the past 6 years, and if you have joined us more recently, we are grateful for you as well! Let's grow together, and let's grow the coaching community!
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  207: The Coaching Life "12 Tips of Christmas" 22.12.2025 52min

  In the final episode of The Coaching Life Podcast, hosts Pat Martin and Chris Stewart share some updates on the Bobcats football team and discuss the importance of team culture. The main emphasis of this episode is providing "12 Tips of Christmas" for coaches, players, and parents. They share an insight and then discuss each one for 2-to-3 minutes. We think you will enjoy this fast-paced episode to conclude the season.
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  206: The Over-Coached Athlete 10.12.2025 1t 6min

  Chris and Pat discuss the implications of over-coaching. We'll explore how excessive instruction can hinder athletes' natural instincts and decision-making abilities, leading to confusion and robotic performance. The conversation also touches on the importance of simplifying coaching techniques and allowing athletes to develop their skills through play rather than constant correction.
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  205: Inside the Chaos of Coaching Changes, NIL, and What We Don’t Understand 03.12.2025 49min

  In this episode of the Coaching Life Podcast, Chris and Pat reconnect after a 2-week break, sharing personal updates and diving into recent sports topics. They discuss some controversies in the NFL and college football, the implications of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) in Ohio High School sports, and the impact of coaching changes on teams. The conversation also touches on the Ohio Bobcats football team and the complexities of the MAC Championship tiebreakers. Throughout the episode, they reflect on the importance of focusing on what can be controlled in sports and in life.
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  204: Are Athletes Today Softer… or Are They Just More Honest? 20.11.2025 1t 3min

  In this episode of the Coaching Life podcast, Pat and Chris discuss the changing dynamics of athletes from different generations. They hit on themes of emotional intelligence, and the balance between accountability and sensitivity in coaching.The conversation also goes into some other directions, touching on the implications of NIL and transfer rules in high school sports, but overall, emphasizing the need for coaches to adapt their strategies to meet the needs of modern athletes while fostering accountability and personal growth.
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  203: What Fans Don’t See – The Invisible Details That Define Outcomes 06.11.2025 48min

  When Isiah Kiner-Falefa took that short lead off third base in Game 7 of the World Series, the baseball world exploded with opinions. Analysts, fans, and even players criticized what they saw — but few stopped to ask why.In this episode, we talk about the danger of making quick snap judgments while we're watching games. Whether it’s a base running decision in the World Series on national TV, or a lineup choice on a high school team, there’s almost always more going on than what’s visible from the outside.We discuss how coaches can communicate context, how players can trust their preparation, and how fans and parents can develop a healthier perspective on the game.What we see isn’t always what it seems — and the best teams thrive on understanding the why behind every decision.
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  202: Playing for an Audience of One – Ohio Volleyball Libero Kendall Hickey 29.10.2025 58min

  In episode 202 of The Coaching Life, Chris and Pat sit down with Kendall Hickey, libero and leader on the Ohio University volleyball team. Known for her relentless defense, leadership, and deep faith in Christ, Kendall shares how her identity is rooted in something far greater than the game.
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  BONUS: Eastern Volleyball Talk (Chris) 24.10.2025 19min

  Eastern High School Volleyball Coach, Courtney Whittington invited Coach Stewart out to speak to the team on the week of preparation for their District Championship game. In this talk, Chris gives the team two reminders for how to be in control of the "butterflies" and emotions you feel in anticipation of big games.
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  201: They Should Already Know That… Shouldn’t They? 22.10.2025 56min

  In this episode of The Coaching Life Podcast, we talk about the little things coaches often assume players already know — but too often don’t take time to teach. These “should already know” moments can be the difference between a win and a mistake that costs you a game. Who is responsible when they make those mistakes? HINT: it is always us, coaches. In this episode, we discuss how to intentionally build these habits into practice, create awareness by letting them figure some things out on their own and develop a high IQ for the sport. Whether you coach baseball or any sport, this episode is a reminder that the fundamentals aren’t always as obvious as we think.
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  200: Life After Sports – Guest Brennan Meadows 15.10.2025 1t 31min

  NOTE: we had some technical difficulties with the audio in this episode. The volume varies depending on who is speaking and the audio is not the same quality as our other episodes. However, the content is without a doubt some of the best quality we have ever had on the podcast!ABOUT THE EPISODE: For most athletes, the game has been part of their life as long as they can remember — and one day, it ends. What happens next can be one of the biggest transitions they’ll ever face.In this episode, we sit down with Brennan Meadows, former offensive lineman for the Ohio University Bobcats, who opens up about his journey from playing at Dawson-Bryant High School in Coal Grove, OH to competing at the college level — and then, stepping away from the sport after his freshman year.Brennan shares what that process was like emotionally, physically, and spiritually, how he’s rediscovered purpose beyond football, and how his time as an athlete still shapes the way he approaches his new path in media and communications through Ohio University’s Scripps College.