The Great Coaches: Leadership & Life

Afleveringen

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  Book Club: Percy Cerutty 06.08.2026 51min

  This episode is a recording of our book club. The book we discuss is Why Die? The Extraordinary Percy Cerutty, 'Maker of Champions' by Graem Sims (Author).Percy Cerutty was an Australian athletics coach who transformed distance running in the 1950s and 1960s. Based at his rugged Portsea training camp, he developed the Stotan philosophy, blending Stoic discipline, Spartan toughness, natural diets, sand-hill running, weight training and intellectual growth. Best known for coaching Herb Elliott to world records and Olympic gold, Cerutty inspired athletes to pursue physical excellence and personal mastery. Our discussion is led by Dr David Turner, a Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching at Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom, and we are also joined by Andrew Gunn the author of Percy Cerutty: Life Lessons From A Remarkable Coach by Andrew Gunn.I scribbled down these 3 self-reflective questions:· Where in my life could I benefit from choosing growth over comfort?· What is one challenge I have already overcome that shows I am capable of reinvention?· How do I personally measure success: by outward achievement, or by how far I have come from where I started? If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Mick Byrne 30.07.2026 1u 2min

  Our great coach on this episode is Mick ByrneMick is a Rugby Coach but his career astarted as an Australian Rules Football player where he won a premiership with Hawthorn in 1983. After retirning he moved into Rugby coaching and by 1999 was an Assistant coacxh with the Australian National Team. He would then go on to join the the New Zealand National team known as the All Blacks and was with them for their World Cup victories in 2011 and 2015. In 2012 he was appointed as the inaugural head coach of the Fijian Drua, leading the team through its first three Super Rugby Pacific seasons from 2022 to 2024 and reaching the finals in 2023 and 2024. The in 2024 He was appointed as head coach of the Fiji national team Three self-reflective questions based on this conversation:1.Where in my own leadership do I need to create better preparation, so that I can “sleep when the wind blows” and respond calmly when pressure arrives?2.Am I telling people what to do too often, or am I asking the kinds of questions that help them discover the answer, build confidence, and take ownership?3.What part of my leadership has grown most over time?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Adam Voges 23.07.2026 42min

  Our great coach on this episode is Adam Voges.As a cricketer Adam represented Australia at Test, One Day and T20 level. In 2017 he became the coach of the Western Australia team and the Perth ScorchersHe would ultimately go to lead them a three-peat of Sheffield Shield titles in 2022, 2023 and 2024 as well as guiding WA to the one-day trophy in 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024. As well as winning the BBL twice.Here are 3 self-reflective questions I took from the interview:•Where am I trying to do too much myself, instead of trusting and empowering the people around me?•Do the people I lead feel genuinely brought along on the journey, or am I asking them to follow decisions they had no part in shaping?•When pressure rises, do I become more helpful and clear — or do my emotions make the situation harder for others?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  On The Magic of Sports 16.07.2026 44min

  Todays episode is on The Magic of Sports and I am joined by the 92 year old Dr George Selleck who has just written a terrific new book by the same name. In 1956 he was drafted by the NBAs Philadelphia Warriors. He rejected the offer though and went to have a long and distinguished career as a psychologist and coach. He is a member of multiple Halls of Fame including Stanford Athletic, is the founder of 3 not for profits focused on sports and education and this current book is his 5th.We are joined for the discussion by Georges friend Alan Gregerman who is the bestselling author of the book “The Wisdom of Ignorance.”Here are three self-reflective questions to take away from this episode:1.Where in my life am I treating sport, work, or leadership as only a competition, when it could also be a place for growth, belonging, learning, and joy?2.What kind of environment do I create for the people around me, and does it help them grow as human beings, not just perform better?3.When I face setbacks or big decisions, how deliberately do I pause, reflect, and listen to my head, body, and gut before choosing my next step?vIf you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Dom Starsia 09.07.2026 41min

  Dom Starsia is an American Lacross coach.As a player he represented the USA at the 1978 World Lacross Championship, while coaching in a variety of roles at his alma mater Brown University. In 1982 he came the head coach men's lacrosse team and led them to 2 Ivy League Championships. He then moved to the University of Virginia in 1993 and over 23 seasons led the Cavaliers to 4 NCAA championships. He retired in 2016 as the winningest division 1 men's lacrosse coach. He was inducted into the Lacross Hall of Fame in 2008.Here are three self-reflective questions based on the interview:1.Where in my life am I trying to copy someone else’s style instead of trusting my own authentic way of leading or contributing?2.What does “toughness as consistency” look like for me?3.when could I choose more positive or patient language?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Mike Dunlap 02.07.2026 1u 13min

  Our great coach on this episode is Mike DunlapMike is a basketball coach who has led teams in US Colleges, the NBA and in Australia. He was also an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks when then they defeated the Phoenix Suns to win their first NBA Championship in 2021. I first interviewed Mike in 2022, and since then we stayed in contact and he has appeared on the podcast in 2 other episodes, the first on Great Teams culture and then On Leadership. Over that time Mike has shared some of his poerty with me – and I was recently able to get some time with him where he shared some of his poerty and we discussed the coaching and leadership themes that run through it. It’s a very personal interview where Mike shares some of the deeper stories from his life and I hope you find it as fascinating and insightful as I did.Where am I currently measuring success too narrowly by outcomes, and what “victory beyond the scoreboard” might I be overlooking?How well do I balance high standards with joy — and do I pause long enough to recognise the “good” that may be the gateway to great?What does my inner voice sound like under pressure, and what practices help me quiet the chatter enough to respond with awareness rather than react automatically?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Kath Tetley 25.06.2026 53min

  Our great coach on this episode is Kath Tetley.Kath is a Netball coach. She started her career as the first paid employee of Netball New South Wales in 1998 when the Commonwealth Bank Trophy began. She then progressed through roles working for Australian Netball while coaching at the state level. She then took on coaching roles with the newly formed GWS Fury and NSW state teams. In parallel she moved into the General Manager role with the Sydney Swifts. Then in 2024 she was appointed as the head coach of the Scottland National team, known as the Thistles and is helping prepare them for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and 2027 World Cup.1.    How does Kath Tetley’s willingness to acknowledge her own gaps challenge traditional ideas of what strong leadership looks like?2.    What does Tetley’s approach to difficult conversations reveal about the role of empathy in high-performance coaching?3.    How does Tetley’s emotional journey—from doubt and retreat to connection and trust—show the importance of vulnerability in leadership?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Book Club: Sum It Up by Pat Summitt 23.06.2026 43min

  This episode is a recording of our book club. The book we discuss is Sum It Up by Pat Summitt Pat was an American basketball player who won a silver medal at the 1976 Olympics and then transitioned into coaching leading the USA team to a Gold at the at the 1984 Olympics. However its as the coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team from 1974 to 2012 that she is most famous. Over her career she amassed 1098 wins and led the team to 8 NCAA championships. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of fame in 1999, was named the Naismith Basketball coach of the century in 2000. After 38 years leading to Tennessee, she retired from coaching at the age of 59 due to a diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s disease. She would eventually pass away in 2016 at the age of 64. Our discussion is led by Dr David Turner, a Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching at Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom.If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  John Mitchell 18.06.2026 40min

  Our great coach on this episode is the Rugby Union coach John Mitchell.John retired as a player in 1995 and moved into coaching straight away as a a technical adviser/forwards with the Irish National team. In 2000 he returned to NZ as the head coach of the Chiefs in Super Rugby. He then went on lead NZ national team the All Blacks from 2001 to 2003, winning two Tri Nations titles and the 2003 Bledisloe Cup. In 2023 he was appointed as the head coach of the England women's team and led them to the 2025 world cup. How well am I putting people before performance or outcomes in the way I lead?What do my current behaviours say about my self-awareness, values, and the culture I’m creating?Am I communicating in a way that builds trust, understanding, and enough freedom for others to grow?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Staffan Olsson 11.06.2026 53min

  Our Great Coach on this episode is Handball coach Staffan Olsson.Staffan played 357 times for the Swedish national team and won a silver medal three times at the Olympic Games. In 2005 he transitioned into coaching and over the next 5 years lead Hammarby to 3 Swedish National championships.In 2008 he became the Swedish National Mens coach and led them to the silver medal at the 2012 olympics. He then went on to coach at French club Paris Saint-Germain from 2015 to 2018 where he helped them win the National Championship and place twice in the Champions League. He was inducted into the EHF Hall of Fame in 2024. He is presently the Head Coach of the Dutch National Mens team.1.    Am I leading in a way that is genuinely authentic to me, or am I copying a style that doesn’t fit who I am?2.    How do I respond to mistakes — do I treat them as failures to avoid, or as necessary moments for growth and learning?3.    Do I spend enough time understanding the people I lead as individuals, not just focusing on performance and outcomes?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at thegreatcoachespodcast@gmail.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Joe Montemurro 04.06.2026 48min

  Joe Montemurro is a Football, or as it is called in some places, Soccer coach. Joe started coaching in his late 20’s in the early 2000’s in Australia. He progressed steadily through state league teams before achieving his first international position in Papua New Guinea. He was then appointed to lead Melbourne Victory in 2014 and Melbourne City in 2015 leading them to back to back championships. In 2017, he was appointed Coach of Arsenal Women, and in his first season, he led them to the League Cup, the FA Cup, and the League title in his second season. He then joined Juventus and led them to the treble winning the Supercoppa, The Italian Cup and Serie A. In later years he also won Coppa Italia and Supercoppa. In 2024 he then joined Lyon in France and they won the Premier League.The in 2025 he was announced as the new coach of the Australian National team, the Matildas.What are the few core principles that define how I want to lead or work, and are they clear enough for others to act on without constant direction?How well do I understand the culture of the environment I’m working in, and where might I need to adapt my approach?Which values truly guide my behaviour each day, and how visible are they to the people around me? If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Jeroen Delmee 28.05.2026 53min

  Our great coach on this episode is Jeroen Delmee. Jeroen is a field hockey coach who first represented his country in 1994. He retired in 2008 with 401 International caps and a 2 time Olympic champion. He then transitioned into coaching working with the Dutch National womens team, the Belgium mens team and then 4 years leading the Frech National team.In 2021 he was appointed as the Head Coach of the Dutch men and led them to gold at the 2023 Men's EuroHockey Championship and the 2024 Summer Olympics. He is the only Dutch sportsperson in history to win Olympic gold both as a player and as a coach. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  On Game Day Part 2 14.05.2026 38min

  Todays episode is On Game Day and to explore the topic I am joined by Eamon Devlin. Eamon is the founder of Minute9, a consultancy that works with some of the world’s elite teams and coaches in helping them improve their half time talks and preparation. This discussion is so rick in information, and useful to any of us that are leading sporting teams or work teams that have split into 2 parts. You will walk away with ideas on how to improve the way you speak at half time, what people need to get the most out of team talks and how you can present information in a way that will actually change behavior. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  On Game Day Part 1 14.05.2026 44min

  Todays episode is On Game Day and to explore the topic I am joined by Eamon Devlin. Eamon is the founder of Minute9, a consultancy that works with some of the world’s elite teams and coaches in helping them improve their half time talks and preparation. This discussion is so rick in information, and useful to any of us that are leading sporting teams or work teams that have split into 2 parts. You will walk away with ideas on how to improve the way you speak at half time, what people need to get the most out of team talks and how you can present information in a way that will actually change behavior. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Mike Cron 07.05.2026 44min

  Our great coach on this episode is Mike Cron. Mike Cron was a coach with the New Zealand All Blacks for 2017 Games. This includes a stretch where they won 2 Rugby World Cups. He was also part of the team that led the NZ Women’s team to the world cup in 2022. In addition he has worked with the Welsh and Japanese teams and is presently coaching the Australian Wallabies alongside Joe Scmidt.1.   Where am I being “firm” when I actually need to adapt—and what feedback would I need to hear (and accept) to make that change?2.   When I lead or coach, do I rely more on a script or on observation—and what would improve if I became more comfortable with silence and listening?3.   In my team (or work group), where might social loafing be showing up subtly, and what specific commitment can I make so that “it will not be me”?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Book Club: World's Best by Ric Charlesworth 30.04.2026 43min

   This episode is a recording of our book club. The book we discuss is World’s Best by Ric Charlesworth, the iconic Australian Field Hockey Coach Ric Charlesworth. Ric led both the Australian and Men's Hockey teams to World Cup victories. He also ed the women to an An Olympic Gold. He has also worked in Cricket, Australian Rules Football, is a medical Dr and spent 10 tears as a federal politican. Our discussion is led by Dr David Turner, a Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching at Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom, If you enjoy todays discussion and would like to join us for a future book club you can contact me on paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Bob Shillinglaw 23.04.2026 42min

  Our great coach on this episode is Bob Shillinglaw. Bob is an American Lacrosse coach. Bob spent 42 years as a college coach, 39 of them leading the University of Delaware Mens Lacrosse team . He has coached 654 games, more than any other lacrosse coach in history, and is one of only 2 to win over 300 games. . Along the way his teams went to the NCAA tournament on 6 occasions and made the final four in 2007. He also led Team USA when they defeated Canada to win the 1999 World Cup of Lacrosse. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  On Burnout 09.04.2026 48min

  Todays episode is on the topic of Burnout and I am joined for the discussion by Dr Gavin Weeks. Gavin is a Doctor of Psychology and Associate Fellow at Oxford Sayyid Business School and director of innovation and development at the consultancy Thompson Harrison.And Dr Brendan Meany. Brendan Meany is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant and His work focuses on implementing high-performance skills to optimize human potential in both sport and the corporate space. He is also the Chief Performance Officer of LiveFirstAI.com, he applies sportpsychology principles that manage burnout and elevate functioning. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Eddie O'Sullivan 02.04.2026 47min

  Our great coach on this episode is Eddie O’Sullivan Eddie played Rugby at provincial level in Ireland and started coaching after becoming a PE teacher. He would go on to coach Rugby for 35 years and counting across the USA, France and Ireland. This journey has led his to coach at 5 Rugby World Cups and to win three triple crowns leading Ireland. That Irish team won 50 tests under his leadership and climbed to the #3 world ranking. In recent years he has been  Technical Advisor to Brown University and Notre Dame in recent years and currently consulting with a number of Major League Rugby franchises in the US. Q: What role does leading innovation play in my leadership?Q: Am I too unemotional as a leader?Q: Is the idea of one voice at a time, the right idea for my organization?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  John Aloisi 19.03.2026 37min

  Our great coach on this episode is John Aloisi John Aloisi is a former Australian professional soccer player and now head coach.He enjoyed a 20-year career across top leagues in Europe and Australia, becoming the first Australian to play and score in La Liga, the Premier League, and Serie A.Internationally, Aloisi earned 55 caps for the Socceroos, scoring 27 goals, and represented Australia at the 2006 World Cup, three Confederations Cups, and the 2004 Olympics.After retiring in 2011, Aloisi transitioned into coaching. He managed Melbourne Heart, Brisbane Roar, and since 2021 has led Western United, guiding them to their first A-League Men Championship in 2022. And it left me with these questions to reflect on:Do I verbalise gratitude enough?How can I better refine failure for my team?What mental strength training can I instigate for the team? If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.