S2 #21. Thanks for listening to episode 21 of season two on The "I" in Win podcast. This episode features, Brad Fortney, who is the performance and wellness coach for Enterprise City Schools District in Alabama. In addition to coaching football and track, Coach Fortney works with the district's six elementary, two middle schools and the high school sports teams on movement and performance. Follow me on Twitter (@LukeMertens) or LinkedIn Review The "I" in Win on Apple Podcast or my website to...

S2 #20. This episode is a little unique as it tells the story of Vinnie Panico, who in 2017 suffered a catastrophic knee injury during a football game his junior season. An injury so severe that doctors focused on saving his leg rather than getting him back on the field.  I wanted to have Vinnie tell his courageous story to remind us all about the power of BELIEF and PERSEVERANCE when faced with great adversity. I have no doubt you're going to walk away inspired and reminded how important it...

S2 #19.  Season 2 of The "I" in Win continues with today's guest, Terry Harrison, who is the Head Football Coach at Friends University located in Wichita, Kansas. Coach Harrison has developed a reputation of rebuilding programs. Prior to Friends, Coach Harrison took over a 1-9 Bethel College program in 2018 and turned them into a nationally ranked team in just a few short years, and now he's faced with a similar situation at Friends University. Covered in this episode: What it takes to...

S2 #18. Welcome to The "I" in Win, the show that focuses on why leaders should focus less on outcomes and more on the journey of changing lives. Thanks for continuing to help grow the show, and please share it with those who will find value in it. This episode features Leo Watkins, a sports performance coach,  who does a deep dive into health and fitness and the benefits a sound S&C program can  have on helping people find the best versions of themselves. In this episode, Coach shares...

S2 #17. Thanks for listening to The "I" in Win, the podcast that shares why leaders will benefit by obsessing less on outcomes and more on the journey of changing lives. Today I'm featuring head football coach at Providence Catholic High School (IL), Tyler Plantz, who after spending 10 years at the University of Notre Dame, as both a player and a coach, decided to come home to his alma mater and in his first year led the Celtics all the way to the state championship game. In this episode, we...

S2 #16. Pumped to introduced today's guest, Scott Goolsby, Defensive Coordinator at Auburn High School in Alabama. Coach Goolsby has 23 years experience as a teacher/coach, with the last 10 years being at Auburn.  In addition to being named top assistant coach in the state of Alabama multiple times, Coach has turned himself into somewhat of a Twitter sensation with his video parodies of football coaches, which connected me to Coach Goolsby as well. In this episode, we discuss: The impetus...

S2 #15. Thanks for listening today! REALLY appreciate you sharing the show with those who may find value, so please continue to spread the news of The "I" in Win podcast, which is the show that focuses on people rather than outcomes. And with that, let me welcome in today's guest, Ryan Kirkorsky, who is the head girls basketball coach and an English teacher at Rolling Meadows High School in Illinois.  Coach Kirkosky is in his 27th year as a teacher/coach and has coached every level of high...

S2 #14. Jack Moses is a D1 football player turned writer & podcaster, who focuses his content on self-Improvement, psychology, and mindset.  Currently a junior at Northwestern University, Jack shares his insight on topics relevant to anyone, regardless of age or profession: Fighting imposter syndromeFocusing on daily processesSteps to becoming the best YOUHis love for entrepreneurshipIf you're interested in subscribing to Jack's weekly newsletter, The Weekend Drift, click here to learn...

S2 #13. Welcome to season 2, episode 13 of The "I" in Win podcast. Thank you so much for listening! Before introducing this episode's guest, I have to ask a favor: Please continue to share the show. As I mentioned on the previous episode, we are just on a threshold of 20,000 downloads and look forward to surpassing and continuing to spread the message of people over outcomes. Selfishly, I love hearing from listeners,  so also reach out to me to discuss how we all can make the biggest impact...

S2 #12. Welcome to The "I" in Win podcast that is fast approaching 20,000 downloads, which is unreal to even be saying right now. Please continue to share the show with those who may find value in it, and my hope is today's guest is going to help us surpass that 20,000 download threshold! So with that I want to introduce you to a former player, now assistant coach on my staff, and more importantly, a friend. You may know him as "Andrew S" from the Bachelor Series; however, I know him just as...

S2 #11. I'm so humbled and thankful for the growth and the reach of the show. That cannot happen without you, our listeners. So thank you so much and please continue to share The "I" in Win with anyone who might find value because word of mouth is how we all can make the biggest impact. And with that, excited to introduce today's guest, Drew Bogan, who is a history teacher and head lacrosse coach at Park Tudor School in Indianapolis, IN. After researching Coach Bogan, I'm certain we will all...

S2 #10. Today's guest is Rodney Saulsberry, who is in his 25th season at Whitehaven High School (TN), and 19th as a head  football coach. He has an overall record of 180-48  with two Tennessee 6A state titles. Over 200 of Coach Saulsberry's former players have gone on to play college football and 15 of them have become coaches. He has served on the Board of Tennessee Football Coaches Association and  on the Rules Committee for the TSSAA. In 2020, he co-founded the Minority Coaches Association...

S2 #9. If you spent any time inside of a high school, then you know, the athletic director is one of the most important roles, working mainly behind the scenes, ensuring athletes have a first-class experience. It can be a thankless job at times requiring exhausting hours, but thankfully we have people who continue to answer the call. Proud to introduce today's guest, Mark Ribbens, athletic director at Wauconda High School in Illinois since 2017. Mark and I have known each other since 2004,...

S2 #8. Many of us tend to believe that we have it harder than the guy next to us; that we're so busy, there's no time to do the things that matter most, like working out, reading, writing, and hanging out with our family. Well, today's guest, Michael Schanhals  may actually be too busy for all these things. Hope College (MI) men's lacrosse coach Michael Schanhals has a long association with the program, first as a student-athlete, then as coach of the college's club team, and now as head...

S2 #7. Really excited for today's guest who's one of the most respected coaches in the state of Illinois...not just because of his success on the field, but also due to the fact of who he is off the field. Joe Sanchez is the head football coach at Barrington High School for the past 21 years, and has been a social studies teacher at Barrington for 27 years. In this episode, we're going to discuss the parallels between being a head football coach and being a parent and how humility, effective...

S2 #6. This is a really exciting episode for me personally because I have not one, but two Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist, which is awarded to the  Division 3 Player of the Year. We welcome on Joey Stutzman (RB, UWL) and Evan Lewandowski (QB, UWW), two players I was very lucky to coach and get to know as people. In this episode we discuss: Life as a D3 athleteCharacteristics of the best coachesWhy teachers/coaches are so importantTheir life-long friendship with Chicago Bears ILB, Jack...

S2 #5. My guest today is Coach Pat Sullivan, who has over 600 wins as a head basketball coach and has been ducted into eight different hall of fames over his 44 year career. In 2010, Coach Sullivan retired from the University of St. Francis, where he spent 34 years earning 500 victories, and leading his team to either a first or second place finish 15 times. However, as he will tell you, his proudest accomplishment is having 98% of his seniors graduate. Referenced in this episode: Coach...

S2 #4.  Thanks for listening to The "I" in Win podcast! Today we feature English teacher/Head Girls Soccer Coach at North Muskegon High School (MI), Caleb Parnin. In his episode, we're going to discuss his unique journey from soccer player to coach, what he's learned from winning a state championship, and why he decided to make culture a yearly focus. Referenced in this episode: How to Build and Sustain a Championship CultureThe Culture System To sign up for weekly notes from each episode,...

S2 #3. As an independent certified coach, teacher, trainer and speaker with The John Maxwell Team, Todd Kuckkahn is an incredible resource for your intentional growth in your professional and/or personal life. In this episode, we discuss: Complexities of cultureWhy leaders need to listen more and talk lessHow a simple postcard can change your life, and“The biggest gap in life is between what we know and what we do.” To sign up for weekly notes from each episode, CLICK HERE. Review The "I" in...

S2 #2. Season two continues with a guest I've known for years. He's gone from my coaching adversary to trusted assistant, and most importantly, a great friend. His name is Tayler Erbach, a former high school teacher who is now coaching adults on the importance of physical fitness as Director of Operations at Manduu. In this episode, we're going to discuss Manduu's unique footprint in the physical fitness industry, the difference between motivating teenagers vs. adults, and why he believes...

#51. Coach Marsha Frese, Loyola University Women's Basketball Assistant Coach, has over 20 years of coaching at the D1 level. In this episode, Coach Frese discusses: 3 P'sBeing an empathetic coachToughness of today's athletesBalancing being a coach and a momTo sign up for weekly notes from each episode, CLICK HERE. Review The "I" in Win on Apple Podcast or my website to let me know what you think of the show.  Follow me on Twitter (@LukeMertens)

Season 2 is almost here, releasing on Tuesday, Nov. 1, but before that happens...HERE WE GO! The #1 dowloaded episode from Season 1 featuring Principal/Head Football Coach, Shane Jacobs, Peabody HS (TN). Shane Jacobs has arguably the most unique title in education: Principal/Head Football Coach. Given his unparalleled success on the field, Peabody High School (Trenton, TN) decided to promote Coach Jacobs first to AP, and most recently, Principal. On the gridiron, Coach Jacobs has won state...

We're on #2 of the top downloaded episodes of Season 1! In the first ever episode of  The “I” in Win, one of the most iconic figures in LA HS history, J.T. Curtis, shares how he's developed his football program at John Curtis Christian School into one of the most successful programs in the country, both on and off the field.  Headmaster, Athletic Director, and Head Football Coach, JT Curtis has been impacting young people’s lives for over 5 decades at the small Christian school located in...

Onto #3 of the top 5 most downloaded episodes of Season 1...Today's guest, John Nee, has been a teacher and coach at his alma mater St.Rita High School on the south side of Chicago for the past 25 years. In addition to his classroom responsibilities as an English teacher, Coach Nee is head coach of the baseball team and an assistant varsity football coach. He's passionate about impacting kids and today's going to discuss his influences, how he has grown as an educator, what he does to develop...