Tell Me Your Story Coach – Details, episodes & analysis

This is officially the conclusion of Season #1 of the “Tell Me Your Story, Coach” Podcast. I appreciate everyone listening. Hopefully, we helped some young coaches learn and grow. In Episode #1, I said the goal was to talk to 100 Coaches. We accomplished this goal! My parents always told me to finish what I had started. And I thought it was imperative that my 7-year-old son, JJ, saw this example firsthand. I am unsure how and when and, honestly if ever, Season 2 will happen. The past 18 months have been super fun but also very challenging. Creating a weekly podcast takes hours upon hours of work. I can’t thank my wife, Liz, for her support- Enough! This podcast has been, indeed, a labor of love. I was unsure, before this podcast, that I ever helped a coach grow. That is, if I ever gave back to the coaching industry. I am proud to say that I can now sleep at night, knowing that I gave back to the coaching industry. Finally, and most importantly, I want to thank all 100 coaches who took time out of their busy schedules and trusted me to tell their coaching stories. I will be eternally grateful. 

Coach Elyse Schlump,
Today we are talking to Coach Elyse Schlump. Coach Elyse is currently the Head Coach at Concordia University. This season marks Coach Elyse’s first season as the Head Coach. She was hired as the Head Coach on July 1st. And, if you follow the WHAC, Coach has her team right in the mix in a highly challenging NAIA Women’s Basketball Conference. Coach Schlump played for and graduated from Concordia. As a player, she was a key team member who made a first-ever NAIA D2 National Tournament Appearance in 2011. So, Concordia is indeed home to her! Coach Elyse returns to Concordia after four seasons as the Director of Basketball Operations at Marist College. And, before her position at Marist, Coach Schlump was the Associate Head Coach at Skidmore College for five seasons. In this conversation, you will hear Coach Elyse discuss the impact her Dad, Dave, made on her coaching career. It is a tremendous tribute. In addition, wait to hear coach talk about her balancing challenging her players and being their best Cheerleader too. It is an excellent perspective into what makes Coach so successful.

Follow Coach Elyse Schlump @CoachSchlump

 Follow Tell Me Your Story Coach @CoachKevinDro

Coach Mike Peck,
Today we are talking to Coach Mike Peck. Coach Peck is currently the Associate Head Coach for Coach Steven Henson at the University of Texas at San Antonio. This season will be Coach Peck’s seventh as the Associate Head Coach at UTSA. A product of Gaylord, Michigan, Coach Peck played at Northwood University for Coach Dean Lockwood, who is currently the Associate Head Coach for Coach Suzy Merchant at Michigan State. Coach Peck came to UTSA after being an assistant at Santa Clara University. Before Santa Clara, he spent two seasons as the head coach of the NBA D-League's Idaho Stampede, which was the affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers. Coach Peck made his way to the NBA after an incredible six-year run at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada, where he spent the last five years as the head coach. During his five seasons as the leader of Findlay Prep, Coach Mike built the program into a national powerhouse. His teams combined for a 157-8 record, including a perfect 33-0 season in 2009 and three ESPN National High School Championships (2009, '10, '12). Coach Mike coached seven NBA/NBA D-League players, four of which were first-round picks, including Anthony Bennett, who was the No. 1 overall pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2013 NBA Draft, and Tristan Thompson, who was taken No. 4 overall by the Cavaliers in 2011. Before being hired at Findlay Prep, Coach Peck was at UNLV, where he served as the video coordinator and administrative assistant under head coaches Charlie Spoonhour and Lon Kruger. He was also was an assistant coach at Saginaw Valley State and at his alma Mater, Northwood University. If you are a young coach who is truly trying to figure out your own recruiting philosophy, then you have to listen to how Coach Peck has developed his own recruiting philosophy. It is simply incredible. Finally, the amount of tips and advice that Coach Peck sprinkles throughout the entire conversation is so generous. This is truly a conversation in which a coach is driven to help younger coaches!

Follow Coach Mike Peck @CoachMikePeck

Follow Tell Me Your Story Coach @CoachKevinDro

Coach Phil Martelli's Story: 

In this episode, you'll hear from Coach Phil Martelli, the University of Michigan’s Associate Head Coach. We dive right into his 45+ year career. The 2004 National Coach Of the Year shares his incredible insights. Coach Martelli is indeed a teacher of the game of basketball. However, he is truly a teacher of the game of life. His thoughts about coaching being a people business is truly fascinating. Coach Martelli's belief that the game is about People Not Titles resonates through the entire 60-minute interview. In addition, Coach offers so many real life coaching tips and experiences from his illustrious career. Finally, his thoughts on taking and measuring temperatures could be some of the best advice that you will hear all summer. Trust me! This is a must listen for all coaches. 

Follow Phil on Twitter at @PhilMartelli

Coach Candice Finley's Story: 

In this episode, you'll hear from Xavier University's women's basketball associate head coach, Candice Finley. Candice has 18+ years of coaching and talks about her duty to pay it forward. Starting with coaching 10-year-olds to being a high school and AAU head coach to making the jump to college, Candice has been impacting the young women that she coaches. From assistant coaching stops at the D2 level to multiple D1 universities to now the Big East, Candice has invested her time and dedication to coaching the players at each stop. As you will hear, Candice CARES about her players. She believes that having genuine relationships with her players as people first is the real reason that she can connect with her players. Finally, Candice's comments about her parents is a must listen.

Follow Candice on Twitter at @C_Finley

Coach DJ Stephens' Story:
In this episode, you'll hear from DJ Stephens, Michigan State University's Associate Head Coach. He shares his passion for basketball from the time he was 5 years old and how he's taken that passion to the next level in coaching and mentoring Big Ten basketball players over the past 18+ years at MSU. DJ lays it all out there in terms of loyalty, servant leadership, and the respect he has for Coach Tom Izzo. If you don't know Coach DJ Stephens yet, you will be blown away by how genuine and humble he is. DJ has great insight on coaching for any coach at any level. Follow DJ on Twitter at @DjStephens31.

Don't forget to check out My Affiliate links: Buzzsprout - Lets get your podcast launched! & Moneyball Sportswear. See You on the Next Episode of the Tell Me Your Story, Coach Podcast! 

Coach Dro's Story: 
Welcome to the Tell Me Your Story, Coach podcast! This is the only episode you'll hear about Kevin Mondro's story and why he's created this podcast. Every episode after this one, you'll hear other coaches' stories and why they do what they do. Coach Dro's focus is to advocate for and help as many coaches as possible. Listen in to hear more about how and why this podcast was created and you'll even hear from a surprise guest!
Follow Tell Me Your Story, Coach on Twitter at @CoachKevinDro and on Instagram at @TellMeYourStoryCoach

Coach Kyle  Gerdeman,
Today we are talking to Coach Kyle Gerdeman. Coach Gerdeman is currently the Head Coach at Lindenwood University. And, Coach Kyle enters his fourth year as the leader of the Lindenwood men's basketball program. This season, Lindenwood is transitioning from Division 2 to Division 1. Lindenwood will play in the OVC Conference. Coach Kyle came to Lindenwood after spending seven seasons at Central Michigan. As a matter of fact, Coach Kyle and I had many battles in the MAC conference. Prior to working for Coach Keno Davis at Central Michigan, Gerdeman spent three years as an assistant coach at Southeast Missouri State. And before that, Coach Kyle was the head coach at Moberly Area Community College in Missouri. Coach Kyle also has spent nine seasons serving as an assistant coach at Mineral (Mo.) Area College, at Moberly, and at East Central College (Mo.). As you soon are going to find out, Coach Kyle does not like to waste any time. It is a pretty cool conversation about how Coach Kyle approaches his daily job. In addition, this is a conversation about relationships. It is amazing to hear Coach Kyle talk about the relationships he has with these players as an assistant and head coach. Finally, this is a conversation about RESPECT. The Respect that Coach Kyle has for his father and those who paved the way for him in the profession is truly inspiring, After listening to Coach Kyle Gerdeman, you will for sure be a fan of him and his Lindenwood program!

Follow Coach Kyle Gerdeman @KyleGerdeman

Follow Tell Me Your Story Coach @CoachKevinDro

Coach Antonio Capaldi,
Today we are talking to Coach Antonio Capaldi. Coach Capaldi is currently an Assistant Coach for Coach Sami Stormont at Alma College. And, everyone knows Coach Capaldi as simply Coach Tone. Coach Tone was named an Assistant Coach with Alma College and their Women's Basketball program this past summer. Before coming to this Division 3 basketball program, Coach Capaldi was an Assistant Coach for Coach Kiefer Haffey at Concordia University in the WHAC Conference. And before transitioning to the Women’s Basketball Coaching ranks, Coach Tone was a Student Assistant at Madonna University with their men’s basketball program. Oh, by the way, Coach Tone was a great player for Coach Noel Emenhiser at Madonna. A product of Bishop Foley High School in the Detroit Catholic League, Coach Tone would go on to play in college at both Macomb Community College and Madonna University. You are going to hear some outstanding thoughts in this conversation. However, get ready to get INSPIRED when Coach Tone talks about his Mom’s passing and his love and affection for his sisters. And, how his mom's death inspired him to coach women's basketball. This is a high-level conversation with a tremendous young basketball coach and an even better young man. Finally, wait until you hear Coach Tone talk about Positive Energy. Do you know that ENERGY is the World’s CURRENCY? You will soon find out why! 

Follow Coach Antonio Capaldi @CoachTone__

Follow Tell Me Your Story Coach @CoachKevinDro

Coach Andrew Kang,
In this episode, you’ll hear from Coach Andrew Kang. Coach Kang is currently the Manager of Basketball Operations for the Detroit Pistons. And, everyone knows Coach Andrew as simply Drew. Coach Drew has an amazing story and I had to share his story for numerous reasons. I met Coach Drew when I was an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan, working for Coach Rob Murphy. Coach Drew, who at one time was studying to work in a career of aviation, moved to Michigan to chase his dream of being in basketball. And, as a student at EMU, Coach Drew emailed Coach Matt Cline stating his intentions to be involved in the basketball program. As you soon will find out, the fact that Coach Cline would even respond to Coach Drew is pretty remarkable. And since 2014, Drew has been a staple in the EMU Men’s Basketball program. Starting as a student manager, Coach Drew was selected as a Graduate Assistant for Coach Murphy’s program in 2017. And, Coach Drew also was working for Delta Airlines the entire time that he was a student and involved in the basketball program. Again, another really sensational story. Finally, he was hired to be the the Director of Basketball Operations in 2019, first with Coach Rob Murphy then with Coach Stan Heath. And, this past summer, Coach Drew received the call to work in the NBA with the Pistons organization. The first time that Andrew Kang and I met, he told me that his dream was to work in the NBA. And, this dream came to be this story. Sure, Coach Kang is going to give some great tips in this conversation. As a matter of fact, his tips about how you can make it to the NBA in a non-coaching capacity is tremendous advice for young coaches. However, this conversation is truly about a dream. And, how Andrew Kang was going to do everything in his power to achieve his dream. 

Follow Coach Andrew Kang @Jumpinkang

Follow Tell Me Your Story Coach @CoachKevinDro